Personal Training for Children and Young Adults

Table of contents

According to the National Child Measurement Programme, the UK’s youth is worryingly overweight. The latest instalment of the government report stated that one-fifth (20.1%) of Year 6 pupils (10 or 11-years old) were classed as obese, with more than a third (34.5%) recorded as overweight.

The increase is slow, but the percentage of obese children in the country has grown year-on-year since the reports were introduced.

A number of governmental initiatives such as the introduction of the sugar tax have been introduced to stem the problem. But more and more parents are taking things into their own hand and turning to personal trainers to help keep their offspring healthy and active.

This undoubtedly presents more opportunities for personal trainers to earn extra money through a new client-base. But are the risks of training children and young adults higher and do you need to take extra steps to ensure these clients are trained safely?

 

A different way of training

There are of course, differences when training children and young people to adults both physiologically and psychologically.

Psychologically children will be less engaged with goals such as weight loss or number of reps achieved. Therefore, adopting a fun approach will be more beneficial with the focus on children enjoying themselves while being physically active. It is vital to know the boundaries and pushing a child to their limits as you would an adult can be more detrimental with a risk of causing them unnecessary stress and potentially deterring them from exercise in the future.

Physiologically, children and young adults have not fully developed and therefore a risk of injury is increased. Tendons and ligaments aren’t fully formed and therefore any weighted activity and resistance training should be adapted to ensure they are done correctly and safely for children and young adults. Muscles and bones are still developing and therefore injuries caused from poor technique can have long lasting effects.

So does this put a personal trainer at higher risk of a claim for injury? And does their personal trainer insurance cover them for this?

At Protectivity Insurance if a personal trainer has undergone the right training and hold a qualification for teaching children and young adults then this would be covered under our Personal Trainer Insurance. Trainers would need to have carried out all the usual risk assessments such as getting the parents to fill in a PAR-Q.

 

Tips for personal trainers to keep safe whilst training children:

  • Ensure that any child under the age of 18 has parental sign off
  • You have par-q or similar and are aware of any medical conditions
  • Ensuring correct posture and form is extremely important when training children/teens
  • Adapt exercises to ensure safe technique is used
  • Adjust goals as necessary, know their limits and do not push too hard

 

Qualifications and cover are essential

Before starting to train children, PTs should check the terms of their insurance cover and ensure there are no exclusions to claims relating to children and that their policy allows them to do so.

Perhaps most importantly, is that you are qualified to train children. Without qualifications in place, it’s unlikely that your policy will cover you if something were to go wrong.

There are courses and qualifications that personal trainers can attend to ‘top-up’ their qualifications and insure they are able to teach kids safely. Training providers such as NRPTYMCA Fit and Platinum Training offer courses specifically designed to educate personal trainers on the risks of training children and young adults and how to do this safely including adapting exercises and drills.

Providing personal trainers are suitably qualified, there is no reason why training children and young adults should be of any higher risk.  For those who own a gym, PTs should ensure they are adequately covered by their gym business insurance to help protect themselves should any claim arise relating to the training of children or young adults.

 

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date. 

Last updated by

Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

For the small businesses we support, insurance and financial protection can sometimes seem complicated, especially when getting started. That’s why our content is designed to be clear and practical—providing helpful guidance and ensuring our customers not only find the specialist cover they require but are confident it will do the job they need.

 

 

Recent Blogs

How to become a locksmith Image

Trades

How to become a locksmith

Have you ever locked yourself out of your home and wished you had the skills to save the day? Rescuing customers

Protect your tools as van break-ins surge Image

Trades

Protect your tools as van break-ins surge

For many tradespeople, a van is more than just a vehicle, it’s a mobile workshop and an essential part of runni

How to hire an apprentice to learn a trade Image

Trades

How to hire an apprentice to learn a trade

If you're a sole trader, self-employed or run a small business in the trades industry, you may have considered hi

Contractor vs Subcontractor: Understanding the Key Differences for UK Tradespeople Image

Trades

Contractor vs Subcontractor: Understanding the Key Differences for UK Tradespeople

When working in the UK’s trades industry, you’ll often come across the terms “contractor” and “subcontr

Weighing up raising prices for your small business Image

Business

Weighing up raising prices for your small business

There’s been a lot of discussion about raising prices in recent weeks, and you might be wondering whether this

How much can a locksmith earn in the UK? Image

Business

How much can a locksmith earn in the UK?

Locksmithing might not be the first profession that comes to mind when thinking about lucrative careers, but it

How to become an electrician in the UK Image

Business

How to become an electrician in the UK

So, you’re thinking about becoming an electrician? A great choice! Whether you’re fresh out of school and pla

What happens if you miss the tax return deadline? Image

Laws, rules and regulations

What happens if you miss the tax return deadline?

With four weeks to go before the deadline, HMRC have announced that 5.4 million taxpayers still need to complete

Adapt your sports club for long-term survival Image

Personal Trainer

Adapt your sports club for long-term survival

Sports clubs play a vital role in fostering community, improving wellbeing, and providing opportunities for peopl

10 popular dog grooming trends Image

Pet Business

10 popular dog grooming trends

Dog grooming has evolved far beyond the basics of a quick wash and trim. It’s now a vibrant mix of artistry, in

Simply find the insurance you need.