1. Build Comfort & Trust
⢠Icebreaker: Ask about their goals, past activity level, and any injuries or limitations.
⢠Reassure them: Let them know itās okay to be new, and that the workout will be tailored to their pace.
⢠Do a quick movement assessment: posture check, bodyweight squat, balance, basic mobility.
⢠Check cardio capacity lightlyāmaybe a short walk or step test.
Focus: Structure, rhythm, and small challenges.
⢠ā
Warm-Up Routine Becomes Habit
⢠Teach them a simple dynamic warm-up they can eventually do on their own.
⢠ā
Add Variety Without Overwhelm
⢠Introduce hinge pattern (like hip hinge or light deadlift with a dowel).
⢠Include both push & pull, lower body, core, and light cardio.
⢠ā
Begin Talking About Training Structure
⢠Example: āEach workout weāll do push, pull, legs, and core, plus some cardio.ā
⢠This shows them workouts follow a pattern, not random moves.
⢠ā
Introduce Small Challenges
⢠Slightly increase reps, sets, or weight (progressive overload).
⢠Add a short, fun finisher (farmerās carry, light medicine ball toss, etc.).
⢠ā
End With Reflection
⢠Ask: āWhat felt easier this time? Whatās still tough?ā
⢠Reinforce progress: āYou went from wall push-ups to incline todayāthatās huge.ā
Focus: Structure, rhythm, and small challenges.
⢠ā
Warm-Up Routine Becomes Habit
⢠Teach them a simple dynamic warm-up they can eventually do on their own.
⢠ā
Add Variety Without Overwhelm
⢠Introduce hinge pattern (like hip hinge or light deadlift with a dowel).
⢠Include both push & pull, lower body, core, and light cardio.
⢠ā
Begin Talking About Training Structure
⢠Example: āEach workout weāll do push, pull, legs, and core, plus some cardio.ā
⢠This shows them workouts follow a pattern, not random moves.
⢠ā
Introduce Small Challenges
⢠Slightly increase reps, sets, or weight (progressive overload).
⢠Add a short, fun finisher (farmerās carry, light medicine ball toss, etc.).
⢠ā
End With Reflection
⢠Ask: āWhat felt easier this time? Whatās still tough?ā
⢠Reinforce progress: āYou went from wall push-ups to incline todayāthatās huge.ā
Reinforce basics, add small progressions.
⢠ā
Review & Refresh
⢠Start with the same warm-up and key moves from lesson 1.
⢠Check form againācorrect and encourage.
⢠ā
Introduce Slight Progressions
⢠If they did wall push-ups ā move to incline push-ups.
⢠If they did sit-to-stands ā move to full bodyweight squats.
⢠Add a new exercise (like step-ups or light dumbbell press).
⢠ā
Introduce Light Equipment
⢠Resistance bands or 5ā10 lb dumbbells for variety.
⢠Teach them how to handle weights safely.
⢠ā
Finish With Success
⢠Short conditioning piece (ex: 2 rounds of squats, rows, step-ups).
⢠Keep intensity controlled so they end energized, not drained.
1. Establish Respect & Rapport
⢠Donāt assume they know everything, but donāt ātalk downā either.
⢠Open with:
⢠āTell me about your training background.ā
⢠āWhatās been working for you, and what do you feel is missing?ā
⢠This gives them a voice and shows youāre tailoring the session, not just giving a generic workout.
2. Assessment at a Higher Level
Instead of teaching basics, focus on:
⢠Movement quality under load (form breakdown when fatigue/weight increases).
⢠Sport-specific skills (speed, agility, explosiveness).
⢠Imbalances & weaknesses (mobility vs. strength, right vs. left side).
⢠Possibly test performance benchmarks (vertical jump, sprint time, max push-ups, etc.).
3. Challenge Without Overdoing It
⢠Advanced players expect to be testedābut not wrecked.
⢠Choose compound, athletic movements (power cleans, weighted pull-ups, plyometrics, sprints).
⢠Use supersets, circuits, or intensity techniques (tempo work, contrast training).
⢠Keep it sharp and efficientāno fluff.
4. Coaching Style
⢠With advanced athletes, youāre less of a āteacher of basicsā and more of a refiner & strategist.
⢠Give high-level cues (e.g., ādrive through your hipsā vs. ābend your kneesā).
⢠Ask for their feedback during setsāadvanced players often know their bodies well.
5. End With Takeaways
⢠Review what you noticed: strengths and growth areas.
⢠Give them something actionable they can work on before the next session.
⢠Show them Iām invested in elevating their performance, not just making them tired.
By lesson 12 I expect my trainee to feel settled into the process, stronger and sharper than before, and hungry for the next level of progression.
After 4-10 sessions, an advanced trainee should feel stronger, faster, more efficient and more competitive. I should expect tangible performance data, visible progress, and full engagementāthis is where I transition from ātrainingā to long-term engagement athletic development.
By the 3rd lesson, I expect an advanced trainee to be bought in, competitive and craving progression. Iāll also have enough data to tailor their program toward peak performance instead of general training.