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Private Lessons Tips

This page contains tips for those who are coaching private soccer lessons.

• Add Your Coaching Profile to the PrivateCoaches.com online referral service.
• Conduct lessons at a locations which are convenient for your clients, yet suitable (safe) for the lessons.
• Provide necessary equipment such as, balls, cones, flags, goals...
• Don't sell yourself short.  Your compensation should take into consideration your experience, education, teaching ability, expenses, and mileage, to name a few.  Post your expected rate in your coaching profile, informing potential customers prior to any contact!
• Inform client of the materials they are responsible to bring, such as, appropriate gear and shoes, water bottle...
• Discuss particulars with the clients prior to the lessons, gaining information about the clients needs and abilities.
• Have the lesson planned out prior to the start of each lesson, and be prepared and able to improvise and adjust to the progress and ability of the client.
• Conduct yourself in a professional and appropriate manner throughout each lesson.
• Be knowledgeable of the subject you're coaching.
• Keep training sessions fun and flowing.  Don't over coach!
• Don't bore clients with long winded speeches.  Keep instruction in simple, easy to understand terms.
• Demonstrate when possible.  Demonstrating will keep you from having to explain something over and over.  One demonstration is worth a thousand words!
• Be positive. 
• Reinforce appropriate behavior.
• Training sessions should typically consist of: warm up and stretch, introduction of lesson for the day, instruction and demonstrations, guided practice (various drills with coach offering guidance when necessary), review, and homework consisting of drills the client can do on their own that will help them develop desired skill.
• Design each lesson for the particular client.  As you learn more about the client, you can sculpt each drill and homework assignment to better suit their needs and enjoyment.
• Inspire!
• Encourage your clients to step out of their comfort zone.  Find out what they are comfortable doing, then get them to take the next small step out of their comfort zone for a short time, then back in their comfort zone.  Eventually, their comfort zone will become bigger and bigger, feeling comfortable in situations that used to be uncomfortable for them!
• Safety First.  Lessons, drills, and homework assignment should be safe.  Use common sense, but remember that common sense isn't so common.  Remind clients of the importance of safety, and correct any situation or technique that looks unsafe.  Bring a safety kit with you to the private lessons.  Have emergency numbers and a working telephone or cell phone.
• If a client is under the age of 18 years old, encourage or required their parent to be present during each lesson.
• Get liability insurance to protect you in case of accidents.  Insurance for teams, leagues, and sports camps offer insurance at reasonable prices.  In most cases, if your coaching a player from your existing team, you may already be covered by insurance through the club.  Read More!