What Parents Should Ask Before Booking a Trial Class

10 questions to ask at a trial

• What are your coaches' qualifications and how long have they worked with children?
• How many children are in this group and what is the coach-to-child ratio?
• What is the structure of a typical session — warm-up, skill work, game play?
• How do you track each child's progress and communicate it to parents?
• What happens if my child misses a session — are make-up classes available?
• What is included in the fee: sessions, uniform, equipment, tournament registration?
• Are sessions held indoors, outdoors, or both? What happens in extreme weather?
• Can I observe the session or part of it during the trial?
• What is your safeguarding and emergency procedure?
• Is there a minimum commitment period or can I pause/cancel month-to-month?

What to observe during the trial

Watch how the coach corrects mistakes — do they use encouragement or criticism? How does the group respond when a child is struggling? Is your child engaged, or disengaged after 10 minutes? The trial class usually tells you more than any brochure.