Reasons you're needed as a coach...

There’s should always be time to congratulate and encourage ahead of the next session.

Becoming a coach can be rewarding in many ways. To play a part in someone's journey, sometimes starting from complete scratch and helping them to achieve results that some never thought could be possible is nothing short of a privilege.

To be an outstanding coach, you need to ensure you have the qualities that are imperative to the role. You have the responsibility to provide clients with reliable & current information, construct a healthy/balanced lifestyle, ensure you're connecting their progress to their why, and the obvious - educating them through a variety of different exercises both safely and proficiently.

Below we've gone into a little more detail on some pillars we believe will help you stand out from the rest.

Helping people balance training vs life.

Working super hard is not always the answer. There is only so much stress that the body can take and we need to ensure that we have the right balance of stress and rest to allow adaptation and growth.

Stress can be in the form of training, lifestyle, poor sleep, children, relationships, work, alcohol, diet, or even something as simple as being caught up in a traffic jam. A coach can help to correct the training dose based on the variables.

There will always be points when we need to give someone that proverbial "kick" to get started, but on the other side of the coin, we need to be that person that lets them know when it's time to slow down. We can't burn the candle at both ends. We can help to educate people on how to minimise those factors that are within their control and essentially lighten their load.

Connecting their sessions to their "why".

Motivation is packaged in many forms. As much as we want to be encouraging during sessions, we can also encourage success and retention by understanding the client's reasons for partaking. People are far more likely to commit to the process if they are invested in their reasoning. What is the goal? Is it an internal fire or to scratch an external itch.

Ensuring regular contact with clients through consultations provides a platform to feedback to each other. If the "why" changes, so does the process. If they know their "why" then it will be easier to remain inspired and stay motivated when times are tough. If we can maintain a client's adherence to the plan, the chances of success are a lot greater.

A coach holds people accountable.

When making a change, it'll often include the need to learn new habits. These could be as simple as training 3 times a week or looking to consume 2 litres of water each day. Creating these new habits is no slouch, however, the process is very straightforward. Repetition, repetition, repetition. People will always benefit from someone holding them accountable. That's where we step in.

Throughout your journey as a coach, you will need to track client's progress and help make sure they stay on top of these new habits and behaviours until they become second nature.

Balancing the role of "challenge" and "support".

As stated earlier, coaches are there to give a pep talk when the client needs to be built up but are also there to celebrate the wins with them when they're successful. For this, we need to know how to communicate correctly with them.

An open channel of communication is only developed through trust. Building rapport is an effective tool to provide honest feedback for both client and coach. We love doing what we do and it means that we become passionate about their success. We don't just play the role of a cheerleader. The relationship should be able to invoke constructive criticism but also generate moments of elation and success. It's important to recognise achievements and celebrate the journey.

We are seen as experts in what we do.

There is no dodging around the fact that we are seen as a trusted source to help guide them through the minefield of misinformation that exists around training and nutrition. As their coach, you will know them (movement/lifestyle/background/goals), and you can provide the answers and advice that is relevant to them. If you can't, then surrounding yourself with a network of other professionals that can help you will place you above others too. Physiotherapists, sports massage therapists, and nutritionists are some examples of people who may help you bolster the service you provide without trying to be a jack of all trades yourself.

However successful we believe we are, trends within the industry change; diets come in and out of fashion and training methods are constantly proven outdated. It is our responsibility to ensure that we are staying relevant with continual professional development.

The fun part. Improving technique, form and reducing chances of injury.

Coaching the correct form is critical to improving performance and avoiding injury. As a coach, you have the responsibility to tailor exercises specific to the client's needs; whether that is a type of equipment, adapting the load or changing the intensity. Not one size fits all and the skills of being able to adapt and implement a suitable structure is what is going to lead to long term results.

The selflessness approach to great coaching is very gratifying. The satisfaction you get from knowing you are having a positive impact on someone's life is often second to none. A good coach will connect with clients on an emotional level, empathising with them and helping them to roadmap their route to success. A good coach will be able to help make minor adjustments to a client's technique that has been limiting their potential for years. A good coach will be able to help break down barriers that are constantly causing clients to fall at the first hurdle.

At the SweatIT Academy, you will spend time with active coaches, learning how to deliver coaching to the highest standard. The syllabus covers everything from our 7 pillars of movement, including squats, presses and single leg work, to building a sustainable coaching business.

For more information, click on the link below.

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Considering a career change or starting one then look no further than SweatIT Academy.