The SilverSneakers way of coaching helps create the culture of your class. Effective coaching improves understanding, increases motivation and creates proper form and alignment while building relationships.
The SilverSneakers Way of Coaching begins first with planning and strategizing what you want to teach, while keeping in mind how you want to teach it. When you move from initial delivery to adaptation for individual participants, more specific communication and motivational feedback can be layered into your class presentation.
Always be mindful when teaching that your tone and language choices are crucial elements of creating a successful, positive and nurturing class experience.
Let’s explore a functional movement pattern that is commonly practiced in this format and apply the SilverSneakers Way of Coaching to a version of a Sit-to-Stand.
Describe and demonstrate
Name the exercise. Then provide one to three cues that communicate and define safety and execution.
From a seated position:
- “Scoot forward, toward the front of the chair, and get ready to stand.”
- “Placing the feet about hip distance apart, hinge from the hips while pressing the feet into the floor and squeeze the gluteals.”
- “With hands on your thighs, draw the belly button in to firm your abdominals. You can remain in your chair with your gluteal and thigh muscles engaged or go ahead and press the feet into the floor to a standing position.”
- “Those who are seated can release the lower body contraction. If you are standing, make sure your chair is close by and then come back to a seated position.”
Adapt and refine
Provide adaptations and options to increase accessibility, efficacy and safety. Be sure to provide multiple movement adaptations, refinements, progressions and regressions, whenever possible, for the exercises you teach.
- “Great job! You are looking good.”
- “Make sure to keep the abdominals tight and the chest up, lengthening the spine.”
- “Move only in your pain-free range of motion.”
- “You look strong!”
Feeling and purpose
Describe the purpose and benefit of the exercise you have chosen to teach. Be sure to provide kinesthetic cues, making sure participants understand how a movement should feel and exactly what they should be doing as they perform the movement. Explain the purpose and muscle focus behind the exercise selection, being purposeful as you include activities for daily living (ADLs).
- “Feel all the muscles in your lower body as you push the feet into the floor.”
- “If you choose to come out of the chair, focus on squeezing the gluteals as you stand tall.”
- “We become stronger as we practice the Sit-to-Stand, which will make it easier to get up from our chairs.”
Motivation and coaching
Coach for challenge and improvement with positivity and support. Be a motivator, making the class experience challenging, purposeful and fun!
- “Just a few more!”
- “Your form is terrific!”
- “Feel yourself becoming stronger.”
- “You are strong; you are motivated, and you can do this!”