I am in line with DaleW. He is right on IMO. I also agree with the coach you'd have been better served to go up a line weight. A 3/4 in the hands of a good caster can perform well with a three but for learning the game the extra weight of a 4 helps load the rod better. This is particularly true if you are fishing at less than 35' of line out or so. If you're learning curve is not going well consider the heavier line.