April/May 1998 Newsletter Article                                    To Newsletter Menu

Title: The Pro's and Cons of Private Instruction

Author: Ray Lauenstein

Many of you will head into the summer wondering how you can become a better athlete next year so that you perform better and attract the attention of a college coach. It will take hard work, intelligent preparation, discipline and determination. You will also need expert guidance and coaching. The Athlete’s Advisor is taking an in-depth look at the possibilities of private instruction and what you should look for.

Many athletes’ want to look beyond the conditioning program prescribed by their coach. You might desire a running coach for more speed or an expert in flexibility to help prevent muscle pulls. Fine. First thing is consult your coach, tell him/her what you are looking for and perhaps they can recommend a person. If not call a nearby college and ask to speak to the strength and conditioning coach ask them for recommendations.

Generic strength programs are fine for generic athletes, but you want one designed for the specific demands of your sport. Find a trainer who has experience with your sport. There are summer camps which combine instruction with strength and conditioning. The New England Speed and Receiver Camp is an example. They specialize in speed and skill development for receivers. What you learn in a week of camp is often enough to let you train for the entire summer without the need for a coach.

Always get a reference for any private coach you might hire and check that reference out. Ask for their certification, experience and college degree.

Place kickers, tennis players, pitchers, quarterbacks, divers and any other skill position athlete is a candidate for private coaching. Always ask your HS coach for recommendations, they usually know of someone or have a relationship with a particular coach that has been positive.

Always ask for references and call people they have worked with in the past. If they refuse you should back off until you confirm their history. You cannot go to a college and pay for instruction from a coach unless it is payment for a camp. Private lessons are illegal.

In the course of a season HS coaches often have too much to do with not enough staff and the better athletes are neglected for the sake of spending time with the weaker athletes. Private coaching is often the best way to really improve and hone your skills.

Expect at least $30-$60 per hour of instruction. This may seem like a lot, but you are paying for individualized, expert advice and coaching. In a world where private consultants in many different industry’s command $500-$1,000 per hour, this is a bargain. Especially if it helps you get a scholarship or into the school of your choice.

If this is cost prohibitive, find out what small group instruction costs. Often you can add a second or third person to a lesson and end up paying only $15-$25 per person, for almost the same amount of attention. Often you get more out of watching others and comparing notes. It’s not a bad deal and you can learn how to negotiate fee for service prices at the same time!

You might be surprised at how many fantastic books are on the market that target sports skills and instruction. These are not generic either, but very specific to sports and positions. The best source for these books is a publisher called

Human Kinetics Publishers. Every athlete must have a catalog from HKP. To order a catalog call:

1-800-747-4457 and say you want to order a catalog. Or you can request one over the internet by going to their web site at: www.humankinetics.com

For more information on private coaching email the athletes advisor.