1. Fitness Programming Trends and the Well-Qualified Fitness Professional
National Recreation and Park Association Annual Congress

2. Who is ACE? ACE is a multi-faceted 501C-3 organization
Nonprofit fitness certification and education organization
Network of more than 70,000 exercise professionals and health coaches
Publisher of exercise and fitness education materials
Unbiased evaluator of fitness products and trends

3. I Did Say Multifaceted…
Trusted health and fitness resource for professionals, media and the public
Connection between the public and certified professionals
An advocate for public policies that encourage physical activity
Builder of collaborative relationships across the health and fitness industry lines

4. Common Roles of Exercise Professionals in Recreation and Parks
Remember…it pays to play!

5. Common Exercise Professional Roles in Recreation & Park Settings
Group Exercise Instructor
Park and Recreation Fitness Centers & Other Facilities
Classes Offered Through Partnerships
Personal Fitness Trainer
Park and Recreation Fitness Centers
Professionally Led Physical Activity (PLPA) in Parks

6. What’s Hot in Fitness Programming?

7. What’s Hot in Fitness Programming?
Personal Training/Small Group Setting
Park and Recreation Fitness Centers
Health Coaching
Specialization

8. What’s Hot in Fitness Programming?
Group Exercise Trends
Increase in “soft programming”
Programming for the “new middle class”
Stroller programming

9. What’s Hot in Fitness Programming?
Cause-Based Training-Social Fundraising
“Coining the term for this breed of conscientious fitness fiends here and now: Philanthrofits! ”- Cosmopolitan Magazine

10. What’s REALLY Hot in Fitness Programming?
Consumer Control in Group Fitness
Fitting classes in when can
Flexibility in location
“Try before you Buy”
“ClassPass’s monthly memberships are a great value, considering most classes cost upwards of $30 each at retail pricing or drop-ins.”

11. What’s REALLY Hot in Fitness Programming?
On Demand Video
Friend or Foe?
Technology
Creative thinking and FUN!

12. What Do YOU Think is Hot in Fitness Programming?

13. Identifying Well-Qualified Fitness Professionals

14. Defining Common Terms
Credentialing- Credentialing is an umbrella term used to refer to concepts such as:
Professional certification
Certificate Programs
Accreditation
Licensure
Regulation

15. Defining Common Terms
Certification Program- A program designed to test knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform a particular job, and, upon successfully passing an exam, to represent a declaration of a particular individual’s professional competence.

16. Defining Common Terms
Accreditation- The process by which a credentialing or educational program is evaluated against defined standards and is awarded recognition if it is in compliance with those standards.
Example: Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) offers accreditation to professional certification programs through the NCCA.

17. Identifying Well-Qualified Exercise Professionals
Holds a current certification from a National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited exercise professional certification program.

18. Popular Fitness Certifications

19. Identifying Well-Qualified Exercise Professionals
Holds a Degree in Exercise Science or has Completed Career School and/or Vocational Educational program
Holds Appropriate Certifications
Primary Certification: Group Exercise, Health Coach, Personal Trainer, Pilates, etc.
Specialty Certifications: Senior Fitness, Youth Fitness, etc.

20. Identifying Well-Qualified Exercise Professionals-the Intangibles
Personality-does their presence match the program need?
Authenticity
Passionate
Reliability

21. Stay Informed https://www.acefitness.org/advocacy/news-and-articles

22. ACE Monthly Policy Digest

23. ACE Resources for You
Walk This Way-Developing Community Walking Programs (
Exercise Your Voice
Salary Report-Personal Trainers

24. ACE Resources for You Free Webinars Safe Programming for Senior Adults
Creating Safe Community Walking Programs
Leveraging Tech to Help Create Active, Walking Communities

25. Contact Information
@ACEfitness
@ACEpolicySheila
Facebook.com/ACEfitness
(800)
ACEfitness.org