Home
Resources
To Do:
add back in gaps school doesnt cover
Breaking Into The Industry
Breaking into the fitness coaching field isn't about being the most shredded in the room, having the flashiest credentials in your LinkedIn bio, or knowing every exercise under the sun. It's about getting real-world experience, developing relationships, and investing in your growth.
Network Relentlessly
In this field, it’s often who you know that gets you the opportunity. Pick up the phone. Meet coaches in your area. Visit facilities within driving range. Introduce yourself, ask thoughtful questions, and let people know what you’re working toward. Be humbly vocal about your interests and aspirations. Relationships lead to opportunities, whether it’s your first paid position or a referral for a client. You don’t need to be the loudest in the room, be genuine and willing to connect.
Find a Mentor & Learn from Real Coaches
One of the most consistent pieces of advice from experienced professionals is to find a great mentor early. Whether it's a coach, a trusted sports scientist, or a subject matter expert in an area you’re interested in learning about, a mentor can accelerate your learning, open doors, and offer invaluable perspective. Look for someone willing to invest in your development. Be proactive, ask questions, shadow sessions, and spend time observing how they program, communicate, and lead. You’ll absolutely make your own mistakes and learn from them along the way, but a mentor helps you greatly cut that down. As a general concept for your own growth, search for ways you can avoid making the same mistakes as everyone else. This is one of the most powerful levers you can pull to speed up your learning curve.
Intern, Volunteer, Just Get in the Room
Get your hands dirty. Internships, volunteer positions, and shadowing opportunities in positions you aspiring to attain are some of the best ways to learn what this job really looks like. Paid experience while still in school is even better, but unpaid internships are often the first real step. Even if you’re unsure about the setting, try it. You’ll learn what you like, what you don’t, and build meaningful experience. Interning at a facility where the staff is committed to educating you can shape & expedite your learning curve more than most classrooms or certifications.
Build a Diverse Coaching Repertoire
Start coaching anyone you can. Work with friends, family, classmates—anyone who will let you build a plan and coach them through it. The more varied your client base in the beginning, the more you'll learn. Pay close attention to how different types of people move, think, compensate, and respond to different coaching styles. once you know what type of population you want to work with, then its time to get a more focused clientele. These real-life reps will teach you more than the textbook. The goal isn’t perfection early on—it’s exposure, curiosity, and getting your reps in.
Take Initiative
No path into this field is perfect. There will be uncertainty, very likely low pay, and odd hours in the beginning. Expect to fail and learn from it. Be willing to try things even if you’re not sure they’ll work. The people who succeed long-term are the ones who stay committed to their growth.
This field rewards those who show up consistently, ask questions, take risks, and pour into both their clients and their craft. You don't need to know everything, but you do need to start. Everything else will come.
Put Yourself Out There…
Job Boards
Content Library
A curated arsenal of books, people, podcasts, websites, and other resources to help you continue to grow your knowledge.
The best coaches never stopped being students.
Contact
welcometotherack@gmail.com