Private training - honest opinions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s Simple at 13+

1. Get Faster
Start with a proper warmup, then hit short sprints on turf or grass. Keep your mechanics clean, and focus on explosive effort over short distances (10–30m).

2. Build Speed Endurance
Sprint longer distances (40–100m) at near top speed with full recovery between reps. Think “repeat sprint ability” — crucial for the game.

3. Cardiovascular Endurance
Run, forest, run! Go for longer jogs at a steady, moderate pace. Use your body, track it with AI, or apps like Runna to stay consistent.

4. Get Stronger (Muscular Strength + Endurance)
Use bodyweight calisthenics or start lifting weights. Focus on key lifts (squats, presses, and pulls). Adjust reps/sets based on your goal:
Strength (low reps, high weight)
Hypertrophy (moderate reps, moderate weight)
Endurance (high reps, lower weight)

5. Touches on the Ball
Every day. Dribble, pass, finish. Play alone, with friends, join pickup games or adult leagues. The more touches, the more comfortable and confident you become.

This a generic ChatGT response?

Sadly, probably not. The typical American 4/1 ratio of physical work to ball mastery. This is why our kids don’t develop like kids in other countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it’s a waste of time and money.

no its not.

100% it is. In the US you can count on both hands the private 1:1 trainers worth paying for. The other 99.999% of them are no different than a bag of balls on the local field or an Eddie Johnson YouTube. Buy a dribble up in that case, it’s the same thing without having to pay for some idiot to teach your kid their rec level “principles of the game”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it’s a waste of time and money.

no its not.

100% it is. In the US you can count on both hands the private 1:1 trainers worth paying for. The other 99.999% of them are no different than a bag of balls on the local field or an Eddie Johnson YouTube. Buy a dribble up in that case, it’s the same thing without having to pay for some idiot to teach your kid their rec level “principles of the game”

There’s always a guy who thinks everyone’s an idiot. Don’t listen to him. Do your research or find one through word of mouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it’s a waste of time and money.

no its not.

100% it is. In the US you can count on both hands the private 1:1 trainers worth paying for. The other 99.999% of them are no different than a bag of balls on the local field or an Eddie Johnson YouTube. Buy a dribble up in that case, it’s the same thing without having to pay for some idiot to teach your kid their rec level “principles of the game”

In the entire US huh? lol

Guess you tried and failed with your kid miserably

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it’s a waste of time and money.

no its not.

100% it is. In the US you can count on both hands the private 1:1 trainers worth paying for. The other 99.999% of them are no different than a bag of balls on the local field or an Eddie Johnson YouTube. Buy a dribble up in that case, it’s the same thing without having to pay for some idiot to teach your kid their rec level “principles of the game”

Private trainer here. Can confirm there are a ton of idiots out there. They are easy to spot, you’ll hear them talk more about WHAT to do (go to this cone then that cone) than HOW or WHY to do it. They’ll also talk generically about how they train and run the same drills they would run for a group of kids.

1:1 can be worth it if your kid is motivated and wants to improve - if not don’t bother. Juice isn’t worth the squeeze if the only reason they are practicing is because someone is telling making them.

Don’t use the club coach or assistant for your team. Conflict of interest and bad situation every time. Other coaches at the club maybe but find out if they do lots of privates and how they run them. Many will say yes just for the extra cash. For finding someone serious Coachup is a good place to start. Read the bios and reviews and look past the 5 stars (they will all be 5 stars) to see what people are actually saying about their experience. Do a trial session first, do not commit to a bunch of sessions up front. If it isn’t a good fit move on.

If you have any other questions I can answer them, but since there’s a 99.999% an idiot you might not want to bother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it’s a waste of time and money.

no its not.

100% it is. In the US you can count on both hands the private 1:1 trainers worth paying for. The other 99.999% of them are no different than a bag of balls on the local field or an Eddie Johnson YouTube. Buy a dribble up in that case, it’s the same thing without having to pay for some idiot to teach your kid their rec level “principles of the game”

Private trainer here. Can confirm there are a ton of idiots out there. They are easy to spot, you’ll hear them talk more about WHAT to do (go to this cone then that cone) than HOW or WHY to do it. They’ll also talk generically about how they train and run the same drills they would run for a group of kids.

1:1 can be worth it if your kid is motivated and wants to improve - if not don’t bother. Juice isn’t worth the squeeze if the only reason they are practicing is because someone is telling making them.

Don’t use the club coach or assistant for your team. Conflict of interest and bad situation every time. Other coaches at the club maybe but find out if they do lots of privates and how they run them. Many will say yes just for the extra cash. For finding someone serious Coachup is a good place to start. Read the bios and reviews and look past the 5 stars (they will all be 5 stars) to see what people are actually saying about their experience. Do a trial session first, do not commit to a bunch of sessions up front. If it isn’t a good fit move on.

If you have any other questions I can answer them, but since there’s a 99.999% an idiot you might not want to bother.

If you are answering questions, what is fair amount to ask to a coach to travel to me vs me going to them?

For example, let’s say you are $65 an hour but in Alexandria and I want you to come to The Fields at RFK in DC. Is there fair compensation for the travel time?

This has been an issue recently as we don’t have the ability to make trips outside of the city but too many trainers are automatically dismissing us. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Lots of good trainers out there. Just ask. Anywhere but here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it’s a waste of time and money.

no its not.

100% it is. In the US you can count on both hands the private 1:1 trainers worth paying for. The other 99.999% of them are no different than a bag of balls on the local field or an Eddie Johnson YouTube. Buy a dribble up in that case, it’s the same thing without having to pay for some idiot to teach your kid their rec level “principles of the game”

Private trainer here. Can confirm there are a ton of idiots out there. They are easy to spot, you’ll hear them talk more about WHAT to do (go to this cone then that cone) than HOW or WHY to do it. They’ll also talk generically about how they train and run the same drills they would run for a group of kids.

1:1 can be worth it if your kid is motivated and wants to improve - if not don’t bother. Juice isn’t worth the squeeze if the only reason they are practicing is because someone is telling making them.

Don’t use the club coach or assistant for your team. Conflict of interest and bad situation every time. Other coaches at the club maybe but find out if they do lots of privates and how they run them. Many will say yes just for the extra cash. For finding someone serious Coachup is a good place to start. Read the bios and reviews and look past the 5 stars (they will all be 5 stars) to see what people are actually saying about their experience. Do a trial session first, do not commit to a bunch of sessions up front. If it isn’t a good fit move on.

If you have any other questions I can answer them, but since there’s a 99.999% an idiot you might not want to bother.

If you are answering questions, what is fair amount to ask to a coach to travel to me vs me going to them?

For example, let’s say you are $65 an hour but in Alexandria and I want you to come to The Fields at RFK in DC. Is there fair compensation for the travel time?

This has been an issue recently as we don’t have the ability to make trips outside of the city but too many trainers are automatically dismissing us. Thoughts?

Move

[Anonymous]

We found that private training definitely helped our DD and we preferred not to have one of her current coaches. We felt that trainers who weren’t affiliated with the team were more objective and focused on her overall fitness and technique. Sometimes coaches have preconceived ideas of where they want certain people to play and conduct training and practices around that. That may or may not be what’s in the best interest of the individual player.

Even with paid coaches, there can still be the “favored” group who gets the most attention. If you’re interested in improving overall skill, you may want someone outside that network.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it’s a waste of time and money.

no its not.

100% it is. In the US you can count on both hands the private 1:1 trainers worth paying for. The other 99.999% of them are no different than a bag of balls on the local field or an Eddie Johnson YouTube. Buy a dribble up in that case, it’s the same thing without having to pay for some idiot to teach your kid their rec level “principles of the game”

incorrect. You can always find decent trainers. But yes there are people who dont do research and find a dude with a bag of balls. I would call that parent a dumbass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of good trainers out there. Just ask. Anywhere but here.

+1

Most individual trainers will offer a free session to start or lower rate. I would certainly encourage small group training over individual.