Hi all, so I moved to a new area a couple of years ago, I used to coach tennis in London, it was always in high demand and I really enjoyed it.
When I moved here I approached the local tennis club and last summer we started coaching. Another coach does the older kids (7+) but I do the little ones. Currently it’s Reception to Y2 age Tuesday and Thursday from 4:15-5pm and Tots tennis (2+ with parent or carer) Wednesdays usually 4:15-4:45 but we sometimes run over.
For tots tennis right now we have 4 families, 5 kids.
Tuesday session we have 5 kids and Thursday another 5 kids. For both the 4-7 sessions I have a teen who’s doing her Duke of Edinburgh with me. Of the two 4-7 groups 2 of the kids attend both sessions.
From October Half term - February Half term we moved into the community centre which is next door to the club.
If I’m going to be honest it’s not massively economical, the club lets us use the courts for free, the community centre charges is £15 per session per week, the tots tennis is £5 per week per child and the older kids is £6.
The club is happy to keep running it as it doesn’t really cost anything and the families/kids need to be members of the club to attend anyway.
I’m happy to keep doing it (especially in the Spring, summer and early autumn when it’s profitable.
The issue is with 5 kids paying £6 - £30 a week for that session it’s only £15 after hall fees and obviously insurance too (which isn’t much to be fair).
My husband thinks we should stop running these sessions as interest is low, he thinks this is probably because it’s a Low income area and the popular kids hobbies seem to be Dance/Gymnastics not tennis. Also obviously tennis is just fun at this age. I know the local athletics club also struggles with the mini athletics sessions they run for this age, but continue to run them for the few who are interested.
So AIBU thinking we should run them next year too? Maybe first year is just a slow start?
Or time to cut losses?