NBR: Pretend you had a son, what would you pay?

rachi · February 2009

For one on one private coaching sessions to get your little one prepared for little league football?

Coachs football backround includes: Pee Wee through one year of college. All Star running back all 4 years of High School. 2 years semi pro. Coached two years of High School defense.

The classes would be one on one and most likely 2 to 3 hour sessions.

Classes would include offensive and defensive skills. Pretty much the basics of everything the little ones would need to learn to get geared up for Little League football.

What would you think a reasonable price to pay per session would be?

TIA

emiliemadison · February 2009

Honestly? NOTHING.

Little league football should be about learning team work, having fun, and learning the game. I think it's kind of sad that people would try to get their little boys coaching sessions- especially ones that last 2-3 HOURS!- just to play little league. Yuck.

lo45fd98wq32 · February 2009

How often are there sessions? Is it like a drop-in--if you can't attend one week, you don't pay but if you can the next you can pay, or is it kind of like the dance class where you are paying for the whole thing ahead of time?

Knowing DH's love for football, I would probably say $50-100 a session.

oh-zysbaby · February 2009

I agree. Pee-wee football is for learning those things, and how to play as a team. In a few years, when they are a little bigger, if they have a strong interest in the sport - then get a private coach to help them along.

Summer_0510 · February 2009

I have seriously have no idea. DD is 5 and she takes private swim lessons to prepare her for swim team. She takes lessons from a swim instructor who swam all through school and in college, she's now the head coach for a large swim team in our town and we pay $25/session and they meet once a week. I doubt that helps but it's all I got.

Mysterious_wife · February 2009

Nothing. I think LL should be learned as a team. It would not be fare to the children who could not afford a private coach. What fun would it be for him to play LL if he already knows how?

pixy_stix · February 2009

I probably wouldn't. I'm just not that competitive. Nor do I see the benefit of 1 on 1 coaching at that age, since I'd rather the child learn to cooperate in a team.

bancbev · February 2009

Nothing.

weelass24 · February 2009

emiliemadison:

Honestly? NOTHING.

Little league football should be about learning team work, having fun, and learning the game. I think it's kind of sad that people would try to get their little boys coaching sessions- especially ones that last 2-3 HOURS!- just to play little league. Yuck.

Exactly.

pixy_stix · February 2009

5 posts at once about how it should be a team sport.

lo45fd98wq32 · February 2009

I guess I'm the odd one out! This reminded me of Atom's hockey. It's the league that the 4-5 year olds are in before they play actual hockey. Practice is just skating drills, passing drills, etc, so the other players are all involved. I would definitely want it to be a "class," more like that, and not a one-on-one thing.

armandos_girl · February 2009

It's a good idea, but I can't see paying for a private coach for any kind of sport unless my child happens to show Olympic talent at a particular sport. In fact the only thing I can think of that I would pay for my child to participate in privately would be piano lessons, and that is only because piano lessons aren't typically a group type of thing.

Sorry.

bamagypsy03 · February 2009

Ok, coming out of lurking to tell you that LL football starts with teaching them those same skills. The difference between private coaching or not, in my opinion, is that they learn it as a team, which, as they advance through the years, will improve their skills as a team. As long as you start your son within the first few years of being eligible for LL, he should learn what he needs to.

We aren't paying for that, even though we probably could if we chose. I think it's more important for Chris to learn these skills during his LL practices and games. Chris began LL three years late, but he's playing on a level about equal with his teammates, skill-wise. That's fine by us. We pay for him to play LL because he enjoys it, not because we expect him to win every game and play like a high school senior. As long as he's having fun with it, you know?

Brideofranken · February 2009

oh boy... this kind of silliness makes me hope my son plays tennis. or chess.

lenloe · February 2009

$2.99 and a hot dog on a stale bun.

MrsBetsey · February 2009

I would personally save the private coaching until my child showed some real talent or passion for the sport. At a very young age, I would be more interested in my kid developing having fun, and developing socially.

rachi · February 2009

Those are all valid points.Thanks

On a side note little league ages vary from 8 to 14 years old. So we aren't talking forcing a bunch of little kids into hard core practice.

I probably worded it wrong ( I wouldn't put it past me lol) but we are talking more along the lines of a bit older kids that don't know a lot about football but are interested in playing in High School in a couple of years.

Although you are right that it should be about a team and learning together that is usually not the case. Usually the more experienced ones get play time and the others get bench time and then in High School you either make the team or you don't, it isn't about learning it is about experience. I am not saying that I agree with this at all but it is the way it is.

Just an FYI I am asking because DH has been approached a lot about parents wanting him to give their kids (usually his HS students younger brothers) private lessons. He is thinking he would love to do it in his free time because he LOVES to coach but isn't sure what is reasonable to charge.

Poeia · February 2009

Methinks someone is doing market research for starting a side business for their DH, no?

lenloe · February 2009

like i said, $2.99 and a hot dog on a stale bun.

MrsBetsey · February 2009

Ok, since the age of LL goes up to 14, that's a different ballgame (ha!) to me. For the kids on the older range of that group, I would consider private coaching. How much I'd pay though? I'm not sure.

gr8bigsmile · February 2009

rachi:
Those are all valid points.Thanks
On a side note little league ages vary from 8 to 14 years old. So we aren't talking forcing a bunch of little kids into hard core practice.
I probably worded it wrong ( I wouldn't put it past me lol) but we are talking more along the lines of a bit older kids that don't know a lot about football but are interested in playing in High School in a couple of years.
Although you are right that it should be about a team and learning together that is usually not the case. Usually the more experienced ones get play time and the others get bench time and then in High School you either make the team or you don't, it isn't about learning it is about experience. I am not saying that I agree with this at all but it is the way it is.
Just an FYI I am asking because DH has been approached a lot about parents wanting him to give their kids (usually his HS students younger brothers) private lessons. He is thinking he would love to do it in his free time because he LOVES to coach but isn't sure what is reasonable to charge.

Thank goodness you weren't asking for your son! When I first read your post I was thinking, "Wow, way to put the cart before the horse!"

DesignsOnYou · February 2009

While I do think it's very silly to get this type of coaching, I could see parents paying a decent fee for it.

I don't know if UT has the same passion but I can definitely see people using this type of thing down here in my state where many parents and kids are OBSESSED with football from a young age.

Poeia · February 2009

Dangit slow nest. My post looks kinda dumb below Rachi's.

easjer05 · February 2009

What about middle school? That's how our district high schools got kids - they learned in middle school. Some kids had played LL and some hadn't and it didn't matter - they all learned. I might pay for some private coaching if my kids really wanted it before middle school, as I might pay for some private lessons on a band instrument, but I sort of doubt it.

swimrbride · February 2009

For an older child who either showed great potential (and wanted the private coaching) or really loved the sport I sure would pay a private coach.

For a younger child, no. I think that teaches a young child to be too competitive at a young age instead of teaching them to enjoy the sport.

SaranJonathan · February 2009

Depends on the area you live in... I used to get private ice skating lessons at $35 per 1/2 an hour session (early 90s). Really a one on one lesson for 2-3 hours is a bit much.

I wouldnt enroll in anything one on one for that long. I would stick to an hour and charge 80-120 depending on cost of living in your area.

rachi · February 2009

Most of you are right. A couple of one hour sessions would probably be more beneficial than one long one. I don't even have that long of an attention span. LOL

pixy_stix · February 2009

After LL, don't they go to Jr. High football?

I worry about parents who push their children like this. The risk of serious injury is too high. If the kid was in High School, ok, yeah... The whole idea of younger than HS bothers me.

rachi · February 2009

gr8bigsmile:
rachi:
Those are all valid points.Thanks
On a side note little league ages vary from 8 to 14 years old. So we aren't talking forcing a bunch of little kids into hard core practice.
I probably worded it wrong ( I wouldn't put it past me lol) but we are talking more along the lines of a bit older kids that don't know a lot about football but are interested in playing in High School in a couple of years.
Although you are right that it should be about a team and learning together that is usually not the case. Usually the more experienced ones get play time and the others get bench time and then in High School you either make the team or you don't, it isn't about learning it is about experience. I am not saying that I agree with this at all but it is the way it is.
Just an FYI I am asking because DH has been approached a lot about parents wanting him to give their kids (usually his HS students younger brothers) private lessons. He is thinking he would love to do it in his free time because he LOVES to coach but isn't sure what is reasonable to charge.

Thank goodness you weren't asking for your son! When I first read your post I was thinking, "Wow, way to put the cart before the horse!"

LOL!

caffinated_tulip · February 2009

emiliemadison:

Honestly? NOTHING.

Little league football should be about learning team work, having fun, and learning the game. I think it's kind of sad that people would try to get their little boys coaching sessions- especially ones that last 2-3 HOURS!- just to play little league. Yuck.

Agreed

rachi · February 2009

pixy_stix:
After LL, don't they go to Jr. High football?
I worry about parents who push their children like this. The risk of serious injury is too high. If the kid was in High School, ok, yeah... The whole idea of younger than HS bothers me.

I think it depends on location. Where I went to school there was no football team in Jr. High. You played in LL (outside of school) up until you went into High School.

Jay_Cee · February 2009

My baby brother (he is only 12-years-old) plays baseball and he takes private lessons from an ex-Philadelphia Phillies player who owns a business where my parents live.

I believe they pay $35 or $40 for a half hour session. If you ask me, that is a crazy amount to pay; but, Matty has lots of ambition and some talent, so my parents think it is worth it for the kid.

Darreth · February 2009

Since I don't know much about football, I'm going to compare it to softball lessons (pitching or hitting)... I'd say that we would pay $50-$65 per hour when she is no younger than 12 and she really wants to play and learn...

magdalina.h · February 2009

kdodge423:

I believe my parents paid $50 a week for a two hour pitching session starting in 7th grade. They should have put some of it toward a hitting coach. No one wants a pitcher that can't hit the board side of a barn.

I had pitching sessions as well and couldn't hit a soccer ball if it was pitched to me.