Maximizing the Investment of Private Lessons
It’s hard to find the downside of private instruction…except for maybe the cost. But we’ll get into that in a minute…
I’m a huge proponent of private training, and I always look at it as an investment. I’m not saying that because I believe every kid has professional aspirations (or opportunities). Most do not.
I mean an investment in proper mechanics which ultimately helps limit injuries. A further investment into a sport you’re already throwing a decent amount of $$ at to ensure your child gets the most out of his/her overall experience. An investment in fostering the practice of learning and applying concepts. Not to mention, an investment in a sport that may pay you back with a college scholarship one day.
Private instruction takes team practice one step further and helps individual players correct bad habits, learn how to create more power in their swings or in their throws, and helps build confidence.
And, yes. This all comes at a cost.
So what’s the $$ workaround? There are a few things you can do. 1) Consider buying lessons in bulk. Most instructors offer a discount if you commit to a lesson package instead of one-off’s. And I’ll be honest with you - one off’s don’t do much. You need to commit to a consistent training schedule in order to really see results from your lessons. 2) See if your instructor is willing to do a semi-private lesson (2 players) or a small group (3-4 players). These lessons are usually an hour (as opposed to the more common 30 min sessions for privates) and most facilities/instructors will work with you to put a pricing package together for a small group. 3) Pay attention to incentives that may be offered by the facility or the instructor, such as, “Refer a new client and get 10% off your next lesson package”.
If you have the right instructor (and we’ll talk about what that means in an upcoming post…) you will not see private lessons as a money suck. You will see improvement in your child’s game, a better attitude towards training and more confidence on the field.
If you live in the northern NJ/Rockland County NY area and are looking for instructors, please email me dirtonmydiamonds@gmail.com and I will happily send some contacts your way! I also have a great recommendation for an online hitting instructor who works with clients all over the country. Let’s help each other out :)