Most training programmes fail because of a lack of adherence.
There's little point producing the perfect training programme, only for it to be scrumpled up in a kit bag and never used from one session to the next. There are more than 200 variables that can effect adherence. Here are my top tips for making sure your athletes keep coming back for more:
Who are you dealing with?
Think about what sort of client you are dealing with. Cognitive clients need to understand the nature of training programme, how it will work and what they need to do. Emotional clients need to deal with feelings of anxiety, uncertainty, loss of control. Behavioural clients need to do something about it. They just want to get cracking.
Close the gate before the horse bolts.
Recognise the challenges that you are going to come up against. Remember there are more than 200 variable that could knock your client off track.
Know your enemy!Boredom
Lack of time
Lack of support (friends/family)
Lack of goals
What do they really want from you as a coach?
Understand what your athletes want. Research shows that three things an athlete looks for are: ·
Caring attitude
Firm treatment
Honest feedback
Get the basics sorted and the rest will follow
Implement a training strategy that addresses the following:
Education - know what to say, how much to say and when to say it!
Establish friendship fast - we can all find at least one common interest with our clients.
Social support - you need to become the significant other for your client.
Personalised programmes - cookie cutter programmes don't work. Set
Goal (s) - aake sure they are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic and Timed). If it doesn't meet the criteria then it's not a goal!