diff --git a/app/discord_bot.py b/app/discord_bot.py
index 6ce8af0..c1bf3c8 100644
--- a/app/discord_bot.py
+++ b/app/discord_bot.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ This module provides a persistent bot that handles:
 """
 
 import os
+import json
 import logging
 import asyncio
 import threading
@@ -26,6 +27,9 @@ DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN = os.getenv('DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN')
 # Configure logging
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# File for persisting pending requests across bot restarts
+PENDING_FILE = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))), 'discord_pending.json')
+
 # Emoji constants
 CHECK_EMOJI = '✅'  # Green checkmark
 CROSS_EMOJI = '❌'   # Red X
@@ -53,8 +57,31 @@ class TeamTryoutsBot(commands.Bot):
         self.scheduler = AsyncIOScheduler()
         self.timezone = ZoneInfo('America/Toronto')  # EDT timezone
     
+    def _load_pending(self):
+        """Load pending requests from the JSON file."""
+        try:
+            if os.path.exists(PENDING_FILE):
+                with open(PENDING_FILE, 'r') as f:
+                    data = json.load(f)
+                # Convert string keys back to int
+                self.pending_requests = {int(k): v for k, v in data.items()}
+                logger.info(f"Loaded {len(self.pending_requests)} pending requests from {PENDING_FILE}")
+            else:
+                logger.info("No pending requests file found, starting fresh.")
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error loading pending requests: {e}")
+    
+    def _save_pending(self):
+        """Save pending requests to the JSON file."""
+        try:
+            with open(PENDING_FILE, 'w') as f:
+                json.dump(self.pending_requests, f, indent=2)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error saving pending requests: {e}")
+    
     async def setup_hook(self):
         """Called when the bot is ready."""
+        self._load_pending()
         logger.info(f'TeamTryoutsBot logged in as {self.user}')
     
     async def on_ready(self):
@@ -208,6 +235,7 @@ class TeamTryoutsBot(commands.Bot):
             
             # Track this pending request
             self.pending_requests[msg.id] = {'type': 'one_on_one', 'id': request_id}
+            self._save_pending()
             
             logger.info(f"Sent One on One DM with reactions, message_id={msg.id}")
             return msg.id
@@ -266,6 +294,7 @@ class TeamTryoutsBot(commands.Bot):
             
             # Track this pending request
             self.pending_requests[msg.id] = {'type': 'schedule_addition', 'id': reference_id, 'event_type': event_type}
+            self._save_pending()
             
             logger.info(f"Sent {event_type} schedule notification to {db_user.username}, message_id={msg.id}")
             return msg.id
@@ -314,6 +343,7 @@ class TeamTryoutsBot(commands.Bot):
                     approved=True
                 )
             del self.pending_requests[message_id]
+            self._save_pending()
             
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error(f"Error handling approval: {e}\n{traceback.format_exc()}")
@@ -371,6 +401,7 @@ class TeamTryoutsBot(commands.Bot):
                     refusal_note=refusal_note
                 )
             del self.pending_requests[message_id]
+            self._save_pending()
             
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error(f"Error handling rejection: {e}\n{traceback.format_exc()}")
@@ -399,6 +430,7 @@ class TeamTryoutsBot(commands.Bot):
             
             await channel.send("✅ Your attendance has been confirmed!")
             del self.pending_requests[message_id]
+            self._save_pending()
             
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error(f"Error handling attendance confirmation: {e}\n{traceback.format_exc()}")
@@ -427,6 +459,7 @@ class TeamTryoutsBot(commands.Bot):
             
             await channel.send("❌ Your attendance has been declined.")
             del self.pending_requests[message_id]
+            self._save_pending()
             
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error(f"Error handling attendance decline: {e}\n{traceback.format_exc()}")
diff --git a/app/templates/pages/view_tryout.html b/app/templates/pages/view_tryout.html
index 13caa2f..8ec6a85 100644
--- a/app/templates/pages/view_tryout.html
+++ b/app/templates/pages/view_tryout.html
@@ -374,6 +374,20 @@
                                     {% endfor %}
                                 </div>
                                 {% endif %}
+                                <!-- Player self-presence toggle -->
+                                {% if not can_edit and item.player_presence %}
+                                    {% for pp in item.player_presence %}
+                                        {% if pp.player_id == current_user.id %}
+                                        <div class="presence-players" style="margin-top:6px;">
+                                            <button class="btn btn-xs presence-toggle-btn {% if pp.attendance_confirmed %}presence-confirmed-btn{% else %}presence-pending-btn{% endif %}"
+                                                    title="Toggle your attendance"
+                                                    onclick="toggleTryoutPresence({{ m.id }}, {{ pp.participant_id }}, this)">
+                                                Me {% if pp.attendance_confirmed %}✅{% else %}⏳{% endif %}
+                                            </button>
+                                        </div>
+                                        {% endif %}
+                                    {% endfor %}
+                                {% endif %}
                                 {% else %}
                                 <span class="text-muted">—</span>
                                 {% endif %}
diff --git a/discord_pending.json b/discord_pending.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e26dfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/discord_pending.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{}
\ No newline at end of file