Fitness centers usually offer the services of various trainers - professional teachers without regalia, former and current athletes, masters of sports and award winners of prestigious competitions. Some specialize in specific sports and physical training, while others are generalists.
How can you not get confused in this situation and choose a coach who will help you achieve results? We have studied articles by experts at the DONSPORT fitness club on https://donsport.ru/ and prepared a detailed checklist that makes it easy to find the ideal mentor. We’ll tell you what qualities a coach should have and whether it’s worth paying attention to his credentials.
Detailed checklist for choosing a coach
The basis should be based on 5 criteria for searching for a specialist. Keep in mind that a lot will depend on your goals. We will talk about the process of finding a fitness trainer - a universal expert in the field of general physical training. It is different from choosing a mentor who can lead you to victories in professional sports.
How to choose the best fitness trainer:
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Decide on a budget - this will help narrow the circle and not consider too expensive specialists with a big name and an established personal brand. Don’t try to save at any cost and at the same time calculate a comfortable monthly budget by planning the optimal number of workouts.
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Look for a professional - you can choose a third-party specialist, but it is important that he can confirm his qualifications. An alternative option is to choose a trainer from the catalog of a fitness center with a good reputation, who values its image and cooperates only with worthy professionals.
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Meet the mentor – it is advisable to communicate with the trainer before the start of classes. Don't ask him about his experience - any person working in the service sector knows how to advertise for themselves. Talk about yourself – plans, goals and ways to achieve them. If a specialist does not answer in general terms and does not use streamlined formulations, speaks substantively and with interest, then you are on your way.
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Come to a trial training session and see your mentor in action. Don't be fascinated by his knowledge of terminology and exercise techniques. Notice how attentive the specialist is, able to analyze the situation, and whether he is really interested in helping you. If a coach is not distracted, watches you and knows what he is doing, he is a responsible specialist.
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Check your training schedule - not all mentors work 7 days a week, many train less often. So ask a specialist about their schedule and compare it with yours. It would be great if in the future you can work out with the same trainer at least 3-4 times a week.
Please note: regalia is not the most important criterion for choosing a coach. Especially if they relate to the mentor’s sporting achievements. Axiom: a successful athlete does not always make a good coach. Conversely, the best mentors do not always achieve high results in sports. It is worth taking pedagogical titles with a grain of salt.
It is better to focus on the opinions of the trainer’s wards - look for them, at least on the Internet, or talk with other visitors to the fitness center. But remember that every opinion is subjective. Nothing will allow you to judge the quality of a specialist’s work as impartially as your own experience. At the same time, at the start you should be critical of the coach. Of course, within reason. Remember that experienced specialists easily “charm” beginners: trust facts and results, not the words of the trainer.