The one thing you might *NOT* be doing that is leaving money on the table That Separates the 1% of Coaches From the Rest

Sep 19, 2022

3 min read

The One Thing That Separates the 1% of Coaches From the Rest

(Hint: it’s not branding. It’s not a $9K business course. It’s screening.)

After presenting at the Perth fitness conference—sun shining, surrounded by legit trailblazers, deep conversations and actual fun—it hit me again:

The best in our industry are still students.

They learn. They ask questions. They challenge their own assumptions.

And that’s what puts them in the top 1%.

So it made me ask—what’s one thing that too many trainers still aren’t doing, even though it could make or break the client experience?

The answer? Proper screening.

Medical. Movement. Warm-up protocols.

Not sexy. Not Insta-worthy. But critical.

1. The Screening Form: It’s Not Just Paperwork

This form isn’t a throwaway. It’s your legal shield, your programming blueprint, your injury-prevention guide, and your professional flex.

Yet I can’t count how many gyms I’ve walked into where no one asked a single question about injuries. Not even a “Hey, how’s your body feeling today?”

That’s dangerous. It’s lazy. And it could ruin someone’s back (literally).

Take me:

I’ve got spinal herniations from being hit by a car.

If you put me into kettlebell swings or loaded flexion without knowing that—there’s no happy ending.

It’s not “feeling the burn”—it’s me maybe not walking properly the next day.

And here’s the kicker: if I wasn’t highly aware of my own body? That’s when it becomes your problem.

2. Legal Risk is Only the Beginning

If something goes wrong, and you didn’t ask the right questions—you can’t fall back on “they didn’t tell me.”

Because you didn’t give them a chance to tell you.

No form. No conversation. No documentation.

And even if you never end up in a legal mess, here’s another reality:

Injured clients stop paying.

If someone tweaks their back and can’t train for 6–12 weeks, that’s lost income.

Lost progress.

Lost trust.

Possibly a lost client.

All because you skipped the boring-but-essential part.

3. The Movement Screen: Your Superpower as a Coach

After the form comes the real magic: watching them move.

This is your chance to:

• Build rapport
• Spot limitations
• Catch red flags
• Adapt intelligently
• Show you actually know what you’re doing

And clients feel that. It builds trust instantly.

Once, I was training a client and after a chest press, he made a noise like he’d been stabbed. Turns out—he had an old hernia site that flared up. But here’s the thing: it wasn’t on the form. Because he didn’t mention it.

But I had the form. I had the evidence. And because it wasn’t disclosed, I wasn’t liable.

You need both: the paper trail and the eyeballs on movement.

4. Red Flags Are Everywhere (If You’re Looking)

When someone over 30 writes “N/A” for every single section of the form, my spidey senses go off.

Really? No pain? No injuries? No meds? Nothing?

Dig deeper. People forget. People lie (sometimes without meaning to).

And if you’re not cross-referencing what’s on that form with how they move… you’re flying blind.

Here’s how I handle it:

• Form first: read it before the session
• Movement screen second: adapt based on what’s written
• Goal setting woven in: link what they want to what their body can do
• Modify early: e.g., diastasis? No aggressive core work unless cleared
• Document everything: not for paranoia—for precision

5. The Icebreaker That Makes You the Expert

Most people think they could be a trainer.

Their cousin was one. They almost did a course.

They watched a YouTube video once.

So here’s your edge: do what they don’t.

Screen. Assess. Modify. Educate.

Movement screening is not just safety—it’s positioning.

You become the person who actually knows.

And it gives you the confidence to coach with clarity from day one.

6. Final Word: Why This Actually Matters

Yes, injuries can still happen. Movement has risks.

But we’re here to reduce risk—not ignore it.

And most importantly, to help people train longer, feel better, and stick around.

So let me ask you:

• Do you use a proper medical screening form?
• Do you actually read it before that first session?
• Do you tailor your movement screen based on that info?
• Or are you just winging it?

Because the 1% isn’t about flash.

It’s about thinking ahead, doing better, and staying sharp—for your clients and for yourself.

Let me know what you do differently. Or message me if you want to chat screening tools, risk management, or any of the other lessons I’ve learned the hard way.

No fluff. Just tools that work.