Tips for being a
community-based
fitness coach
• Set goals and targets, but don’t make them
overambitious. Someone relatively new to regular
physical activity is unlikely to want to immediately
build towards a marathon or becoming a
bodybuilder.
• Build fitness into their daily routine. What can they
do at work? Around the house? With their family?
• Be positive and encouraging. Most people
already have some physical activity in their life, so
highlight and praise that.
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• Be supportive when they’re trying new types of
activity. Go the extra mile by joining in or attending
new sessions with them. You’ll probably learn
something and develop yourself as a coach.
One of his clients saw a sign
advertising a Zumba class and
said she would love to try it out
– but told him she would never
have the confidence to go.
“I said, ‘All right, I’ll come and do
it with you. I’ll stand next to you
and if you don’t like it we can
just come out,’” says Andrew –
who enjoyed it so much he is
now a Zumba instructor himself.
“If things are not fun, and
people don’t see the benefit,
they will just give up,” says
Andrew. “It’s got to be people’s
needs at the centre of it. There’s
no point me trying to teach
something I love – it has to be
what they love.”
Next steps
This feature was co-developed by ukcoaching.org
– home to hundreds of resources, advice and workshops
for coaches and fitness professionals.
@REPsUK
FM 19