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A local facility has asked if my son would teach lessons while he's home. He's a D1 player — Sunday starter before hell broke loose — well known and liked in town, but the amount they want to charge seems astronomical to me (and the cut of that he would get pretty slim).

He's holding off until after finals this week, but wanted to get some idea of comparable pricing?

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At our indoor facility, it is $35/half hour for members and $40 for non-members.  The lessons are typically given by former college players.  Some guys do lessons in their backyard and/or at HS facilities.  If your son can build a relationship with the local HS, that may be the best way for a better deal for both parties than a facility that siphons a lot of the money.    

Similar current college baseball players charge $20 for 30 minutes lesson and $40 for hour lessons.  Bigger the town or name of the player, the higher the cost.  I believe, according to NCAA (these rules change so regularly), he can only charge what is customary there so as long as they are not charging more because he is a current player and well known whatever he charges is okay.  But I will agree that there are some who charge way more than they should. 

Thanks for all the insights. Son says the guy was talking about $200 — it has to be a package, which he did not clearly explain to my son. I don't have a problem with the facility owner taking a siice since he would the one booking clients, etc,, although 70/30 seems a little hefty. We'll continue to ask questions before he agrees to do it. Thanks all!

@Iowamom23 posted:

Thanks for all the insights. Son says the guy was talking about $200 — it has to be a package, which he did not clearly explain to my son. I don't have a problem with the facility owner taking a siice since he would the one booking clients, etc,, although 70/30 seems a little hefty. We'll continue to ask questions before he agrees to do it. Thanks all!

At our facility the owner takes 40%.  He does the promotion, booking, pays the rent, utilities, etc.  If your son keeps 70% that seems like a good deal.  If/when he develops his reputation he should be able to raise his rates.

I took it as he was only getting 30%. If he’s getting 70% he’s got a great deal

You were right the first time. And honestly, I love my son and think he has a lot of skill. He doesn't deserve 70% of $200. We paid about $40 a half an hour when he paid for lessons. After seeing everyone's feedback, that seems like a reasonable amount. I don't think it would be good for him to be taking advantage of his hometown. So we'll keep exploring what the heck the facility owner is thinking. 

The facility owner is trying to profit from your sons status as a pitcher at a Big10 program. There are a number of reasons that I don’t like that which are personal to me and I won’t go into. But you and your son should consider that, under the arrangement that you described, your son would be risking his reputation in order for the facility owner to profit. What I mean by that, with all due respect, is that as a college sophomore your son probably isn’t qualified to be giving lessons for money. Knowing how to do something and knowing how to teach it are two different things. The little amount of money your son could make isn’t worth the risk. 

I would kindly disagree with Adbono in some aspect.  It is according to who and what they are wanting him to teach.  My son does a great job of teaching younger kids and he has had a waiting list.  He knows good mechanics and relates better with the younger guys than I do.  He pretty much refuses to work with high school guys except his friends who are willing to take advice.  Mine knows his limitations as a teacher but excels in working with beginners up through 12 year olds.  They love it and their parents love the interaction between their kid and as they say a great role model.  I think some of them are paying for the role model and interaction as much as they are the baseball.  He has learned from me and adds a lot of the mental aspect of the game and life lessons with his pitching.  I will admit at times I just sit there and am in awe of how mature he is for a college freshman.  He has stole a lot of dad's verbage and life lessons but that is what we are for.  Mine has also been around one of the game's greatest pitching coaches in Frank Anderson for a year.  Just remind him to know his limitations and to say no.  Mine has some kids he won't work with anymore because of their parents for hitting or pitching.  I told him to put that in his pocket for his future in coaching and recruiting.  It is a lot better way to make money than working in a grocery store.

Minimum 50/50 split, facility gets a D1 guy who is successful leveraging that to either continue to offer high level instruction or gain new students connected to your son. Social media helps with guys who put it out there that they are back home and willing to give lessons. Life lessons along with instruction are invaluable to those younger students.

@Shoveit4Ks posted:

Minimum 50/50 split, facility gets a D1 guy who is successful leveraging that to either continue to offer high level instruction or gain new students connected to your son. Social media helps with guys who put it out there that they are back home and willing to give lessons. Life lessons along with instruction are invaluable to those younger students.

Can't see any facility agreeing to a 50/50. Their overhead alone has got to be close to that. They are getting a D1 guy who probably has good character and is a good player. They are not getting a proven pitching coach with years of successfully teaching kids mechanics and drills to be a good pitcher. Now, he may have the ability to teach those things, but he isn't a proven commodity other than his character and his personal athletic achievements. 

I agree on being careful with reputation. Son is very good with younger kids and that's his comfort zone right now, although he is spending a lot of time with a lot of coaches, educating himself against the day he might want to coach older kids. He hasn't said yes to anything at this point — we want to do the right thing for him and for the people he would work with and for the facility owner.  Like anything, he'll have to earn his way into this.

Can't see any facility agreeing to a 50/50. Their overhead alone has got to be close to that. They are getting a D1 guy who probably has good character and is a good player. They are not getting a proven pitching coach with years of successfully teaching kids mechanics and drills to be a good pitcher. Now, he may have the ability to teach those things, but he isn't a proven commodity other than his character and his personal athletic achievements. 

I guess im familiar with my son's travel coach and facility...they can come and go and do lessons and he is happy they are back and in his facility...either now as an Milb'er or then when he was a D1 closer.

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