Hello Everyone I know this was discussed awhile back but I cant seem to find it. I was just curious about the average wage that coaches receive. Currently I am at a gym that the owners just do not understand the going rate for quality coaching. There are coaches that have been at this gym for 4,6, 10 years that are getting paid $12 or less. Now I understand that this is not the most profitable job and the economy is really hurting right now, but I find it hard to believe that is the going rate for qualified and experienced coaches. Also can anyone tell me how they go about paying for choreography do they have a set rate per team and split that by the amount of coaches that work on the routine or do they have a set fee per coach? I would greatly appreciate anyone that helps explain how things go in their gym.
Hello Everyone I know this was discussed awhile back but I cant seem to find it. I was just curious about the average wage that coaches receive. Currently I am at a gym that the owners just do not understand the going rate for quality coaching. There are coaches that have been at this gym for 4,6, 10 years that are getting paid $12 or less. Now I understand that this is not the most profitable job and the economy is really hurting right now, but I find it hard to believe that is the going rate for qualified and experienced coaches. Also can anyone tell me how they go about paying for choreography do they have a set rate per team and split that by the amount of coaches that work on the routine or do they have a set fee per coach? I would greatly appreciate anyone that helps explain how things go in their gym.
The thread is entitled What is not enough started on Apr 15. Here is my resposne from that thread:
Anonymous wrote:
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?
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.
Hope this helps. As to choreography questions, I really do not know the anwer for that. All of ours is done in house. All i know is our kids so not pay extra for choreography or music because we do that all in house.
Thank you for your response and the reminder to the previous thread. I guess it is just a difficult situation when owners use "Non-Profit" as an explanation for everything, when it seems to be most of what they do is not non-profit at all. With charging people for fundraisers. So we will see what happens.
That is all dependent on the choreographer. Obviously you will pay more for a more known choreographer vs someone who is just starting. There is a hiearchery to choerographers and the higher up on the food chain, the more you will pay. In the end you make the offer and they either accept or say no.
What about "in house" choreography to most gyms pay the coaches that create these routines, or is it expected of them to do it for free?
most get paid a separate choreography fee
My personal opinion is an inhouse service is an inhouse service. There should not be an additional fee for inhouse choreography. The choreographer has the luxury of thinking through the routine the entire year. This should be a bonus for your gym. The savings of this expense should be passed to the client. Sorry, but I do not agree thatthe choreography fee is an extra stipend for an inhouse coach. Again this is my opinion.
What about "in house" choreography to most gyms pay the coaches that create these routines, or is it expected of them to do it for free?
most get paid a separate choreography fee
My personal opinion is an inhouse service is an inhouse service. There should not be an additional fee for inhouse choreography. The choreographer has the luxury of thinking through the routine the entire year. This should be a bonus for your gym. The savings of this expense should be passed to the client. Sorry, but I do not agree thatthe choreography fee is an extra stipend for an inhouse coach. Again this is my opinion.
as a coach who is also a choreographer i do expect to be paid for my services even when its in-house... i do not work for free EVER... most good coaches that do choreography are on salary which includes choreography, or in my case choreography and music... this way it is part of my job description and my pay is based on the services i am providing the gym... now if the coach is paid hourly they should be paid for choreography seperately... choreographers are not only paid for their time but also their CREATIVITY so it is unfair to pay an hourly wage for choreography
What about "in house" choreography to most gyms pay the coaches that create these routines, or is it expected of them to do it for free?
most get paid a separate choreography fee
My personal opinion is an inhouse service is an inhouse service. There should not be an additional fee for inhouse choreography. The choreographer has the luxury of thinking through the routine the entire year. This should be a bonus for your gym. The savings of this expense should be passed to the client. Sorry, but I do not agree thatthe choreography fee is an extra stipend for an inhouse coach. Again this is my opinion.
as a coach who is also a choreographer i do expect to be paid for my services even when its in-house... i do not work for free EVER... most good coaches that do choreography are on salary which includes choreography, or in my case choreography and music... this way it is part of my job description and my pay is based on the services i am providing the gym... now if the coach is paid hourly they should be paid for choreography seperately... choreographers are not only paid for their time but also their CREATIVITY so it is unfair to pay an hourly wage for choreography
Even if you dont think you are paying for inhouse choreography you are....they put it in your fees.
I think that varies depending on the gym. We do all the choreography for all of our teams(both cheer and dance) in house. There has never been a charge to one parent for choreography. If they did, then any time they had to change a routine because of injury, child quitting, going from small to large or large to small, or...as in our case...our coaches just want to change it some, they would have to be charged. We do not charge ours for music either because we do that ourselves as well. And the bill is not inflated because of either. That is just a service we provide to our parents who pay enough as it is.
