L3 Personal Trainer Course

This page contains key recommended resources for my students that are working towards top-up qualifications in personal training or similar.

Course briefing

  • For key paperwork see the Google Docs embedded below.

  • For further support see the links further down.

CIMSPA Personal Training: Practical Paperwork

The file below contains:

  • The practical Briefing

  • A sample programme card

  • The Assessment Criteria

CIMSPA PT Practical Assessment briefing and paperwork 20XX.docx

CIMSPA Four Week Exercise Programme Paperwork

If you need to complete the 4 week programme, the paperwork below provides a suitable guide to the content required.

CIMSPA Exercise Programme Worksheet 2022.docx

Key Course Content

Advanced Content

Additional Resources

Other useful PT Resources

Giant Sets - https://parallelcoaching.co.uk/what-is-a-giant-set-training-system

Pre and Post Exhaust Sets - https://parallelcoaching.co.uk/what-are-pre-exhaust-and-post-exhaust-sets-resistance-training-systems

Tri-Sets - https://parallelcoaching.co.uk/what-is-a-triset-training-system

Supersetting - https://parallelcoaching.co.uk/episode-017-supersetting-agonist-antagonist-pairs

Recommended Journal Articles

Biddle, S. J., & Batterham, A. M. (2015). High-intensity interval exercise training for public health: a big HIT or shall we HIT it on the head?. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 12(1), 95. [full text]

Jones, A. M. (2006) The physiology of the world record holder for the women's marathon. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching Vol.1, 101-116 [full text]

Robergs, R.A. and Landwehr, R. (2002) The surprising history of the “HRmax=220-age” equation JEPonline. 5(2):1-10 https://www.asep.org/asep/asep/Robergs2.pdf

Jackson, D. (2010). How Personal Trainers Can Use Self-Efficacy Theory to Enhance Exercise Behavior in Beginning Exercisers. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 32(3), 67-71 [full text]

Lewis, P. B., Ruby, D., & Bush-Joseph, C. A. (2012). Muscle Soreness and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 31(2), 255-262. [full text]

McGuigan, M. R., Cormack, S. J., & Gill, N. D. (2013). Strength and power profiling of athletes: Selecting tests and how to use the information for program design. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 35(6), 7-14. [full text]

Thomas, D. T., Erdman, K. A., & Burke, L. M. (2016). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 116(3), 501-528. [full text]

Suchomel, T. J., Nimphius, S., Bellon, C. R., & Stone, M. H. (2018). The importance of muscular strength: Training considerations. Sports Medicine, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0862-z [full text]

Books

My "fitness instruction" reading list

Hutchinson, A. (2011). Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?: Workout myths, Training truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise. McClelland & Stewart. [amazon]

Online Reading

Tim Noakes on Overhydration

Christian Thibadeau workout

Fatigue; Central, peripheral or perceptual

Podcasts (fitness and critical thinking)

GainCast with Vern Gambetta

We Do Science by Guru Performance

More or Less on BBC Radio4

You are not so smart by David McRaney

see below for approaches to aerobic training and screening lecture notes