We spoke with Vic Spatola, the director of personal training at Greenwood Athletic & Tennis Club, to discover his insight on personal training. Read the Q&A below to learn tips on how to run your personal training department!
Q: What are the essentials needed to run a successful personal training program?
A: The singular most important concept a manager has to develop is the mission of the department. Obviously everyone wants to make money but the method by which you service your clients and the philosophy behind that needs to be a concrete and focused mission that your entire department needs to have.
Q: Are there any new trends/developments in the PT industry clubs should be aware of?
A: One of the largest growing trends currently is the model of group personal training. TRX, Rip cord, Kettlebells and Cross Fit are all models of training that allow a single trainer to train similar clients in a group setting. This is a trend everyone should investigate since it provides results and reduces cost for clients, while increasing trainer revenue.
Q: What types of certifications should personal trainers have?
A: There are so many PT certifications out right now, that is a tough question. First, the certification should be NCCA accredited. That means, that body has been approved by a third party to be credible. Second, the certification should have a good amount of exercise physiology, anatomy and bio-mechanics. For our club NASM and NSCA are the two we look for the most. Not saying others are not good, but we believe that these two meet all the criteria I discussed. Third, whatever certification you have should discuss training older populations and injuries. If not in the base certification then in some CEC format.
Q: Should personal trainers provide their clients with nutritional advice? How important is that to a member’s success?
A: Depending on your state’s laws, they may be overstepping their scope of practice. First check with your states registered dietitian board to determine what the legality is. Second, making all trainers take a basic nutrition course is an excellent idea. Everybody has a different background about nutrition and that may not follow what your club or department believe. So I would have every trainer take an approved nutrition course to standardized the information being given out.
Q: Finally, what qualities should clubs look for in personal trainers?
A: A passion and excitement about helping people. Not just fitness. Trainers have to want to help people. They have to want to get up at the crack of dawn to push someone to get to their goals. This all begins from a passion to help people. This passion is paramount to being a great and dedicated trainer. I cannot tell you the number of people that like to exercise that want to become trainers and when they ask me what that entails, they decide not to pursue it. Your candidate needs to have that desire to help people in order to be a success for your department.
Interview by Rachel Zabonick
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
