Do people have unrealistic coaching expectations?

[Joey Stewart]

Since I pretty much never talk to other chess teachers, and for the most part they tend to be lone wolf operatives that never share their methods I'm genuinely not sure if this is true across the board or just my experience.

Seems like an awfully common scenario plays out as such- request gets made for coaching , you prepare some general guidelines and useful tips to better their middlegame and endgame (by far the place I feel everyone most benefits to learn more about) they turn up saying right I play the tarkatower variation of the trompowsky and I want you to teach me everything about that specific obscure variation you never played and know nothing about. Usually after an hour of total guesswork as to why this opening even exists and what the objectives are even supposed to be they never call you again.

Is this common for other people who have coached?

[MJMcCready]

The student should never be dictating terms of what he or she wants to study.

[Nick Ivell]

I haven't coached for years but when I did I always made it clear the the opening wasn't my thing.

I'd have run a mile before attempting to teach the Tromp.

[Paul Cooksey]

I played the Tromp as my main opening for about 10 years. By the time I gave it up I hated every line for white. It really teaches you to respect the bishop pair.

I am going to see if I can find someone willing to pay me to complain to them about how bad everything is.

[IM Jack Rudd]

That sort of thing is unrealistic unless you know the coach is an expert in the specific thing you want, yes.

[MJMcCready]

Unrealistic isn't the best choice of the word. It's topsy-turvy, as mentioned.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Well, it's both; you need to know whether you want general coaching (in which case you should let things be guided by your coach) or specific coaching (in which case you should seek out specific experts).