Episode 013 How To Ace Your Fitness Course Practical Assessment
Here’s what we talked about on today’s FitPro Sessions Podcast
In today’s FitPro Session podcast episode, Neale and I explore the Level 2 and Level 3 Fitness Course Practical Assessment and give you clear tips and advice so you can ace it first time.
Below the video, you can grab the show notes and timestamps for the podcast episode as well as 11 tips to ace your fitness course practical assessment.
Click the PLAY button below to listen to the entire episode
Grab the FitPro Sessions Podcast show notes:
Timestamps:
1:00 What makes a great assessment day for you as the assessor?
2:00 Understanding the assessment paperwork – there is no guessing
2:40 What’s the difference between Summative and Formative assessments?
3:40 Looking at the summative checklist (see image below)
4:30 Using the IDEA principle to add structure to your instructing
5:00 Applying this to a video submission practical assessment
5:30 Being planned allows you to relax and have enough time
6:40 “Repetition is the mother of all skill”
7:00 Using the paperwork to plan in advance
8:40 What is meant by Safe and Effective
10:35 “It’s not a memory test”
11:00 Warm yourself up
12:30 Doing a reccy of the gym
14:00 Plan the first 4 mins and practice it a lot to reduce anxiety 🙂
14:45 Why your assessment day is kinda like surfing
15:30 Avoid the teapot pose
17:16 Have a map of the gym
20:50 The most important question … “How Do You feel?”
22:40 What to do on the rest period in between exercises
25:20 Keep the advice to 1-2 pieces of info at a time to reduce overwhelm
27:07 Use the client’s name
28:00 Go into the assessment to enjoy it 🙂
28:55 Ask before you touch the client
29:40 Using External cues
31:30 Summarise and review each exercise or training system
33:20 Take a pen and paper in with you
33:45 Should I count reps for my client?
38:30 The benefit of the criteria being standardized
39:00 A typical fitness course practical assessment day
42:40 Feedback from your assessor doesn’t mean you’ve failed
44:10 Leave us a review on iTunes
45:00 The start of today’s Revision Power Hour
The Revision Power Hour Cheat Sheet:
11 Tips to Aces Your Fitness Course Practical Assessment
1. Talk, talk, talk
The more you talk and explain the exercise the better you will do (unless you are completely wrong). Don’t spout off nonsense, keep it related to the exercise and explaining what you know.
2. Avoid the tea-pot pose
Try not to lean on any equipment with one hand while the other hand rests on your hip. Get involved and move around your client. The more you observe your client’s posture and technique the more you can correct, analyse and teach your client!
3. Eye on the client
During the Personal Training Assessment make sure to stay engaged with the client. Make eye contact with them and speak to them, forget the assessor is there.
3. Use I.D.E.A – Introduce, Demonstrate, Explain and Action.
I.D.E.A structures your entire practical assessment
I.D.E.A
Introduce
the exercise, name the exercise, the benefits of the exercise in relation to the client goal, what muscles are working and the training system you are using.
Demonstrate
the exercise if necessary. It’s always wise to provide a small brief demo for your assessor even if the client does know what to do! Keep the demo short and use a light weight as this is not your training session.
Explain
any further details, reinforce the training system and any key postural points.
Action
get the client moving asap. Don’t let them cool down because of a long introduction.
4. Make sure you have a plan
Go into your assessment with a clear plan, know the exact route around the gym, the exercise order and how you can adapt the plan if some exercises or equipment are in use!
5. DO NOT Count client repetitions
As the client is performing the exercise, get the client to count the repetitions they are on. Your job is to analyse, correct and teach the client. You can’t do this as well as count.
6. Be encouraging and upbeat
During the Personal Training Assessment be sure to encourage and support the client by varying your tone of voice.
7. Ask the most important question
How do you feel? This allows you to assess how hard your client is working. You could use a physical copy of the RPE scale or ask them this open question ensuring they first understand what you mean by the 1 to 10 scale. Add some perspective to it in your brief.
8. Use the client’s name
When encouraging the client, it is always good to use their name. This creates a bond with them, tells them you are there for them, encourages them, and lets them know you care. If you know the person well, try to avoid any slang words or abbreviating the name to ‘Lad’ or ‘mate’ isn’t advisable.
9. Ask to touch
Sometimes it’s helpful to touch a client’s specific muscle group to help them understand which ones they should feel during the exercises. If you need to touch them, ask beforehand.
10. Take your time
During the practical take your time and remember everything you want to say. You usually have 45-60 minutes for the practical so use your time wisely. You could make key notes on your programme card to use as a reference throughout.
11. Utilize the review session to ask questions
This is very important! Once you have completed your cool down, ask your client for feedback about the session. Ensure you probe deeper to get a clear understanding of areas that went well and areas that you could improve upon next time. This will also help complete the session and self-evaluation.
Summary
In summary if you spend quality time and focus on planning your assessment day in advance, then you will undoubtedly ace your fitness course practical assessment.
Use the above podcast episode and 11 tips to help you pass first time
Learn More
Still have your exams to prepare for? Download Mock Questions for FREE just link these by clicking this link: MOCK QUESTIONS
Comment Below – when is your practical assessment?
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