We’ve witnessed the impact of COVID-19 on personal trainers and small group coaches over the past weeks: the high-touch, progressive, and “personal” experience that clients previously enjoyed has pivoted toward virtual training sessions with emailed programming, web-based content and videos, and using household items as equipment. Although what lies ahead for personal and small group training remains unknown, there are some definite tactics that you can incorporate into the reopening of your facilities to ensure training will remain strong for months and years to come.

Training Matters

Personal and small group training are big revenue drivers for most facilities. Needless to say, operators worldwide are concerned about how to safely and effectively revive these departments. You are forced to consider new facets before reopening facility doors, such as staff and client safety, social distancing and equipment spacing, and precise sanitization protocols. Fitness facilities must launch into uncharted territory with the best intentions and learnings from others that have stepped forward already or are embarking simultaneously. The tips below stem from our own efforts at Cooper Fitness Center to continue to support and develop our trainers and small group coaches.

Rethinking Layout & Distancing

For personal trainers, small group coaches, and facilities alike, business cannot resume as it was before COVID-19 closures. This presents both challenges and opportunities. Consider closely evaluating the current model of your personal training department and explore all opportunities regarding space, equipment, and sanitization needs.

A challenge for any personal trainer is to implement social distancing both immediately, and in fact, for the foreseeable future. How can you help trainers maintain social distancing, as well as consider spacing within the training areas and facility? Some facility layouts may pose significant spacing limitations. However, consider all areas of the facility or outdoor space that may serve as a more “private” training area for clients.

Are there areas that are mostly unused or may be best converted at this time, such as conference rooms, office spaces, basketball courts, parking lots, or garages? Manipulate these areas by turning them into private “training studios”. This will allow clients to feel more protected from other members and will allow trainers to more accurately practice social distancing during working hours. Trainers also may have clients that need or prefer to continue virtual training; if the trainer has a space to do this, he or she can stay onsite and more efficiently serve both virtual and in-person clients.

In addition to private spaces, maximize large equipment spacing on the fitness floor to uphold social distancing guidelines. This is such a tall order for most facility environments, but necessary to navigate and uphold. For large equipment items, remove those that are less popular or non-essential to allow for additional spacing. For example, at Cooper Fitness Center, we removed a duplicate stepper and stretch cage. Our spacing allowed us to keep our fixed machines, but if not, we would have removed secondary strength items like biceps, triceps, chest fly, or shoulder lateral raise machines. All of these exercises can be replicated through a cable tower or dumbbells. For small equipment items, consider removing those that trainers may be able to use within a private space or set space on the fitness floor. Any removed items can always be reintroduced in later phases of reopening.

Connect With Your Trainers

This new fitness world will demand your full attention, but it is imperative to continue to support your personal trainers during this transition. For many trainers, the limited equipment options and spacing, and possibly, reduced client schedules, will jolt preferred training styles and confidence.

Schedule weekly team meetings to discuss protocol and build encouragement – determine what is working, what is not, and any insights gleaned from your trainers and around the facility. It is essential to promote trainer morale and teamwork during this time by having the team share programming and equipment use ideas, as well as client conversations regarding facility protocols. Personal trainers are the front line of the facility, so their input is invaluable as the facility presses forward.

Changes to Small Group Training

Small group training environments will be cautious territory for many due to the group format, but it is necessary to find ways to keep the energy alive and the offerings available in those spaces. Limit class sizes according to social distancing standards; note the square footage of the small group training environment and be diligent to set participant numbers according to studio size. Participants should be given a set selection of equipment so no equipment sharing occurs during class. For our small group program at Cooper Fitness Center, we actually are capping our participant numbers lower than square footage allows so that participants can continue to use our Queenax X3 500, and not just small functional equipment items.

For the small group coach team, invest in their programming creativity so that buy-in to the new dynamic is strong and engaging for the small group participants. Small group coaches will be asked to do much with little, so regularly gather this team in-person or virtually to “think-tank” programming strategy and periodization of various equipment items so variety exists for participants.

Adapting Your Training Format

Virtual class options have allowed coaches to maintain participant connection during facility closures, and will continue to be invaluable for high-risk or hesitant participants even after facilities reopen. You may also initiate virtual programming within the studio space during non-class times. Ultimately, it may require an increase in the volume of small group training experiences to ensure adherence to social distancing and equipment use practices.

Connecting with members via tools other than live-streamed classes and video chats are also an option. Apps like Advagym™ by Sony® can be used to publish weekly workout plans, including individual exercises that clients should complete either in or out of a faciity. This is a great additional way to stay connected to your clients other than in-person one-on-one or small group  sessions.

See how Advagym works:

Cleaning & Disinfecting Practices

The use of equipment and sanitization protocols will walk hand-in-hand during this time. Facilities are facing a heightened level of client fear and apprehension, and must be diligent in providing an appropriate and sanitary environment.

Every facility will have to provide an abundance of sanitary wipes and spray, tissues, and towels, as well as suggested personal protective equipment for staff members. Cleaning supplies should be made available at multiple strategic areas on the fitness floor, if not available at every large strength and cardiovascular equipment piece.

You may consider enlisting additional help from cleaning staff, as well as bringing in other staff to assist with cleaning during high-traffic hours. Some facilities may consider closing down for a few hours in the afternoon for deep cleaning, or shortening hours of operation to provide more thorough cleaning when closed.

With the demands of rigorous cleaning protocols, be flexible to rework personal trainer and small group class schedules. You must factor in cleaning time pre- and post-session to uphold appropriate sanitization protocols and support your trainer and coach staff adherence.

Explore all options of spacing, equipment use, and sanitization protocols to support both personal and small group training departments. The opportunities realized can provide new and necessary means to provide service to clients amid the challenges of COVID-19.

Looking for more information on how to reopen your fitness facility?

Check out our comprehensive Bounce Back Faster guide for operators.