HOW TO ADAPT TO COVID-19 AND BE A SUCCESSFUL COACH
You’re probably tired of hearing about COVID-19, restrictions and hygiene standards. But whether we like it or not, these are the times we live in. As a coach, learning to adapt to these new requirements is paramount to maintaining and building a client base and successful boxing coaching business.
While many clients may not be too concerned about the ever-changing COVID recommendations, by failing to follow them you are not only failing to meet your duty of care requirements as a coach, but are losing out on a whole demographic of clients who are seeking to continue training in a COVID-safe manner.
If you want to be a successful coach in this era, read on to learn Punchfit’s COVID-safe Boxing Coaching Tips.
1 – Create a sanitary environment
The first step you need to take is to create a sanitary environment for you and your clients to train in. There are a few ways you can achieve this. Firstly, make sure the area has been thoroughly sanitised. Most gyms clean their facilities regularly, but if you’re training at your own location or at home, you will need to take this into account. Punch recommends coaches add some form of sanitary spray to their kit and bring it along to every session to spray down the environment – especially any and all equipment and surfaces that may be used.
If you don’t have access to an indoor environment, or are limited due to COVID restrictions, a great alternative is training outdoors. Consider taking your coaching session down to a local park or another outdoor environment.
Your more COVID-cautious clients will feel much more comfortable knowing they are training in a sanitary environment.
2 – Use your own equipment
In the past, it wasn’t uncommon to see clients sharing boxing gloves during group classes or coaches bringing along their own gear to share with their clients. But in today’s times, coaches have different duty of care requirements to meet. Not only does sharing equipment increase the risk of transmission, but is something a lot of clients now feel uncomfortable with.
As a coach, ensure all of your clients come with their own gear – and use it! Whenever you take on a new client, be sure to communicate to them clearly that they will need to provide their own wraps, gloves, skipping rope and anything else they will need. When conducting a 1-on-1 session, this is a simple requirement. During a group session, this becomes especially important – ensure no equipment is shared among the class.
If a client turns up without their own equipment, it may not mean they can’t train, but you may need to provide them with alternative exercises, such as shadowboxing or some strength & conditioning.
By ensuring your clients do not share equipment, you will be creating a safer environment for your clients and better allowing your coaching business to operate in today’s times.
3 – Use coach sticks
Coach sticks are a fantastic tool to use with your clients and are excellent for training evasion drills. However, they also have another use: social distancing.
As you’ve no doubt heard time and time again, social distancing is paramount to reducing the risk of transmission. However, keeping the recommended 1.5 metre distance is nearly impossible as a padholder – unless you’re using coach sticks. Coach sticks allow you to conduct a padholding session just as you would on the focus pads, all while maintaining 1.5 metres between you and your client.
Coach sticks are an essential tool for coaches during today’s times and will no doubt make your more COVID-cautious clients feel more comfortable during padholding sessions.
Want to learn more about safety for boxing fitness? Checkout our online safety padholding course!