login
What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching?
-
No new posts
| General Discussion | Triathlon Talk » What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? | Rss Feed  |
|
 2010-08-27 9:48 AM |
Champion  10471    Dallas, TX |  Subject: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching?Just curious what you would consider a resonable price for a PRIVATE (not Master's!) swim coaching lesson that lasted anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour (client's choice). The coaching would be from a USAT Level I certified coach. Feel free to vote with whatever you ARE paying now, if you have a swim coach. Or enter what swim coaches in your part of the country are charging. I do realize that in Dallas, Texas... the rates will be lower than say... New York or California. Maybe? The swim coaching would include: ------------------------------------------- A Swim Evaluation Form with Swim Coaching Plan for the next week. The Plan would highlight what to work on specifically, but would not give specific workouts. Just drills, and what to focus on stroke wise. Under/above water filming- and analysis. This would take place pool side or via email after the lesson. ------------------------------------------ I am curious to see if my pricing is spot on, or too low. I think it's reasonable, but it also makes me wonder if people think I might be subpar coaching wise, because they are paying less than what others charge in the area. Of course, I am a relatively new swim coach, so I feel that charging a bit less is the right thing to do. In the future I plan on becoming a USA Swimming certified coach as well. Once that is done and I have a longer "resume" I will probably charge more per hour. (Yes, I have left my rates out on purpose so you can discuss and vote without speaking to my rates.) |
| 2010-08-27 10:01 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
Elite 3290  Oliver, BC, "Wine Capital of Canada" | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? I had a swim coach a few years back. I only used her for 5 sessions and paid $30 for each 45 min. lesson. |
| 2010-08-27 10:09 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
Elite 4048 Gilbert, Az. | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? KSH - 2010-08-27 7:48 AM Just curious what you would consider a resonable price for a PRIVATE (not Master's!) swim coaching lesson that lasted anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour (client's choice). The coaching would be from a USAT Level I certified coach. I would not let the USAT certification be a deciding factor in $$ or anything else. USAT certification as far as swimming goes is less than useful. I would inquire as to the instructors actual swimming background, both competitive (although less important), and educational. John |
| 2010-08-27 10:10 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
| over a barrier | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? Chicago, $50 an hour in a private setting. I would expect Video Analysis file complete with commentary when done sent via DVD or link to file share. The willingness for the coach to be in the water with demonstration. 1hr min, not much you can do in 30 mins. I wouldn't do 30 min sessions personally. Edit to add: This would include an charge for me to get in the pool or swim lab. Edited by running2far 2010-08-27 10:13 AM |
| 2010-08-27 10:16 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
Coach 9167 Stairway to Seven | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? Pittsburgh, I charge $75/hour. I include video with nearly every swim that we review during the lesson & I upload to motionbox (now snapfish) via a private channel. I include an email summary with what we worked on and suggest drills for the week. Once I got started, almost all of my referrals now come via word of mouth. If you are good, and people feel that you provide a good value, they don't mind paying you for your time and expertise. Despite having both USAT I & II, I did not feel comfortable teaching or charging for swimming until I got involved with Total Immersion on a coaching level, working side by side with Terry Laughlin, Dave Cameron, Kim Bade, Shane Eversfield and other amazing coaches. Narrated and DVD'd video takes quite a bit of additional time when you figure in the additional steps needed and if you do so, add accordingly to what you charge. I also do free 15 minute mini stroke clinics prior to our tri clubs open water swims which shows people my teaching style...I've had several private lesson inquires just by doing that as well. |
| 2010-08-27 10:24 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
Champion 9407 Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? For someone with limited swim coaching background, I would charge enough to cover the costs of the pool/lane(s). After gaining experience working with a variety of athletes and getting feedback from them about the entire experience, then I would increase my fee to start covering the cost of my time. |
| 2010-08-27 10:43 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? Thanks for the responses! I agree, the USAT tri coaching cert means very little, but generally speaking it gives someone confidence their coach is educated. Honestly, the 4 hour Workshop I attnded with Steve Tarpin AFTER the coaching clinic did the most good. I was a competitive swimmer in High School. Opted out of the partial scholarship to swim at Austin college (private college, too expensive even with the partial scholarship.) Otherwise I have been spending a lot of my free time reading resources, watching videos I purchased from USA Swimming to educate myself even more. Obviously there are a lot of variables when deciding on price, eh? |
| 2010-08-27 10:50 AM in reply to: #3067278 |
Coach 9167 Stairway to Seven | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? gsmacleod - 2010-08-27 9:24 AM For someone with limited swim coaching background, I would charge enough to cover the costs of the pool/lane(s). After gaining experience working with a variety of athletes and getting feedback from them about the entire experience, then I would increase my fee to start covering the cost of my time. My first formal lessons were to the board members of our local tri club for free. I did group lessons 2-3 at a time for 3 sessions. Lane cost was $15 and I told them that the lesson was free and everything was taken care of. After every lesson EACH of them spontaneously gave me $20 despite my feeble protests. So from lesson #1 I was essentially getting $60 an hour for a "free" lesson. Word of mouth from those 3 people through teh club has kept me very, very busy. |
| 2010-08-27 10:50 AM in reply to: #3067345 |
Master 5557 , California | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? Obviously there are a lot of variables when deciding on price, eh? Things I would ask about with a swimming coach: - competitive swimming / water polo background? - did they ever teach or coach swimming / water polo? - are/were they a lifeguard? - what's their open water experience? And I'd definitely be willing to pay a little extra if the instructor is filming you. Sometimes they can tell you what to do 1000 times but seeing yourself once on tape will make the light bulb click on. |
| 2010-08-27 10:58 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
| 244 | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? I paid $50 a lesson. He is the aquatics director at the pool, as well as a masters coach and a youth swim team coach. He is also a TI instructor, but blends TI with competitive swimming for really awesome results. |
| 2010-08-27 11:05 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
| New user 58 Bay Area | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? My master's coach charges $60 for a 40min. private lesson. She is a Division 1, 2004 Olympian. That does not include a video review. As a point of reference I am in N. Californian. |
| 2010-08-27 11:27 AM in reply to: #3067361 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? spudone - 2010-08-27 10:50 AM Obviously there are a lot of variables when deciding on price, eh? Things I would ask about with a swimming coach: - competitive swimming / water polo background? - did they ever teach or coach swimming / water polo? - are/were they a lifeguard? - what's their open water experience? And I'd definitely be willing to pay a little extra if the instructor is filming you. Sometimes they can tell you what to do 1000 times but seeing yourself once on tape will make the light bulb click on. Interesting list. You know, I have to say... that while being a competitive swimmer makes someone really understand how to workout when it comes to swimming... and it makes them a good swimmer... I don't think it automatically makes them able to assist someone else. I can tell you, that until this year... I couldn't coach any reasonably. I just figured because I was good at swimming, I could. WRONG! Didn't work that way. It wasn't until I went to the USAT Coaching clinic... and spent the extra 4 hours specifically on swim coaching... did it all come together. With that said, I find it to be a huge advantage to get in the water with my clients to show them good form, and to watch them underwater. I don't really understand how people ONLY coach from above the water. So much goes on under the water. I always have to get in, and watch from the bottom of the pool. Before I started charging, I did do a free lesson for a group. In fact, one person from that group offered to pay me for private lessons which is when I started charging. I did not solicit to the people who attended. I plan on doing that at least once a year. Not to find new clients (although it wouldn’t hurt), but to give back to the community. One more adult I can help swim faster, the better.  Edited by KSH 2010-08-27 11:27 AM |
| 2010-08-27 11:27 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
Expert 1118 , North Carolina | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? Here in NC, I paid $60 for three 1 hour sessions; or she charges $25 for a single 1 hr lesson. |
| 2010-08-27 11:28 AM in reply to: #3067172 |
Member 153 Hutchinson, Kansas | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? My YMCA has private lessons and they are $40 for 4 30 min sessions, for members and $56 for non members. I doubt they include any video. |
| 2010-08-27 12:17 PM in reply to: #3067469 |
| Master 5557 , California | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? You know, I have to say... that while being a competitive swimmer makes someone really understand how to workout when it comes to swimming... and it makes them a good swimmer... I don't think it automatically makes them able to assist someone else. Disclaimer: my list wasn't in any order of importance in particular. I mentioned water polo because the sport helps open water triathlon swimming by nature of what they do. They're used to swimming / protecting themselves in close proximity to others, and they do some heads-up swimming which easily translates to sighting. Lifeguard training hits on this also. For pure technique, I agree someone who has taught lessons or coached competitive swimmers has an edge on the rest. |
| 2010-08-27 12:58 PM in reply to: #3067469 |
Coach 9167 Stairway to Seven | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? Before I started charging, I did do a free lesson for a group. In fact, one person from that group offered to pay me for private lessons which is when I started charging. I did not solicit to the people who attended. I plan on doing that at least once a year. Not to find new clients (although it wouldn’t hurt), but to give back to the community. One more adult I can help swim faster, the better. People LOVE the free 15 minute swim tip I do before our club's OWS. I figure I'm going to be there anyway, I have a captive audience of really eager swimmers. It's awesome when someone that I think is already a good/fast swimmer comes up to me afterwards for advice. I find the OW swim to be a great time to talk about tri specific stuff like sighting, turns, drafting, etc...as opposed to just teaching stroke work which is best done (IMO) in a small, teaching pool. (3-4 feet deep) |
| 2010-08-27 1:23 PM in reply to: #3067172 |
Master 1927 Guilford, CT | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? Suzanne, I like your DVD add-in. That would be of major interest to me if I were to evaluate getting another lesson. I'm a visual person so I think actually seeing myself would help quite a bit. Anyway, to me, I don't care if its $30 or $100...I just want it to be useful. I can't do much with a $30 useless lesson. I think I paid $35 for 30 minutes on the one lesson I got when I first started teaching myself. It was a waste of time and I got more helpful feedback from my friends when we were training together than I did from that lesson. I guess, if you are good, charge me what you need to in order to have a viable and worthwhile business (or side business). I wouldn't want to be the low cost provider of swim lessons. Too low of a cost actually raises some questions. |
 2010-08-27 1:34 PM in reply to: #3067172 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
| 2010-08-27 1:40 PM in reply to: #3067172 |
| Master 2380 Beijing | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? The "break even" for most service-type jobs that require some sort of facilities and or tools is VERY ROUGHLY $60/hour. If you're setting out to do this for a living, you'll want to do a thorough cost analysis and set your pricing that way, NOT by what people expect to pay. If you're just doing this for a little extra cash, then charge whatever you're comfortable with. From a business perspective, you'd need to know: The ACTUAL rate you need to charge to break even. The ACTUAL rate you need to charge to meet your income goals. The rate you're going to publish. The rate you're going to charge friends. Your "group rate." Your "bulk purchase" rate. Your "intro" rate. Make sure the last 6 are larger than the first! |
| 2010-08-27 1:47 PM in reply to: #3067172 |
| Expert 2547 The Woodlands, TX | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? I charge a bit more than the popular votes above or any in this discussion, but this isn't a business that I'm pursuing, so I'm not going to 'undercut' the market or anything, and it needs to be worth my time. It includes video and me in the water helping and demonstrating. The time varies a little depending on the person but usually hovers around an hour. Suzanne's right though, word of mouth is where it grows as I don't advertise and turn away business. |
| 2010-08-27 3:04 PM in reply to: #3067955 |
| Elite 3779 Ontario | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? I think those of you in the US have an advantage over us Canadians. There appear to be so many options for swim coaching, and obviously this comes from the fact that you've got so many great collegiate and high school programs that you also produce a lot of coaches. There are varying degrees of competence for the coaches - but you have a large selection and therefore so many competitve price points. Locally, I don't have as many options as I'd like, and I'd be looking at $80-100/hour for the more certified/experienced coaches, and likely $60/hour for those with less certification. Although, you may get lucky and find a some of the local collegiate swimmers who coach on the side, and their prices are much more affordable. |
| 2010-08-27 3:12 PM in reply to: #3068129 |
Champion 10018 , Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? I like the USAT affiliation. While that alone might not make you a better swim coach (although it seems in this case it did), I like the idea of hiring someone who gets triathlon. I only want to be a better triathlon swimmer, so the frame of reference is good. I'd pay up to $100/hour for coach who did the taping, got in the water with me, had a great rep, and was on time and spent a whole 60 mins, assuming it's a once in a while sort of deal. I'd spend 60/hour for something I planned to do ongoing (i.e. once a month or something). I did the $40/3 sessions deal at the Y and got what I paid for. Not much. In fact, if anyone can recommend a great coach in Minneapolis I'm gathering ideas. |
| 2010-08-27 3:18 PM in reply to: #3068129 |
| Champion 7595 Columbia, South Carolina | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? GoFaster - 2010-08-27 4:04 PM I think those of you in the US have an advantage over us Canadians. There appear to be so many options for swim coaching, and obviously this comes from the fact that you've got so many great collegiate and high school programs that you also produce a lot of coaches. There are varying degrees of competence for the coaches - but you have a large selection and therefore so many competitve price points. Locally, I don't have as many options as I'd like, and I'd be looking at $80-100/hour for the more certified/experienced coaches, and likely $60/hour for those with less certification. Although, you may get lucky and find a some of the local collegiate swimmers who coach on the side, and their prices are much more affordable. It's very geography-dependent in the US too. It took me months to find a good, compatible, swim coach, and I live in a city of over 1 million people. (Alas, I've since lost that swim coach and am stuck on my own again.) Anyway, to answer the original question, it was $40/hour for a one-on-one lesson, or $50/hour ($25 each person) for a two-on-one lesson. Filming was an option, but we did not do it every time. |
| 2010-08-27 3:53 PM in reply to: #3067172 |
| Extreme Veteran 409 Tampa, FL | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? I paid $70 a lesson three years ago. She had an endless pool in her basement and did video taping, etc. I live in the Boise, Idaho area. Here is her link if you want to snoop . . . http://www.flowaquatics.com/adult.aspx#private
|
| 2010-08-27 3:57 PM in reply to: #3068236 |
| Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? kylerboys - 2010-08-27 3:53 PM I paid $70 a lesson three years ago. She had an endless pool in her basement and did video taping, etc. I live in the Boise, Idaho area. Here is her link if you want to snoop . . . http://www.flowaquatics.com/adult.aspx#private
Well one of those endless pools starts at $10,000. That's the cheapie plastic sided ones! So $70 for coaching there is reasonable. I would love to use one of those, but alas... no house and I don't have $10,000. |
| General Discussion | Triathlon Talk » What would you consider a resonable price for private swim coaching? | Rss Feed |
|
|
|
|
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK