ISSA Online Coaching key terms

The structured process of collecting health history, goals, schedule, equipment access, and training background from a client before the first program is written, typically through a digital form or video call.

A widely used screening questionnaire that flags whether a person needs medical clearance before increasing physical activity, with follow-up questions that branch based on the answers given.

A documented agreement in which the client confirms they understand the risks, benefits, fees, data practices, and limits of online coaching before training begins.

The legal and ethical boundary of what a coach may assess, advise, or treat, excluding diagnosis, prescription, and clinical nutrition therapy unless separately licensed.

Written or verbal approval from a qualified healthcare provider allowing a client with known conditions or symptoms to begin or continue an exercise program.

Sorting clients into low, moderate, or high risk categories based on symptoms, conditions, and activity history so that supervision and testing intensity match their needs.

A short battery of basic movements observed live on camera or from uploaded video to identify limitations in mobility, stability, or control before loading patterns are progressed.

Initial measurements such as strength holds, rep tests, circumference, or a timed walk that establish a starting point against which later progress is compared.

A quantifiable variable, such as waist circumference, push-up count, or a readiness score, tracked repeatedly to judge whether the program is producing the intended result.

The scheduled interval, often every four to eight weeks, at which baseline tests are repeated so programming decisions rest on data rather than impression.

Deliberate planning of training phases over weeks or months, varying volume and intensity so that adaptation continues and overuse or stagnation is avoided.

Systematically increasing the demand placed on the body, through load, reps, sets, range of motion, or density, so that adaptation keeps occurring over time.

Self-reported effort scales in which RPE rates perceived exertion and RIR states how many reps remained in reserve, letting remote coaches set intensity without direct observation.

Adjusting a session's load or volume on the day based on the client's reported readiness, soreness, sleep, or effort, rather than following a fixed written plan rigidly.

A planned lighter week in which volume or intensity is reduced to manage fatigue and allow recovery, usually placed after several weeks of progressive training.

Organizing training into sequential blocks, each emphasizing a specific quality such as hypertrophy, strength, or conditioning, with the emphasis shifting block to block.

Designing effective sessions around the limited gear a home client actually owns, using bodyweight progressions, bands, dumbbells, or household objects in place of gym machines.

Replacing a prescribed movement with one that trains a similar pattern and quality when equipment, space, or a minor limitation makes the original choice impractical.

A guided inventory, often done by video walkthrough, of the client's space, equipment, flooring, and safety hazards so programming matches the real training environment.

Reviewing client-recorded clips from specified camera angles to assess technique and give cue-based feedback, replacing the in-person observation available in a gym.

A documented change to exercises, volume, or intensity made in response to assessment data, feedback, or life circumstances, with the reason recorded for continuity.

A behavior change framework describing stages from precontemplation through maintenance, used to match coaching strategies to a client's current readiness to act.

A collaborative conversation style using open questions, reflective listening, and affirmation to strengthen a client's own reasons for change rather than arguing or instructing.

A client's belief in their capacity to execute a behavior successfully; it grows through mastery experiences, modeling, encouragement, and reduced physiological stress.

A goal framed as specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, which makes progress verifiable and gives coaching conversations a concrete anchor.

Attaching a new behavior to an existing reliable routine, such as doing mobility work right after morning coffee, so the cue is already established.

A written if-then plan specifying when, where, and how a behavior will occur, which improves follow-through by linking a cue to a concrete response.

A written agreement between coach and client stating specific commitments, check-in expectations, and consequences, which clarifies accountability for both parties.

A recurring scheduled contact, such as a weekly message or call, in which training logs and adherence are reviewed and the next commitments are agreed.

A brief pre-session or daily survey of sleep, soreness, stress, and energy that informs same-day training adjustments and flags emerging recovery problems.

Fully attending to a client's words and meaning, then reflecting them back accurately, which builds trust and surfaces barriers that a rushed reply would miss.

Short, specific verbal or visual instructions that direct a client's attention to one aspect of a movement, kept simple because remote delivery limits real-time correction.

The proportion of prescribed sessions or tasks actually completed in a period, a core metric for judging whether a remote program is realistic and well communicated.

Software that hosts programming, messaging, video calls, and progress tracking in one place, forming the operational backbone of a remote coaching business.

A delivery model in which client and coach interact on their own schedules through messages, recorded video, and posted programs rather than in live sessions.

The record of sets, reps, loads, and notes a client submits after sessions, which supplies the data used for progression and adherence tracking.

Handling health information, videos, and payment details with appropriate consent, secure storage, and limited sharing in line with applicable privacy regulations.

A set of trusted professionals, such as physicians, physical therapists, and dietitians, to whom clients are sent when needs exceed the coach's training or legal limits.