Thinking About Hiring A Coach?
Finding a coach that is best suited for your needs can be a challenging but also a very worthy pursuit. As in other relationships, it’s important to never settle, but to find the person that is going to support you in the ways that you need. And when you finally find that person, it’s like the best haircut you ever had. The shoe just fits, so-to-speak.
In the context of health and fitness, here are six things we think are important to look for when searching for a thoughtful, effective coach.
1. They have an assessment process and consider the context of your needs.
You are as unique as the next person, so your coach will conduct an assessment of your movement to gain an understanding of what you need to do to work toward your particular health pursuits. Your exercise plan will be based upon this assessment, along with your own personal goals and account for any physical limitations you may have. The results of the assessment may suggest one thing, but the context of the situation is also equally as important. There is generally an underlying reason for everything, but your coach will help you determine what the important takeaways are. For example, if it’s determined that someone is lacking mobility in their thoracic spine, but this person is a high-level rugby player who needs thoracic stiffness in order to receive tackles safely, then it may not be wise to mobilize that part of their spine since it’s a function of what they need for their sport. For someone else, an avid biker let’s say, it may be a good decision to work on thoracic spine mobility if they are struggling to check their blind spot while cycling the city roads.
2. They are qualified and are always seeking further education.
There is a major difference between someone who is passionate about fitness, and someone who has pursued a career in health and fitness coaching. The former may be a friend or family member who can give you some tips for free, but the latter is the person who has invested their time and money towards acquiring the appropriate certifications, the practical experience working with a variety of clients, and the ongoing discipline of seeking continuing education.
3. They are an effective communicator.
The ability to communicate effectively is of utmost importance. They will be able to explain to you what the goals of the program are (which are tailored to your specific goals), what you will expect during each phase of the program, along with the specific instructions of how to perform each exercise correctly and safely and why these particular exercises have been prescribed to you. They will check in with you regularly to gain your perspective about how you are progressing and what might be holding you back.
4. They are adaptable/a problem-solver.
Working with a coach is a two-way relationship, requiring both parties to communicate regularly and openly so your coach may make any adjustments needed to the training plan. Maybe you had a death in the family, or an unexpected emergency, or incurred an injury or are feeling under the weather. These things happen and an effective coach will be able to adapt your training plan according to whatever unforeseen stressors enter the picture. Rather than falling off your exercise practices altogether, there are ways to alter the intensity and demands of a program so you’re able to continue moving forward while dealing with whatever that stressor may be. If you are having difficulty progressing or encounter certain barriers you feel are holding you back, your coach will be able to troubleshoot with you to come up with an action plan.
5. They are a big picture planner and considerate of context.
Regardless of your athletic status, whether you are a professional athlete training for a specific sport or someone in your 70s who may be exercising for longevity and maintaining good bone density, or perhaps you’re a new parent, it’s important that your coach take into account the bigger picture of your life when they are planning your training. The technical term for this organized approach to training is called periodization. They will help you organize the microcycle of your week, the mesocycle of your month, and the macrocycle of your year. Just as you plan vacations for certain times of year, they will organize the training plan to compliment each of those short and long-term cycles so you are able to maintain an overall consistent training regimen all year long. The rollercoaster of exercise is something a lot of people are trying to smooth out. This process involves your coach knowing when your busier or more stressful times of year are, along with your less busy or less stressful times of year in order to adapt the training program to appropriately match the demands of your daily life or sport.
6. They practice what they preach.
One of the best ways coaches can hone their skills and become better at cueing and understanding movement is by practicing themselves. It’s difficult to coach something you’ve never done before. If it’s a part of their lifestyle and they’ve tested and practiced the movements they are asking of you, they will be better equipped to effectively teach you and answer any questions you may have.
When you’re considering working with a coach, we would recommend asking them questions based around the six characteristics outlined above. We have had the privilege of meeting some amazing trainers and coaches over the years, and we hope these points help better equip you to find yours.