Coaching Vocabulary: Beyond the Basics
You probably know words like “gym,” “train,” and “exercise.” But coaching clients in English needs more specific language. Here are the words and phrases we’ll use today.
Who You Are
I specialize in (phrase)
To focus on a specific area — more professional than “I do”
“I specialize in calisthenics and bodyweight training.”
My focus is on (phrase)
Another way to describe your specialty — sounds professional
“My focus is on helping people build strength with their own body weight.”
I’ve been coaching for (phrase — present perfect continuous)
Used to say how long you’ve been doing something — starts in the past and continues now
“I’ve been coaching for five years.”
certified / certification (adj / noun)
Officially qualified; the qualification itself
“I’m a certified calisthenics coach.” / “I have a CrossFit certification.”
What You Do
assess (verb)
To evaluate a client’s fitness level — not “check” or “test”
“First, I assess their current fitness level and mobility.”
tailor / tailor-made (verb / adj)
To customize something for a specific person; customized
“I tailor every program to the individual.” / “It’s a tailor-made program.”
progression (noun)
The steps from easier to harder versions of an exercise
“Let me show you the progression from a knee push-up to a full push-up.”
modify / modification (verb / noun)
To change an exercise to make it easier or safer; the change itself
“If that’s too hard, I can modify the exercise for you.”
form (noun)
How the body moves during an exercise — technique, posture
“Keep your form correct — don’t rush the movement.”
rep / set (noun)
Rep = one complete movement; Set = a group of reps
“Three sets of ten reps each.”
Connecting With Clients
goals (noun — often plural in coaching)
What the client wants to achieve. Often used in plural, but singular is fine too: “What’s your main goal?”
“What are your fitness goals?” / “Let’s talk about your goals.”
fitness background (phrase)
A client’s previous experience with exercise and sport
“Tell me about your fitness background — have you trained before?”
injuries (noun — plural)
Physical problems a client has — always ask before training!
“Do you have any injuries I should know about?”
mobility (noun)
How well joints can move — flexibility + control
“Let me check your shoulder mobility first.”
