How to pass your Gym Instructor Practical

Picture of the AIQ Gym Instructor LAP front cover

If you're enrolled on a Gym Instructor course, you'll have a number of assessments to get through: Worksheets, presentations, maybe an exam. Possibly the most intimidating assessment is the practical. Being watched and graded whilst you complete the practical is always anxiety inducing - even for experienced coaches - so, how do you best get through the practical?! Here are some tips:

Pre-assessment

1. Practice! It's amazing how many students think they can just 'wing it' on the day. winging it is not really a tactic that will guarantee success! You need to be consistently thorough with your teaching points - rote learning (repetitious learning) them tends to work best for most people. Also, participating in training, is not the same as coaching it... so find a friend, and rehearse your teaching points and coaching cues!

2. Read through the 'performance criteria'. You can see these within your assessment paperwork. They are a series of tick-boxes that you must get ticks in! Try and hit as many of the performance criteria as you can during the assessment. Sometimes this can make the session feel a bit 'fake'... but don't worry about that. Remember, the assessment is for you to prove that you know how to coach - to ensure that you're competent at everything!

3. Have your plan ready. You're allowed to have your plan. It's easiest to follow if you print it out. Phones are acceptable too - but it never looks good when a coach is staring at the small screen trying to decipher what exercise comes next!

Picture of performance criteria for the AIQ Gym Instructor qualification

Starting the assessment

1. Take your time at the start of the session. Introduce yourself, and the environment. Make your client feel at ease. Complete a verbal health check and finally, outline the objectives of the session.

2. Follow the plan! Keep checking your plan to make sure you don't accidentally skip a component! (This happens when people get nervous!). Carry a pen with you, so that you can cross off each exercise as you complete it.

   
   

Coaching the exercises

1. Use the acronym NEDY for EVERY exercise you coach:

   1. NAME the exercise

   2. EXPLAIN four things:

      1. Health & safety (including mounting and dismounting)

      2. Machine set up (if a machine is used)

      3. Technology (if a screen is involved)

      4. Technique of the exercise (include variations for different ability levels)

         NB. Remember that explanations need to be concise so that your client can remember them. Don't over elaborate or get too technical at this point. You add always add in teaching points later on.

   3. DEMONSTRATE the exercises. Be strict on your own form. Take your time and do enough reps that your client can visually see what they need to do. Whilst you're demonstrating, you can add some coaching cues to explain what you are physically doing. Some tips on your demo:

      1. Try and make coaching cues 'external' cues. That is, relate body positioning etc to the external environment. They are easier to understand than 'internal coaching cues' For example, during a squat, you could say 'as you descend, push your knees outward towards the corners of the squat rack' as opposed to 'fire your glutes to external rotate your hips, keeping your knees in line'! (Both are correct, but one is easier to understand!)

      2. Work from the ground up when adding cues to ensure you make each point in an orderly manner

      3. Add your coaching cues in the first few reps, then finish your demo with some 'silent' reps. This allows visual learners take on board your messages easier

      4. Do your demo's properly. Don't cut corners for speed. If you need a bar, then use a bar - it doesn't have to be loaded up - it could just be a broomstick!

   4. 'YOUR TURN'. This is where the client has a go themselves.

      1. Allow them to complete the first set by themselves providing that their technique isn't unsafe. It doesn't need to be at full weight/intensity yet. This is an opportunity for you to check how much your client understands about the exercise

      2. Once they finish their first set, make corrections through explanation and visual demo's if required

      3. Complete a 'working' set at an intensity that is appropriate for your client

         
         

Session flow

1. Once you get into the session, keep it flowing from one exercise to the next. Chat to the client. Ask for feedback regularly, Make them feel comfortable. Don't look to the assessor for advice or permission to move on - you make all the decisions. Work through your programme card methodically, delivering everything that is planned on it.

   NB. your assessor, for the sake of time-keeping, may move you on before all sets are complete. This would only be done if an assessment decision has already been made.

   
   

Ending the session

1. As the session draws to a close during the cool down component, start gathering feedback from your client. You can do this by asking open questions. Make a mental note of the feedback. Also use the time to praise your client - reminding them of what they have achieved during it. Always finish the session by thanking the client for their time.

   
   

Post session

1. Immediately after the session, you should complete the 'Session review/evaluation' document within your course assessment docs. You will need feedback from your client as well as your own thoughts to complete this. Be honest. Critically evaluating your own performance is a great way to learn

What happens next

1. Your assessor will conduct a short 'viva' with you. They will begin by telling you your result (pass/refer). They will then outline the reasons for their decision and these will be based solely on whether or not you met the performance criteria for the assessment. You will have an opportunity to discuss your own thoughts too.

2. If you passed - brilliant you're done! If you referred, don't panic - see it as a learning experience (a very high-value one!), and go away and practice the areas you need to work on. Don't rush into a resit as coaching is a skill best learnt over time. Do though, have a date in mind as to when you think you'll be ready to have another go!

If you have any further questions about the assessment process - feel free to contact me or add a comment below!

Good luck!!