“RESPECT MY AUTHORITY!” - CARTMANDATE UNKNOWN

Trainer Concerns in a Group Setting…

Art McDermott

Certified Strength & Conditioning SpecialistCertified NutritionistUSA Weightlifting Club CoachAuthor, Speaker and NSCA National ConventionBusiness ownerAdjunct Professor – University of Massachusetts

– Lowell. Exercise Prescription and Program Design w/ Dr. Collins School of Health & Environment; Department of Physical

Therapy – Exercise Physiology Program

Expert Status

You are by default the most experienced person in the room.

You MUST present yourself as such

Stage 1

Before the session even starts: Room set up and appearance

Cleanliness Temperature Equipment setup Music (type and volume)

Your position in the room Front and center Demeanor Personal Energy level

Session Set up – continued

Rapport building & greeting Learn and USE each person’s name 3 times during the session Try to find out something about them Their physical limitations

Atmosphere What is the purpose of the session? Workshop, instructional, “boot camp”

Physical Appearance Professional! Clean Speak with a smile

Setting Expectations

You are in control of the workout

Client’s health is in your hands; Assumed trust

Presenting Progressions and Regressions KNOW YOUR CLIENTS. Challenge the advanced and address the weaknesses “Leveling”

Evaluations and Assessments

Even a group setting MUST have some way of assessing new clients

Examples of injuries and medical conditions

Liability situations

Knowing your limitations

Never overstep your areas of expertiseNot a physical therapist (and vise versa)

Not a physician (and vise versa)Not a Registered Dietician. Clarify

Conducting the Session

You are there to coach and encourage; not count reps or babysit

Use technology

Give coaching cue, provide next movement lead-in, set and KEEP the tone of the session.

Tell them what you are going to do, do it and then tell them what you did.

Dealing with the Unexpected!

Injury: non-disclosure, over-reaching

Unruliness/Rudeness/Bad attitudes

Crisis Preparedness Power Equipment failure Health Emergency

Wrapping Up

Was the session you just conducted the highlight of their day? Did you deliver?

Will they talk about it to friends, family and co-workers? Business implications

Did they walk away better not beaten? Trainer intention

Going Forward…

Invest in yourself Seminars, books, certifications Read one business related article per week Read one Industry related article per week My examples: Mastermind group, book writing event,

speaking/presenting, blogging/newsletters

Network with peers Learn from those further down the road Always learn. When you stop learning, you stop

growing and start on a decline

Resources

Pat Rigsby – business; blog and productsA4M – Boomer Generation/Anti-aging Charles Poliquin – training knowledgeJournal of Strength & Conditioning ResearchPerform Better SeminarsMartin Rooney: “Tony Robbins of Fitness”Find the leader in your area of preferred

expertise and go intern with them.Explore the newest tools in your industry

THANK YOU!

ART MCDERMOTT CSCS CISSN

Be the Expert