wow! I am speechless.  I don't even know where to start.  I think you hit a certain point where no one wants to touch. This can be very touchy for some gyms.

Anonymous wrote:

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When it comes to working in a gym as a coach, what do you expect to be paid and paid for? I here some gym owners pay their coaches on experience while other pay all of them the same. What about when you go to a competition? Some gyms pay the coach for the time they are there while others only give a flat rate for the day? How much do you think a coach should get? Gym owners, what do you do to keep your coaches happy? When does it become unfair to the coach? What would you consider not enough?

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Wow..there is no easy answer on this one, from either the coaches side or the owners side. I will attempt some answers.

1.) I use the same formula for pay that I use in my other career. A coach should be paid based upon education, experience, expectations and results.

***Education not only means formal but conferences, training sessions, workshops, certifications etc. For example I have three degrees and working on a fourth for retirement purposes. While it is not in the coaching field, it does mean I could be working elsewhere making a whole lot more than what I make coaching. So it should be factored into the equation.

***Experience-where has a coach worked and for how long? Are they are gym hopper? Are they able to build a team or only wants to focus on the talented individuals who would probably shine regardless of who their coach was? Have they shown they can build a program or does trouble follow them at every stop? Do they have good or great references - if they would not be hired back, be careful!!! Are they a team player or do they have to go it alone in order to be happy? Are they in it for long term or short term? What can they teach and are they willing to improve on that?

***Expectations - what role are you as an owner looking for them to fulfil in your program? Are they only expected to coach team only? Are they expected to meet/counsel with parents (every coach can not and should not do this) what happens if the class instructor is sick or injured, will they be expected to cover class until a sub can be found? Do you expect them to travel with the team to every comp? Do you expect them to put in full time hours for part time pay
 
***Rewards- There are two mindsets: The pay me regardless of the quality of work I do and the reward me by the quality of work I do. Personally I work harder when i know my effort is going to be recognized and rewarded. If I help build the program and you can see the growth, it should be rewarded somehow. I believe that no team won that "national championship" without the coaching. Those National Championships bring more people into the gym, thererfore more $$$. The owners should recognze that and somehow invest a reward back into the lives of their coaches. It does not have to be money but something tangible to show them their hard work is appreciated. I always say you do not lose if you love. if you love your staff it will show and they will be happy.

2.) Payment for competitions should be clear and up front at the time of hiring, not after you find out you are being paid less than somebody else. I have heard of everything to no payment but you are expected to be there to being paid for the day plus room plus food. All I will say is our owners are very good to us and we have a rather large staff. All of our coaches (including the staff that does not coach teams) are invited to go to every competition. AT a bottom line I would think that a coach should not lose out financially by going to a competition (the owners should understand this), but they should not be paid $500.00 plus transportation, room and board either (the coach should understand this). There must be a reasonable balance.

3.) I think that is a constant battle. To be honest some coaches will never be happy because short of owning and running the program themselves (without the financial risk however), they will never be happy. Our owners maintain an open door policy on all things, including money issues. We meet every week to discuss whatever need to be discussed to keep things running well. They pay for certifications necessary to keep the coach progressing. They allow coaches to stretch themselves and learn other areas outside their expertise. They provide a staff lounge where staff can get away from the hustle and bustle for the gym. The lounge is furnished with snacks, water, juice and water at owner expense. Lunch is bought every day for the staff that may be there or were called in early for a meeting. At competitions they pick up the tab for staff dinner at least one of the nights we are there.(and it is never McDonalds...rofl!) They provide a once a year retreat to refresh and plan for the next year usually at the beach. Those are a few of the things they do that i think relates to your post. Believe me when I say I could go on.

And to answer the next question...We are always looking for new staff (just picked up a new location early this month) but I just interviewed a couple of people yesterday.

 

-- Edited by flipkidjudge at 05:22, 2008-04-16

rofl!!!! Great suggestion...no offense taken!

I could consider it...as long as if people had any questions they would ask. That is why I am rather long winded at times. figure I only got one chance to get it out and get it right so I put it all then.

I believe coaches should not get paid under $12 an hours espcially because it's not just a job that you go to 9-5, its a job you take home with you.  Sad to say, but the owners have to take a good share because of the fact they are the ones who HAVE to make a living off of it.  If you are a coach and feel it is unfair, go looking around! 
I agree that with the cost of cheerleading now and the effects of the economy, it is getting harder for families to even afford cheer.  By this, some will not return to competitive cheer.  This will bring thunder down on the gyms as they will lost a good amount of money. 

lets just say i work for a gym who is known but they dont have the funds to pay their coaches the rate they want to. so, what they do is that they fund us from their own pockets. the gym makes money dont get me wrong and if i was coaching for free i still would do it. Let's just say this is my only job job and i only work 17 hours a week, making $5000.00 for the month. Oh, yeah, BTW the owners husband owns a skyrise in New York. i feel like i shouldnt be taking the money but i really love the kids!

As a coach a have some very strong opinions about this subject and have a fairly good perspective from both points of view: as a coach and a gym owner...

Coaches should be paid off of experience. But here is the catch, someone who has been coaching lower level teams for 5 years and only cheered 1 year of all-stars has s different type of expereince level than someone who cheered at Cheer Athletics for 6 years but has never coached a day in their life. To some, their pay should be similiar to others one should make much more than the other.

Gym owners need to know that just like any other business wages are the quickest way to motivate your employees. Whether that be bonuses or yearly increases given to dedicated staff it all somes down to what you are paying them. If you are paying them low, either A) their performance will be low or B) they wont last long at your gym C) (usually the case) They will gripe and moan with other employees but stick with it because they love the kids and love coaching....and people wonder why coaches gym hop! coaches have to eat too!

I work at a gym where I receive a set pay for working at competitions regardless of the length of the event. However, just like our hourly wages it differs from staff to staff depending on the amount of work you do. I dont think coaches should be paid hourly because at competitions there is a whole lot of waiting time. But if a coach receives $50 for competition days it (theoretically) should cover gas, 1 meal, parking, and a bit of their time. Ive heard of some gyms that dont pay their coaches at all (what the heck!?) and some that just give them a per diem. I guess it just depends on the gym.

In the end, gym owners need to put a value on their coaches. Treating them and paying them fairly is one way to keep your coaches loyal and help prevent end of the season burnout :)

I find it very hard to believe anyone is making more than 73 dollars an hour coaching cheer! Anyone else buying this?

Anonymous wrote:

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I find it very hard to believe anyone is making more than 73 dollars an hour coaching cheer! Anyone else buying this?

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I know of a coach who makes that much....

Or said another way, $60,000 a year for a part time job of under 20 hours a week.  I'm sure the parents (many of whom may not even make that much a year working full time) and who may be struggling to keep their kids in cheer because their kids love it, appreciate you bragging about how much you earn.  Or were you complaining because you don't think you are making enough?  What was the point of the post?