Private Students

[Isk8NYC]

The thread about soliciting made me wonder how other coaches acquire new students. I only coach a handful of private students, but I have been BLESSED with the nicest skaters and parents since I started at this rink. I'm very lucky and thankful.

I thought an ANONYMOUS poll might be an interesting way to gauge how coaches and students are matched up. If anyone wants to comment on what has worked and what does not, please feel free. If you want anonymity, you can send it via PM and I'll post it without naming names.

[mdvask8r]

Other: I get the many new students from people seeing me practice on the public sessions after teaching a private lesson. Our rink is a county facility - they have our bios on the website which nets me a lot of calls.

[isakswings]

I'm obviously not a coach, but I can tell you what I have seen happen at our rink and how we found my dd's coach.

When we were considering private lessons, I talked to other parents and asked who their child took from and who they had heard was good. I also watched coaches during learn to skate and asked my daughter who she liked. OUr rink is a county rink, so the coaches profiles are posted at the rink. Anyway, I got my daughter's coaches number from the assistant director at the rink. She gave me a list of 3-4 names and I chose dd's coach from that list and based on what I had heard about my dd's coach. I honestly had no idea how to go about choosing a coach so I relied on other parents reccomendations, my dd's reactions to various instructors and the list I was given. Originally, I wanted to "coach shop" and have dd take a couple lessons from different coaches until we found the best fit. However, once we had a lesson or two with dd's coach, we decided to stick with her. Dd liked her and I felt uncomfortable telling dd's coach we wanted to try lessons with a different coach. At that point, I figured dd liked her and we should continue with her and not "shop around", so to speak.

Now on to what I have seen. Some coaches approach parents after coaching their kids in LTS classes. I've seen fliers handed out to students at the end of a LTS session, I've heard other parents reccomend their coach when someone inquires about private lessons, I've seen parents(and students!) approach LTS coaches and ask them if they teach private lessons, I've heard of parents deciding against a specific coach based on schedule conflicts and I have heard of parents choosing a coach soley on his or her fee. At our rink, there definately seems to be a variety of ways that people look into private lessons. Anyway... like I said, I am not a coach but this is what I have seen as a parent who seems to spend an awful lot of time at the rink! :)

[Skittl1321]

I don't take private students, though I've been approached by some parents.

Our LTS director's official policy is that LTS group students do not belong to anyone, and you are welcome to talk to any of the parents there about lessons. Most of the coaches just wait to be approached. One hands out business cards to all the parent's he talks to. He has a lot of students- it works.

I find the system really frustrating, because the LTS director will not recommend anyone. And the rink doesn't have a coach's list. So you pretty much just have to luck into finding a coach that fits you well. When parents ask me for lessons, and I say no, they ask me who I recommend. I name the 5 coaches at our rink, and tell the parent what each of their strengths is. I don't say anything bad.

[Isk8NYC]

I am intrigued by a link someone sent me. A young lady on Craigslist is promoting her services as a skating instructor. Her post says she's a teen saving up for a big international trip. Whether or not she's qualified, or if the rink knows she's teaching, are separate issues, but I'm really more curious as to whether or not she's getting students.

Yesterday, I realized that, for the first time in many years, most of my students are coached on freestyle sessions. Very different environment since it sort of isolates the coaches from new prospects. Word-of-mouth is very important in that setting since all of those students are probably working with a private coach already.

While coaching on a public session, you're more likely to catch the eye of a skater/parent that doesn't already have an instructor.

Things that make me go hmmmm....

[dbny]

I get my students mostly from LTS follow ups, public sessions, and the recommendation of current students (parents, usually). I also spend time helping whoever looks in need after LTS, when there is free skate for the LTS students to practice. Sometimes that results in private students. I get some on the public sessions because I skate around and help anyone who looks like they need it. I always ask first if they are already taking lessons. Once you are out there working, people come over and ask for lessons, but that really only seems to work at the height of the season when the sessions are crowded. Very rarely, the skating office will give my number to someone. We now have a huge number of coaches on staff and I suspect that I'm at the bottom of the list. That also cuts into pick-ups on the public sessions.

[Audryb]

I'm not a coach, but I can give my experience as a skater. My rink publishes a coaches brochure that lists all the coaches and their qualifications, along with their hourly rate and their contact information. There are also photos on the wall of all the coaches, so you can look at the brochure and match the info to a face and know who you're looking at if you observe lessons going on on a public or freestyle session.

I've also gotten business cards from several coaches at the conclusion of a group class session. These coaches always made sure to find out if students already had a coach before handing out their cards.

My own personal story of finding a coach: I took group classes at two rinks for about a year and a half before very recently (3 weeks ago) switching to private lessons. Consequently, I got to experience a lot of different coaches' styles, and when I was ready to make the switch I talked to the coach whose teaching style seemed to work best for me in group classes. I will also say that this particular coach spent a lot of time working with me individually during the "practice" time following the class she taught, (an evening adult class) and that definitely influenced my decision to take private lessons from her. I've seen this kind of extra help happen to a lesser extent with little kids after the basic skills classes too.