“RESPECT MY AUTHORITY!” - CARTMAN DATE UNKNOWN Trainer Concerns in a Group Setting…

Art McDermott Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist Certified Nutritionist USA Weightlifting Club Coach Author, Speaker and NSCA National Convention Business owner Adjunct 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 expertise  Not 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 products A4M – Boomer Generation/Anti-aging Charles Poliquin – training knowledge Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research Perform Better Seminars Martin 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