FIVE TECHNIQUE HACKS TO HELP STRUGGLING CLIENTS SUCCEED<\/p>\n
Rowing for any client\/athlete is always a fine balance of getting the right amount of technical cues into your session and not overloading their brain. But if they just aren\u2019t getting it, you know how frustrating it can feel\u2014for both of you.<\/p>\n
Your job as a coach is to help clients learn the exercise technique, but that process can get awkward if the client feels embarrassed or discouraged by their lack of mastery. You might also feel this way for missing the mark on how to teach it. Your best line of defenwe for diffusing these potentially high-pressure situations is to prepare multiple options for breaking down the exercise. <\/strong><\/p>\n Try these 5 suggestions below as a starting point to achieve success, believe me, we\u2019ve all been there and sometimes a little change from you can make a big change for your athlete.<\/p>\n Save it until the end<\/strong> Cater to multiple learning styles<\/strong> Use props and tech tools<\/strong> Go back to the drawing board<\/strong> Let it go<\/strong> Coaches are responsible for helping clients improve and progress. To that end, carefully break down exercises and carry on from there. Remember you as a coach are only as good as your athletes.<\/strong> If you show, explain or get a client to practice poor form and technique then that is what you will be correcting for as long as you step out onto that gym floor.<\/p>\n Yours in fitness, education and helping clients achieve success. <\/p>\n Photo by Frederick Tubiermont<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FIVE TECHNIQUE HACKS TO HELP STRUGGLING CLIENTS SUCCEED Rowing for any client\/athlete is always a fine balance of getting the right amount of technical cues into your session and not overloading their brain. But if they just aren\u2019t getting it, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":12699,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[593],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nAs long as the client isn\u2019t at risk of injury, sometimes it\u2019s best to leave a detailed technique tutorial until the end of the set or better yet, the workout, especially if you\u2019re dealing with a case of \u201clearner\u2019s block\u201d that\u2019s made worse when there\u2019s pressure to perform. Besides that, you might interrupt the flow of the workout when you spend too much time breaking down an exercise. If a client isn\u2019t getting a particular move, regress it a bit and reserve a few minutes at the end of the session\u2014once the client has cooled down\u2014to \u201cworkshop\u201d the exercise progression. With the workout over, there\u2019s less pressure to accomplish the right technique asap.<\/p>\n
\nOne of the biggest things I see with a lot of coaches is the reliance on one possibly 2 coaching styles to try and impart information to those learning movement. You might have observed that people prefer to learn a new exercise in different ways, such as by watching, listening and\/or doing. Especially on the rower, a combination of all three works well, perhaps with an emphasis on one particular style. Most coaches naturally notice which approach works best for which clients. Still, get in the habit of using a variety of teaching techniques when needed. For example:<\/strong> show the client what the exercise looks like by doing it yourself. As you visually demonstrate, explain what\u2019s happening and invite clients to perform the exercise with you. Continue to demonstrate, explain and perhaps modify as needed.<\/p>\n
\nCoaches are known for using props such as bands, towels or tape to help demonstrate proper movement angles with clients. Sometimes asking clients to look in the mirror is all it takes for them to see\u2014and correct\u2014what\u2019s going wrong with their form. This might be especially true for people who are visual learners.
\nIf that doesn\u2019t work, or there are no mirrors for them to watch their form, turn to your phone for assistance. Take photos or video of clients in action to help them understand and correct technique problems (be sure to get their permission to do this first). Mobile apps like Coach\u2019s Eye and Hudl Technique allow you to go in-depth with on-the-spot footage or video imported from your camera roll. For example, you can view slow-motion playback and draw lines, angles and arrows on a video or photo to review and analyze problematic or desired movement patterns.<\/p>\n
\nIf a client still hasn\u2019t improved after a thorough tutorial, perhaps it\u2019s time to re-evaluate the progression you\u2019ve chosen. Re-start the exercise with something less advanced, temporarily eliminating a body part or removing the handle.
\nIt might also be that the client needs more time to become aware of, and properly isolate, a muscle or muscle group involved in a given exercise before you can move on. Opt for foundational mastery before getting too complex.<\/p>\n
\nFinally, if a particular change seems to create a stumbling block for clients, you might need to face the fact that it\u2019s not the right change for right now. Perhaps some clients need to do more foundational work before they\u2019re ready for this next step. If you can\u2019t logically tweak the movement so it\u2019s more user-friendly, consider ditching it (for the time being, at least).<\/p>\n
\nCoach John.<\/p>\n