Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma Specialist in Gym Instructing and Personal Training (RQF)

What you'll be able to do

• Know different complementary stretching strategies, including static, dynamic, PNF, and ballistic stretching techniques.
• Know different stretching matrices, including variations in intensity, duration, and frequency, to optimise flexibility and range of motion.

What you'll be able to do

• Analyse sporting activities for sports conditioning.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the structure and function of the circulatory system, including the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
• Understand the structure and function of the respiratory system, including the lungs, airways, and gas exchange.
• Understand the structure and function of the skeleton, including bones, cartilage, and ligaments.
• Understand joints in the skeleton, including their types, movements, and stability.
• Understand the muscular and fascial system, including muscle types, muscle actions, and connective tissues.
• Understand the life-course of the musculoskeletal system and its implications for special populations exercise, including age-related changes and common conditions.
• Understand energy systems and their relation to exercise, including aerobic and anaerobic metabolism.
• Understand the nervous system and its relation to exercise, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
• Understand the structure and function of the digestive system, including the organs involved in digestion and absorption.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the fundamental principles of nutrition, including macronutrients, micronutrients, and energy balance.
• Understand key guidelines in relation to nutrition, such as recommended daily intakes and healthy eating patterns.
• Understand nationally recommended practice in relation to providing nutritional advice within the scope of personal training.
• Understand the relationship between nutrition and physical activity, including the role of nutrition in supporting exercise performance and recovery.
• Understand how to collect information relating to nutrition from clients, including dietary habits and lifestyle factors.
• Understand how to use nutritional information to assess client needs and develop appropriate dietary recommendations.
• Understand the principles of nutritional goal setting with clients, including setting realistic and achievable targets.
• Collect and analyse nutritional information from clients to identify areas for improvement.
• Apply the principles of nutrition to a physical activity programme, ensuring that clients receive comprehensive support.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the use of information technology to support personal training activities and business operations.
• Understand the process of business planning for a personal training business.
• Understand the process of business development and growth for a personal training business.
• Understand the financial aspects of starting and running a personal training business.
• Develop a marketing strategy for a personal training business to attract and retain clients.

What you'll be able to do

• Collect relevant information from clients to inform the development of sports conditioning programmes.

What you'll be able to do

• Plan and instruct different body weight exercises for training outdoors.
• Plan and instruct different free weight exercises for training outdoors.
• Plan and instruct different resistance band exercises for training outdoors.
• Plan and instruct different Gymstick exercises for training outdoors.
• Plan and instruct different stability ball exercises for training outdoors.
• Plan and instruct flexibility training for training outdoors.
• Plan and instruct using different aspects of the outdoor environment when training outdoors.
• Programme and deliver outdoor sessions.
• Plan a structured outdoor training session.
• Market outdoor training sessions.

What you'll be able to do

• Prepare to deliver a circuit session.
• Deliver a safe and effective circuit session.
• Deliver a safe and effective ending to the circuit session.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to instruct exercise during personal training sessions.
• Understand how to adapt exercise to meet client needs during personal training sessions.
• Understand a range of different protocols and tools used in personal training.
• Understand how to review personal training sessions with clients.
• Plan and prepare personal training sessions effectively.
• Prepare clients appropriately for personal training sessions.
• Instruct and adapt planned exercises to suit individual client needs.
• Bring exercise sessions to a safe and effective end.
• Reflect on providing personal training sessions and identify areas for improvement.

What you'll be able to do

• Prepare to instruct a studio cycling session, ensuring all necessary equipment is available and in good working order
• Instruct an effective studio cycling session, adapting the session to meet the needs of the participants
• Monitor the studio cycling session effectively, observing participants' technique and providing appropriate feedback
• Bring the studio cycling session to an end in a safe and controlled manner, including a cool-down period

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to instruct exercise to exercise referral patients, considering their individual needs and medical conditions.
• Understand how to adapt exercise programmes to meet the specific needs of individual exercise referral patients.
• Understand how to effectively review exercise referral sessions with patients to monitor progress and adjust programmes accordingly.
• Prepare appropriate resources for exercise referral sessions, ensuring they are accessible and informative for patients.
• Prepare patients for exercise referral sessions, including explaining the purpose, benefits, and potential risks of the exercise programme.
• Instruct and adapt planned exercises to exercise referral patients, providing clear guidance and modifications as needed.
• Bring exercise referral sessions to a safe and effective conclusion, ensuring patients understand the next steps.
• Review exercise referral sessions, documenting patient progress and making recommendations for future sessions.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to provide gym-based exercise, including the principles of exercise programming and adaptation.
• Prepare self and equipment for gym-based exercise, including risk assessment and equipment checks.
• Prepare clients for gym-based exercise, including health screening and goal setting.
• Instruct gym-based exercise, including demonstrating techniques and providing feedback.
• Supervise clients undertaking gym-based exercise, including monitoring technique and providing encouragement.
• Bring a gym-based exercise session to an end, including cool-down exercises and post-exercise advice.
• Reflect on providing gym-based exercise, including identifying areas for improvement.
• Support clients taking part in gym-based exercise, including motivational techniques and behaviour change strategies.

What you'll be able to do

• Know the history of stretching and be able to provide examples of different stretching techniques.
• Know the different types of stretching techniques, including their benefits and contraindications.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to form effective working relationships with clients
• Understand how to address barriers to exercise/physical activity that clients experience
• Understand how to support clients to adhere to exercise/physical activity
• Understand how to provide ongoing customer service to clients
• Understand how to maximise the customer experience
• Understand professionalism within the industry

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to plan group exercise sessions in the outdoor environment.
• Know the health and safety considerations when training outdoors.
• Know the set up requirements for conducting group exercise sessions in the outdoor environment.
• Know the different types of outdoor training sessions.

What you'll be able to do

• Plan sports conditioning events and/or activities.

What you'll be able to do

• Describe the health and safety considerations when preparing for a studio cycling session.
• Explain the benefits of participating in studio cycling sessions.
• Outline the principles of an effective studio cycling session.
• Describe methods to monitor individual performance during a studio cycling session.
• Explain how to improve individual performance during a studio cycling session.
• Plan an effective studio cycling session that meets participant needs.
• Describe how to use music effectively to enhance a studio cycling session.

What you'll be able to do

• Define what constitutes a circuit session
• Distinguish between the different types of circuit sessions used for different types of clients
• Describe methods used to motivate clients in a circuit session
• Explain the safety considerations for a circuit session

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the key considerations when preparing individualised personal training programmes
• Understand the importance of promoting long-term behaviour change in personal training clients
• Understand the principles of collecting relevant information to inform the planning of a personal training programme
• Understand how to effectively screen clients prior to commencing a personal training programme
• Understand how to collaboratively identify realistic and achievable personal training goals with clients
• Understand how to plan a comprehensive personal training programme in collaboration with clients
• Understand how to adapt a personal training programme based on client progress and feedback
• Collect relevant information about clients' health, fitness, and goals
• Agree on specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals with clients
• Plan a safe and effective personal training programme tailored to individual client needs
• Effectively manage a personal training programme, ensuring client safety and adherence
• Review progress with clients, providing feedback and motivation
• Adapt a personal training programme based on client progress, feedback, and changing needs
• Design and deliver engaging and effective group personal training sessions

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to prepare for exercise referral programmes, including risk assessment and pre-exercise screening.
• Understand the importance of long-term behaviour change for exercise referral patients and strategies to promote adherence.
• Understand the principles of collecting information to plan an exercise referral programme, including medical history, lifestyle factors, and physical activity levels.
• Understand how to identify health-related fitness goals with exercise referral patients, ensuring they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
• Understand how to plan an exercise referral programme with patients, considering their individual needs, goals, and limitations.
• Understand how to adapt an exercise referral programme with patients based on their progress, feedback, and any changes in their health status.
• Collect information about exercise referral patients using appropriate assessment tools and techniques.
• Agree goals with exercise referral patients, ensuring they are realistic and motivating.
• Plan an exercise referral programme with exercise referral patients, incorporating a variety of exercises and activities.
• Manage an exercise referral programme with patients, providing ongoing support and guidance.
• Review progress with exercise referral patients, monitoring their achievements and identifying any challenges.
• Adapt an exercise referral programme with patients to ensure it remains effective and appropriate.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to collect client information to plan gym-based exercise
• Understand how to use client information to plan gym-based exercise
• Understand how to plan gym-based exercise with clients
• Collect and use client information to plan a gym-based exercise programme
• Plan a safe and effective gym-based exercise programme with clients

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the effects of exercise on the body
• Understand the components of fitness
• Understand how to apply the principles and variables of fitness to an exercise programme
• Understand the exercise contraindications and key safety guidelines for special populations
• Understand how to safely monitor exercise intensity
• Understand the health benefits of physical activity
• Understand the importance of healthy eating

What you'll be able to do

• Understand emergency procedures in a fitness environment, including evacuation procedures and communication protocols.
• Understand health and safety requirements in a fitness environment, including relevant legislation and organisational policies.
• Understand how to control risks in a fitness environment, including hazard identification, risk assessment, and control measures.
• Understand how to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in a fitness environment, including recognising signs of abuse and reporting procedures.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role of exercise referral in promoting physical activity and improving health outcomes
• Understand the importance of adhering to relevant policies and key documents within an exercise referral scheme
• Understand the specific roles and responsibilities of individuals involved in an exercise referral scheme, including instructors, healthcare professionals, and administrators
• Understand the structure and function of current healthcare systems in the UK, including the NHS and private healthcare providers
• Understand the step-by-step process of exercise referral, from initial assessment to programme completion
• Understand the principles and procedures of accurate and confidential record keeping in exercise referral
• Understand the concept of a patient-centred approach to exercise referral, prioritising individual needs and preferences
• Understand how to monitor the effectiveness of an exercise referral scheme, using appropriate data collection and analysis methods
• Understand the principles of risk stratification in exercise referral, identifying individuals who may require additional precautions or medical supervision

What you'll be able to do

• Plan advanced stretching sessions, taking into account client needs and goals
• Deliver advanced stretches safely and effectively, using appropriate techniques
• Progress advanced stretches to challenge clients and improve their flexibility
• Plan equipment assisted stretching sessions, considering the benefits and limitations of different equipment
• Deliver equipment assisted stretches safely and effectively, ensuring correct equipment usage
• Progress equipment assisted stretches to enhance client outcomes
• Incorporate advanced stretches into a comprehensive exercise programme, aligning with overall fitness goals

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the clinical features of medical conditions relevant to exercise referral programmes, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders.
• Know the accepted methods for treatment and management of medical conditions relevant to exercise referral programmes, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
• Understand the relationship between exercise and specified exercise referral medical conditions, including the benefits and risks of exercise.
• Understand how to programme safe, effective exercise programmes for patients with specified exercise referral medical conditions, considering contraindications and precautions.