Rinks and Coaching Fees

[LilJen]

Wondering if any coaches have had it handed down to them that they must charge a certain (minimum) rate? This has just been announced at our rink. It seems fishy. Apart from the fact that the rate hike is IMMENSE (up by about 50% for most coaches), it doesn't seem right that the rink could tell a bunch of self-employed, independent coaches "you must charge $XXX per hour."

It's one thing if all the coaches got together and agreed that, hey, we're really charging low rates and we should hike them up to be more in line with what everyone else is charging. . . but if the rink dictates to the coaches?

Thoughts?

[Purple Sparkly]

Does the rink collect a commission from it's coaches? If so, they are probably trying to increase the amount of money that they bring in that way.

[Isk8NYC]

I worked at a rink where the skating director did ONCE specify a range of rates for the coaches. She wanted them ranked fairly by rate based on experience and success. The top-most coaches charged the most and the high school/college students charged the least. The director "recommended" a rate for each of the staff coaches and justified it based on their experience and qualifications. The impetus was because other coaches in the area had raised rates and the director wanted to raise her rates, but saw it as an opportunity to realign the staff rates accordingly. What she said made perfect sense to me, so I raised it, but dropped the increase when I moved out of the area.

Recently, my current rink raised their commission, so several coaches "passed it on" by raising their rates. I didn't because my rate was still a little too high for me to be competitive. I've been passed over by parents several times because I charge more than the college students who coach. Most parents of low-level skaters don't care about PSA ratings or USFSA Coaching qualifications/memberships. They don't think their recreational skater "needs" a higher-level coach; they just want to learn tricks or pass Freeskate 3.

This didn't affect "guest coaches" who weren't on staff and didn't teach group lessons. They were free to set their own rates and, as PurpleSparkly points out, pay a higher commission rate.

[LilJen]

Part of the reason for the rate hike is that yes, the rink will now be charging coaches a monthly fee to coach at the rink (they hadn't to date; old rink had been managed by the parks department, and new management arrived in August and new rink opened in February). Which is fine on its own and an understandable way for the rink to make more $$.

I can take the explanation of the coaches themselves saying "the rink will be charging us commissions, so we need to charge more." Or, I could take the explanation of "we examined the rates in this area and we're way below the norm, so we decided to raise our rates to be more on par with other coaches in this region with our qualifications." But the RINK saying "you must charge thus and such" smells bad to me. Also: This rate hike will (suspiciously conveniently?) bring the other coaches' rates in line with that of the new skating director (which to this point was MUCH higher than that of the other coaches). To this point the new skating director had charged what seemed like a whopping rate vs. the other coaches; now she won't be out of line. That seem weird to anyone?

[Isk8NYC]

But the RINK saying "you must charge thus and such" smells bad to me. Also: This rate hike will (suspiciously conveniently?) bring the other coaches' rates in line with that of the new skating director (which to this point was MUCH higher than that of the other coaches). To this point the new skating director had charged what seemed like a whopping rate vs. the other coaches; now she won't be out of line. That seem weird to anyone?
The skating director is the rink's liaison with the coaches, so when she makes the list, it's on the rink's behalf. Raising everyone and realigning "justifies" the highest rate, if she's the most qualified/experienced coach. Whether or not it "smells bad" depends on why it's being done.

Has the new director been in this area for a while, or did she coach elsewhere? It's difficult to set a rate in a new area unless you really research it in advance. If the rates are extremely low, it's very difficult for the highest-rate coach to earn a living.

The rate schedule should be in line with other rinks in the area. If your coaches' rates were much lower than the other rinks' coaches, then an adjustment makes sense. However, raising the rates higher than the other rinks' coaching during the off-seasonis probably not a good business decision since it might drive students away to other rinks.

If you're really riled up, take a survey of other rinks' coaching rates and see if the changes bring your rinks' coaches in line with that, or if it is being done because the Director started out with a too-high rate and is trying to correct an error. (I think the latter is a mistake, personally)

[sk8tmum]

prefaced with CANADIAN and private club:

1. Coaches charge what they please, as they are independent contractors, to their private students.
2. Group lessons organized through the club: scale based on years of experience and qualifications. BAsically, the club offers a rate of pay and the coaches are welcome to decline or accept based on whether they want to do the group work.

[kayskate]

I was going to say the coaches may need to raise their rate in order not to compete w the rink's grp lesson program. If private rates are really cheap, skaters may take semi-privates (sharing the cost) and get a really good deal on more individualized instruction.

However, if the rink's coaching rates are low for the area, this may not be the reason.

I worked at a rink where the director charged an enormous rate and almost never referred students to staff pros. She wanted all of the $ for herself. I never saw her qualifications posted anywhere, so I cannot say if the rate was in line w what she had achieved. Secondhand, i heard that she told parents she was the best. Don't know if any of this is true. She was an older lady, out of shape, etc. Not that this means she was unqualified. I don't know. She demonstrated plenty of unprof behavior while the staff was teaching grps such as bawling us out in front of students. I left that rink at the end of the season.

I hope your rink does not anger students by raising rates. The econo is tough. Some ppl may quit skating if they think lessons are too expensive or drop back to group only.

Kay

[dbny]

I was going to say the coaches may need to raise their rate in order not to compete w the rink's grp lesson program. If private rates are really cheap, skaters may take semi-privates (sharing the cost) and get a really good deal on more individualized instruction.


This was exactly the case at one rink where I worked.

[LilJen]

The skating director is the rink's liaison with the coaches, so when she makes the list, it's on the rink's behalf. Raising everyone and realigning "justifies" the highest rate, if she's the most qualified/experienced coach. Whether or not it "smells bad" depends on why it's being done.

Has the new director been in this area for a while, or did she coach elsewhere? It's difficult to set a rate in a new area unless you really research it in advance. If the rates are extremely low, it's very difficult for the highest-rate coach to earn a living.

The rate schedule should be in line with other rinks in the area. If your coaches' rates were much lower than the other rinks' coaches, then an adjustment makes sense. However, raising the rates higher than the other rinks' coaching during the off-seasonis probably not a good business decision since it might drive students away to other rinks.

If you're really riled up, take a survey of other rinks' coaching rates and see if the changes bring your rinks' coaches in line with that, or if it is being done because the Director started out with a too-high rate and is trying to correct an error. (I think the latter is a mistake, personally)

New director came from another area and arrived in February. "Other rinks in the area" is kind of deceptive, because this is IT for our city. The next closest rink, I believe, is 1.5 hrs away in the nearest major city. So it's not like anyone (skaters or coaches) has a true choice to go elsewhere, and because this is a small blue-collar city, I don't know that it's fair to compare rates here with those of a major city. Now, if coaches feel their rates are too low, then fine, raise them. The rink should not dictate rates, I don't think. It does seem to me a bit like the director is trying to compensate for starting out with a too-high rate (although she is definitely really, really good and well qualified). (And don't get me wrong; every coach I've worked with is worth every penny--they've all been very professional and helpful and great to work with.)

From talking with a lot of people, though, this seems to be quite common. Rinks tell coaches, "our way or the highway." And coaches have no alternative.

I worked at a rink where the director charged an enormous rate and almost never referred students to staff pros. She wanted all of the $ for herself. I never saw her qualifications posted anywhere, so I cannot say if the rate was in line w what she had achieved. Secondhand, i heard that she told parents she was the best. Don't know if any of this is true. She was an older lady, out of shape, etc. Not that this means she was unqualified. I don't know. She demonstrated plenty of unprof behavior while the staff was teaching grps such as bawling us out in front of students. I left that rink at the end of the season.
Kay, that coach sounds like she was in violation of PSA ethics (what little I understand of their policies).