Guides · 5 min read
How to run a small group private lesson
How to keep two or three clients engaged, handle mixed ability, and set clear rules for attendance and pricing.
Why two or three clients is the sweet spot
A small group is not a mini class, and it is not two solo lessons happening side by side.
Two clients sharing an hour give each person around twenty-five minutes of direct coaching, with built-in rest between turns. Three clients work well when they already know each other. At four or more, coaching shifts into group class management, where you spend more time organising the group than working on technique.
Rotate drills so nobody stands in a queue
The quickest way to lose a group is making two people wait quietly while one person works. Waiting clients get cold and lose concentration.
Design drills where everyone has a job at the same time.
Active and resting pairs
One person works through the drill while the other counts repetitions, catches balls, or watches with a specific question in mind, then they swap.
One shared theme
Work on the same skill for everyone, such as first-serve consistency, breathing through a transition, or sight-reading tempo, rather than jumping between different topics.
A 60-second wrap-up
Spend the final minute asking each person what they will practise before the next lesson. It keeps the lesson personal without adding extra time.
Handling mixed ability
You will rarely teach two clients who are at exactly the same level.
The simplest approach is to keep the drill identical and change the target. A newer client aims for a wider target or a slower tempo. A stronger client aims for a tighter line, quicker recovery, or fewer touches. Both clients work on the same drill together, but each works at their own boundary.
Never coach only to the strongest client and hope the others catch up. The quieter one usually reads it as a sign they do not belong in the group, and tends to leave within a few lessons. Avoid splitting the lesson into two unrelated mini-sessions for the same reason: the shared drill is what makes it a group lesson.
Pricing, missed lessons, and admin
Small groups fall apart because of calendar friction, not coaching.
A fixed weekly slot, paid in advance for the block, holds a small group together. Rebooking each lesson individually almost guarantees that within a few weeks one person cannot make it and the group dissolves.
Pricing
Charge each client around sixty to seventy-five percent of your standard one-to-one rate. Each client pays less than a solo lesson, and your hourly income still rises to cover the extra preparation.
The cancellation rule
The lesson runs as long as at least one person attends. If one person is unwell or away, the remaining clients still get their session. Do not offer individual make-up slots for group lessons; rescheduling three people around three calendars is almost impossible.
Notes and records
Keep one shared lesson note covering the drills and themes you worked on, and add a short personal observation for anyone who needs specific homework.
Frequently asked questions
How many people should be in a small group?
Two or three. Two allows high-intensity work with natural rest between turns. Three works when the clients have similar goals. Four usually turns into a group class.
What if one person is much stronger than the other?
Keep the drill the same and change the difficulty with targets, distance, or tempo. Both clients stay engaged in the same exercise without feeling separated.
What happens if someone cannot make a session?
The session goes ahead with whoever is there. Trying to reschedule a group session to fit everyone’s calendar quickly leads to cancelled blocks.
How do you price a small group?
Charge each person sixty to seventy-five percent of your standard private rate, booked and paid as a monthly block or a term upfront.
Run your coaching, calmly
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