The Athlete Inside

© Copyright 1998 by Pam Germain. All rights reserved.

Online Correspondence Course

Section 1 - Introducing "The Athlete Inside"
Section 2 - Athletic Training & Conditioning Class: The First Week
Section 3 - Need to Know! Fitness Terms & Exercise Principles
Section 4 - Athletic Training Workout Design
Section 5 - Sports Lectures & Workouts
Section 6 - Another Game/Student Projects
Section 7 - More Sports!
Section 8 - It's All in Your Mind (at least 75%)
Section 9 - Personal Trainers & Group Instructors: How to Use this Information
Correspondence Course Assignments
Online Course Descriptions
"How to Order."

Personal Trainers & Group Fitness Instructors:
How to Use this Information

While you may not need to use the format of a college class, you can use ideas from this course to encourage the athletic attitude in your group classes and individual clients. This type of instruction requires planning and preparation on your part. Learn about the activities or sports you will be teaching. When I get the opportunity to design a program to train someone for a sport, I first interview the client about the activities they do. I watch him or her do the movements used in the sport. After this evaluation and perhaps some research, I design a routine to improve the sports movements and to prevent muscle imbalances and injuries.

Acquire technical and strategic knowledge that is used to coach athletes. Like all good instruction, this includes:

• Concise verbal instructions
• Clear and accurate visualdemonstrations
• Ability to analyze form and technique
• Proper corrections
• Methods to motivate participants

All good instructors know how to simplify and teach complex movement. Excellent instructors are skilled at observing movements and breaking them down into the base moves. They teach the student with a simple to complex learning curve.

Most group instructors do not spend a lot of time teaching muscle anatomy and exercise science. The use of correct terminology with a visual location of where a muscle is can help the students understand the exercises. I like informal explanations when I'm teaching health club classes. I do not find it necessary to describe every exercise, muscle, or movement in the same class. Over time small bits of educational information that are repeated will be remembered. I use the technical term and the vernacular term for body parts and movements in the same discussion. I also offer handouts about fitness. If you do this and spend some time educating your groups about exercise, it may be possible to play Exercise Q&A Relay with them occasionally.

Personal trainers have more opportunity to spend time explaining the technical information to clients. But the session should be fun, too. It's not necessary to "blind them with science."

Personal trainers usually offer regular fitness assessments at the facility where they work. While more challenging at times, it is possible to fitness test groups, if the class members are open to it. A group instructor can do just one assessment in any single class. For example, you can do a step test at the beginning of the cardiovascular workout, with an extended warm up effect as a bonus. Do other assessments as part of a workout, encouraging the students to go for the "max." I like to casually discuss the results during the cool-down.

I usually teach group classes at the same time slot five days a week. Since the same people tend to show up, I like to devote 1 or 2 of my 5 weekly classes to "sports". I choose one sport per week and use some of the basic movements, conditioning exercises, and drills in the session. It results in a workout that is simple to follow (the steps are uncomplicated) yet intense. Men seem to like the format. During the post-aerobic cool-down I might tell them some interesting things about the history of the sport. I often ask the members which sports they are interest them.

Personal trainers with clients in sports training must have a thorough of knowledge about the movement needs. This is serious training. If the client is in serious competition you will want to establish good communication with the client's coach. If you find that you really enjoy this type of training you can consider expanding your skills and help local athletic teams.

Both group instructors and personal trainers can do a good service to their clients by introducing the concept of mind/body fitness. It's fun to take the physical sports exercise to the maximum potential. However, what is in the mind is where the athlete in your students will be found. You can help them tap into reservoirs of power and esteem with a few easy techniques.

Relaxation techniques help students get in touch with thoughts and feelings. It helps them listen to their bodies. Try several relaxation techniques to find one or two that work best. The simplest are often the most effective.

You can teach your students how to control their breathing patterns. Quickening or slowing the breath has an effect on the entire system that can excite or reduce stress.

The power of visualization has been cited in many sources. My favorite example is the study on basketball free throws. There were three groups. The first practiced shooting free throws. The second group visualized shooting but did not practice. The third group both practiced and visualized their free throws. When tested, the third group, practice and visualization, made the most baskets. What was surprising was that the group who only visualized shot better than the group that only practiced shooting.

If you want to develop a script for class or client visualization base the content on the KISS principle (Keep It Simple and Safe). In a group use mainstream generic options that most people can relate to. With personal clients, you can use images from the client's own experience.

Use many elements with all the senses involved and keep the script in the present tense. Students may feel awkward at first, so ask them to tell you about what verbal expressions work best for them.

One of my favorite visualizations for a group of exercisers is "the beach." I describe details they would see and feel at the beach and we visualize it in full color, hearing the sounds, noticing scents in the air, and feeling the sun and breeze on our skin. The result is a very calm and happy class.

As I told you at the beginning of this book, I believe that every exerciser can benefit from learning athletic training skills and mental attitude. As you meet the challenges of new activities you will find it easier to find and teach the athlete inside yourself and your students.

GO TO ASSIGNMENT 4