Most people probably have a fairly simple idea of what a fitness coach does.
We'll show you the exercises, correct your technique, answer your questions, and occasionally tell you that you can add a little more weight to the bar.
And yes, we do all of that.
But a large part of the really important coaching happens in things you might not even notice.
A really good coach remembers that your shoulder was giving you trouble three months ago. He notices that you're moving a little differently today. He knows that you've just returned from a two-week trip – and that today probably isn't the right day to be chasing a new personal best.
But he also listens.
He notices when you casually mention that you haven't been sleeping well for a few weeks. When things are completely crazy at work and your workout is slowly slipping down the priority list again. Or when you're frustrated because you're not losing weight, even though you feel like you're doing everything right.
Sometimes the solution isn't just another exercise.
Perhaps we need to look at what you're eating. Find a training rhythm that's more realistic for your life. Talk about recovery. Or simply help you realize that one tough week doesn't mean all your progress is suddenly gone.
And a good coach will also notice if you are stronger than you believe.
When the weight you're training with has become too light. When you're ready for the more difficult version of an exercise. Or when you've been putting off something for a while that you could actually have mastered long ago.
One of our members recently gave a wonderful description of good coaching in a conversation:
„"You take care of the person."“
And I think that's exactly it.
Good coaching doesn't simply mean that someone stands next to you while you train.
It means having someone who knows where you come from, understands where you want to go, and looks closely enough to recognize what you today you need.
Sometimes it's a correction. Sometimes it's encouragement. And quite often it means being challenged.
And sometimes it's someone who says, "That's enough for today," even though you yourself would probably have just kept going and somehow persevered.
The training plan is of course important.
But ultimately, we don't coach training plans.
We coach people.
If you'd like to know how we implement this coaching approach in practice at Fit4TheGame, you can find out more here., how our training works.