Issue: attitude - missed class

Here we go again. The ranting on the missing kids.
I have noticed that students made it an excuse of their co-curricular involvement as the reason for not being able to hand in classwork/ homework. Some create such co-curricular activity just to get away. As a matter of fact, they would avoid the assignment at all cost. Problem is, this work involves important marks.

I remembered differently. Out of respect to the teachers (or was it out of fear...yikes) I would always make sure to not be highlighted as the kid who did not pass up work. And out of respect too, I made sure I do the learning parts by asking friends. Of course out of my conscience for my future I would always make sure important assignment that involved my mark is done (thanks to my father's non-ending nag on do-now-pay-later lecture)

So far this is what I figured out from my own experience on how to make a student commit.
- play by what is important for them. If it's their examination marks, make an assignment cost a partial of the exam result. (Done!)
- use their strength/ interest to set up the assignment. (This is almost impossible, as there are so many individuals I have to consider. But I figured that they like to use social network, so I set the assignment up in the same platform - considered done!)
- use fear. Yikes - my dad used fear. He said if I ever mention about wanting to miss a school he will immediately drop me out. I did not dare to even mention it even when I was sick! This, I am still figuring out what do they fear most.
- give do-now-pay-later lecture. At least if it gets through to half the class, I am reaching to a better attitude of students in the future. Yet a lecture is still boring, I bet they would sleep halfway.

My target is:
- my students send in the assignment.
- they send it in on time
- they follow up if they miss class
- no copying work just to get it done.

How? I need to walk my talk (more like threats)
Yelp yelp!

Students away; half in school another half in somewhere else

Here's the thing about my school. The students are very active. They are involved in everything. From playing music to sports to charity service. It is very good for their development, but there is a price to pay. They are not in class half of the time.

This then will create the chain reaction. It affect homework, performances and marks. The scariest part, I am worried about their development in my content area; English.
How do I do this? What should I do? How do I manage the left-out students?
I tried virtual classroom. But a number of them is not virtually there. At least if they are there, during break or even between matches they can sit down and flick on they smartphones; do an exercise or two. However, the downside is both things; matches and lessons need concentration. It will not work out if they are in neither.
I have yet to try something else. I need to find something that is so fun that they cannot resist. Problem is, I still don't know what it is.

Yelp yelp