This week we’ll be discussing the differences, positive and negatives, of receiving coaching from an online trainer vs getting personal or semi-private coaching in person. There are a few big differences, one being I think in person coaching can suit everybody but online doesn’t, we’ll get into that later on.
Since coming back I’ve really been enjoying my coaching and I’m really exciting to be getting back involved in inter-county football this year. I’m heading up the Strength and Conditioning for the Roscommon U20 footballers while doing some work with the Senior squad as well. This is an exciting time because it will be my first opportunity to design and implement my own programme and ideas with a sport squad, a squad with goals, ambitions and a season schedule I have to work around and peak for. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram where I’ll be keeping followers up to date with snippets of our training blocks. Here’s hoping we bring the U20 championship out west on Aug 3rd.
I’d like to start with the fact that while I don’t do online training, I don’t have an issue with it. As you should come to learn from this post, both options have some really great selling points. The point of this post is to inform any reader of the differences between both and what to consider before making your choice. The market is absolutely flooded with options for coaching and training these days, like it’s nearly impossible to jump on Facebook or Instagram without seeing some ‘influencer’ promoting online coaching. More than likely, someone you know is employed in the fitness industry. Like I said, the options are endless from type of training to price point to ease of access and location, but how do you decide what’s right for you?
Technique
Deciding what’s right for you will play a big role in your long term success and we’ve discussed this idea in this blog from two weeks ago. The first thing you need to ask yourself is what’s your level of experience in the gym? Can you safely warm up and execute lifts without having a hands-on coach? Can you feel correct body position from rep to rep and set to set and be confident your technique is right and you’re being safe? If so, you could check out online coaching. If you’re a beginner or you’re just not confident in a gym environment I’d seriously stay away from online coaching, chances are you won’t do things properly and you could get hurt, it won’t be the coach’s fault because they can’t do anything about your technique, they just provide the programme but the onus needs to be on you to say yes I can manage technique myself or no, I don’t really know what I’m doing here, I need a professional.
Motivation
Another question you need to ask yourself is how are you going to fare if you go online? Will you take the programme you’ve purchased and go to the gym on a shitty day when your motivation is low and train with full intent? You might get away with that once or twice every now and then but not always.
One of the biggest advantages an in-person coach has over an online coach is the ability to motivate their client/athlete when they need to. I’m not talking about being Ra-Ra every single day you train, that’s not motivation. Motivation is reminding you that that event is on in 6 weeks’ time. Or noticing when you’re just not fully with it and having the skill to recall personal information or draw on a personal connection to pick the client up and get them to find the extra 10% in them. Or perhaps it’s just days they’re feeling lazy you’re able to be that push to get them to do the things they don’t want to do, getting them out of their comfort zone will help them reach their goals.
That’s motivation and that is something an online coach cannot do for you day in, day out.
Price
This one is no contest but comes back to a previous topic of where do you place your value? An online coach will always be cheaper than an in-person coach. There’s less work involved with online coaching, not that’s it’s easy, but they probably have a template which they work off and adjust for the individual. They just need to send that on to you when you purchase. Depending on the coach on the package they may do check ins which will be a bit more expensive because it’s more work.
In-person coaches need to sign you up and design the programme just like the online coach but now they also have to train you for the hour or whatever length the session is. So that extra time and cost of the facility needs to be reimbursed. That’s where the extra cost comes from.
The last option here which will be an in-between price point is semi-private personal training. It’s become a bit of a buzz term in Ireland but very few gyms are doing it correctly. Anywhere above 1 coach to 5 clients is not semi-private. Off the top of my head I know of maybe 5-6 gyms in Ireland doing this effectively, one being ABC Gym in Lucan which I have been very proud to be coaching at and have been there since we helped bring semi-private training to Ireland. For those of you who don’t know, semi-private training gives you all the benefits of personal training at a fraction of the cost. You’re basically splitting the cost of the coach among 1-4 other people; therefore, it works out so much cheaper than a personal trainer.
Access
As much as all the previous topics will influence your choice on which way you decide to take your fitness journey this may seal your fate.
You may life in an area with no access to personal trainers or semi-private training facilities. Or your career may not allow that. The only option you might have is either home workouts or a commercial/hotel gym. Now, most gyms have trainers in them but perhaps their hours clash with yours. You may need to purchase an online programme.
I hope this post does not come off as me bashing online coaching because some of my friends are doing a very, very good job at it here in our country from specializing in selling programmes to athletes to other selling to general population. The few I know doing it put a huge amount of work in and take pride in their business. At the end of the day it’s not about us as coaches it’s about what suits the client best, and I have always strived to inform people of their best path, I hope others do the same. After reading this you should be better equipped to decide what’s best for you.
So, there we have it, hopefully this helps someone decide if they should do online coaching or get an in-person coach. Don’t forget this Wednesday I’ll be releasing the second blog in my athletic performance series, be sure to check it.
Rory.