Is Giving Skateboarding Lessons A Good Idea?

Is Giving Skateboarding Lessons A Good Idea?

 Approach any large group of skateboarders and ask them if they think skateboarding lessons are a good idea and the chances are that you will get two completely different opinions.  Some people will tell you that skateboarding is a natural instinct, like riding a cycle and except of a few safety tips, nothing else can really be taught.  The more modern school of thought feels that with the sport having become as complex and technical as it has, providing proper skateboarding lessons will enable learners to get the fundamentals right and be able to progress to skateboarding at high levels with the right skills.  There is truth in what both sides have to say, but if you have skills that can benefit others and are prepared to work at passing them on, you can make money by giving skateboarding lessons.

 Keep in mind that having skateboarding skills is not enough to be a good teacher – you will need patience, understanding and the ability to provide encouragement to those students whose confidence levels and learning abilities are low.  If you have those qualities in you, then the first thing you need to do is identify your target market –will it be young kids who want to learn or teens who want to improve their existing skills or older people who want to try something new for fun and exercise?  Whether you choose one of these groups or something else, each student group is different and will need to be taught differently, with a different teaching plan, if you are going to make a success of it.  This is more than just a list of the things you will be teaching them – you will have to identify what they need to learn and why, the stages in which you will do it, in what sequence things will be taught to make it easier for the learners and how long the instruction course will last for.  And of course how much to charge – too little and it may not be worthwhile devoting all that time to it and too much and you may drive potential clients away.

 Never make the mistake of starting with a large group of students – things can get out  of control for an inexperienced instructor and the whole thing could end in chaos so it better to start small, get a feel of how things will work and then expand.  And since you will need to give individual attention to each student, starting small will enable you to see how much time you will need to devote to group instruction and how much to personal.  With this information, you will be able to plan your skateboard lessons in a way that enables you to teach your students what they need to know and also to bring you the maximum money.