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QUESTION:
I am a young personal trainer
that works with high school athletes. I find my athletes get
bored with the routine of sets and reps without a lot of change.
I do change up exercises as often as I can but some things
stay the same because they are effective. I am wondering,
what kind of things you tell your athletes to keep them motivated?
I would really like to know what you say to an athlete when
you are first starting with them?
Most of the athletes that stick
with me will stay motivated by the results but it's hard to
keep an athlete with me sometimes because I put them on a
workout that seems boring to them. I do plyometrics, speed
training, and the strength training progresses but I believe
its just the routine that bores them and not the actual exercises.
So when you give an athlete a workout, how do you prevent
them from giving up too early?
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ANSWER:
Great question Nick, and thanks for
your kind words. Motivation is a "lost art" among trainers.
Actually, that's being too kindm I suppose, since many trainers
never "find" that art in the first place!
I place a lot of value on connecting
with each client personally— in both formal (interview) and
informal situations. And very simply, ASK the client, in a sincere
way, what they're hoping to accomplish. Then (and here's the important
part) LISTEN.
Your client may have a strong passion
to (for example) lose bodyfat, gain upper body strength, overcome
an injury, or he may want faster sprint times. As your client talks,
take note of their body language and vocal tone. If your client
becomes excited and animated as he explains his passion to squat
405 pounds, it's a message you need to pay attention to.
Then, in subsequent workouts, when
the going gets tough, link the current task back to the passionate
goal: "Listen Salvatore, I know this exercise is difficult,
but trust me, this is the price that needs to be paid for that 405
squat you're looking for!"
Finally, it's important that YOU
are motivated!
Not in an insincere way (which is
almost a hallmark of bad trainers everywhere!), but in a sincere
way. Nothing is more motivational than your client sees that his
coach is genuinely interested in his accomplishments.
Thanks for the great question!
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