In my last work placement shift, I lead my first ever gym sessions (which was supervised). This was a kettlebell class. This was a challenge that I asked the site manager for,  as i wanted to be pushed out of my comfort zone and also try something new to see if i enjoyed it. I took some time to plan my session, prior to the session, using online resources, and also asking the staff at the site which are qualified in Kettlebell classes. Preparing the session was very important for me as, due to it being a new experience for myself and and i believe that planning what exercises i was going to do, how long for, how long each round of the lasts, etc.

When delivering the session, at first, I felt very nervous. This is due to mainly not having experience doing this previously. However, I do have experience in delivering sessions, this is due to doing football coaching before this work placement. I delivered the session, with relative ease, with no complications. However, i did learn some valuable lessons. Firstly, its important to be able to fill the time the clients are performing exercises (using constructive feedback on technique, giving encouragement). As the session progressed, I began to encourage more throughout the session. Another valuable lesson i learnt from this session, is that, not every exercise has to have the same duration. I learnt this, due to one or two of the exercises needing to be shorter as the exercise was more demanding. Overall from this experience, i gained some knowledge which will help me develop, and i can say whole heartedly that experiencing what its like to deliver a class is really going to help me in developing my abilities in leading classes, but also has helped my confidence.

This week, I shadowed a number of Personal Training sessions conducted by different members of staff at the site of my work placement. This involved the planning of the sessions and delivery. What I learnt from this experience is the importance of diversity and adaptability needed to deliver a session successfully. This is due to clients working harder and performing better when delivering the sessions using different techniques. For example, some clients may need more positive feedback to make them  work harder and engage in the sessions go get the most out of them, whereas, other clients may prefer more ‘tough love’ techniques, to get the most out of the session. As well as shadowing PT sessions, i have being continuing to fulfil basic day to day task such as the pool test and cleaning.

I also have had a meeting with a man named Rupert Manwaring, who works with F1 driver Carlos Sainz. This meeting was to give me more of an insight into how F1 drivers train, eat, recover, and also what physiological demands F1 driving has on the body. This meeting was very insightful, as he showed me what a race weekend schedule looks like for himself and Carlos, but also explained some of the types of training they do to prepare his body physically for the amount of force his body withstands during a race weekend.

I completed three days work placement this week at Nuffield Health Netherne.

During this week i have been introduced to the protocols followed, and what tasks have to be undertaken each day. Also, i have had an insight into the administrative side of working in a gym. I have also shadowed the manager, watching and assisting the roles he has to fulfil on a day to day basis.

I can now confidently conduct pool tests to check pH and chlorine levels. I can also check sauna temperature, pool temperature and air temperature in the pool. I also know how to conduct a backwash for the pool. I also know how to clean the gym equipment correctly, and sign off the cleaning rota.

I have completed the Chancellors Award on the Roehampton Career Link. Whilst completing this, throughout each module of the award, i retook the Career Pulse Test and improved my score to 90%. This shows that in doing the Chancellors Award, it has helped broaden my knowledge into how to network effectively, how to create a good CV, etc.

I also completed a mock interview with my module contact. This helped me work on my interview skills, but also see what i needed to work on. One thing i found is that during interviews, i can become anxious so,  one area i need to work on is confidence and composure.

I have also found and confirmed dates to complete a work placement with Nuffield Health in Nethern Village. This is going to be a good experience for me because it is working in a field which I have little experience, therefore allowing me to broaden my horizon and see how a different sporting industry works.

I took the Career Pulse Questionnaire on Career Link. The screenshot below shows my score, showing areas which are strong and areas which need improvement.

As can be seen, my overall score was 72%. This shows that there is areas which I am confident in, e.g. Self-Awareness, Workplace Skills and CVs and Applications. However, there are some areas which I need to improve on such as interviews, job hunting and career possibilities.

Using the resources made available to me through career link, I am aiming to improve on these areas and then retake the career pulse questionnaire, aiming to get a higher overall score.

Within the next 5 years, there are many goals which I have set myself to achieve.

Firstly, I would like to achieve a 1st class in my Sport and Exercise Science degree, (if not at least a minimum of a 2:1). This is so that it puts me within the top bracket for this degree, therefore helping me find employment. Also, to help this, I would like to also gain some relevant work experience in my fields of interest.

I would like to be working in one of the following 2 areas:
Sports injury and Rehabilitation:
Sports Biomechanics
To work in these fields of work,  I would do a postgraduate course in Sports Rehabilitation or Sports Biomechanics, and gain relevant experience during my course to prepare me for employment.

I also aim to continue my progression with my coaching badges, as I aim to complete my FA  Level 2 in football coaching and then go on to earning my UEFA B license in Football and Futsal. As well as football, I would also like to broaden my horizons by completing and becoming a qualified Personal Trainer, and also qualified in sports massage.