Hi Everyone
I hope all is well and Happy New Year!
This is a the second post of 2020
We are in strange times, lots of uncertainty and fear around the future. Here is my take on what is going to happen within the Fitness and Sports industry
Hope all my readers you find this useful :)
Enjoy!
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I am just going to dive straight into this with my thoughts as bullet points. These are not in any particular order. The negative points first
Negative Points
These are the losers and the losses to the industry
- We will see a colossal amount of PT's retire from the industry due to not having access to a gym to train their clients. They may return, may not but when you have to pay rent. A job is job. Feel for a lot of them out there.
- We will see gyms close due to not having members in their gym due to the lock down rules.
- We will see private and small gyms close before the big chains fold. This means those niche, specialist and community focused centers will go. Which is a real loss to the industry.
- We will see an increase in sedentary behavior during the lock down meaning people's health will decline.
- We will see an increase in mental health cases due to COVID - 19 and lockdown measures.
- People with little to no digital skills are going to lose and are losing in these times. When you can't market or sell your own skill set online. You have lost out.
- Sport and Exercise Science..........this is an interesting one. It is already a very niche industry which is about to get NICHER! I can't see many students doing this course (or many university degrees in general) come next semester. With sports teams all on hold they won't be hiring and looking for interns.
- Fad diets, fad programs and gimmicks for home workouts will be on the rise. Don't buy into this shit please
- Predatory advertising selling cheap bands or gym equipment. If it is cheap, it will break. Go to brands that have been around and use. Good scale for this is look at Amazon Best Sellers and compare similar products as they will operate a similar standard of reviews, care etc.
- Body dysmorphia, eating disorders will be on the rise. Obvious really, if you can't work or have an increase in free time. Spend that time on social media seeing others getting better, hitting their goals, eating foods they can afford, making health progress and you can't. There will be a correlation.
Positive Points
These are the winners and chances for your to take opportunities
- Online trainers with a well established platform will crush it now as they are now the go to. Have the marketing, the graphics and the following to back their demand.
- Those "fitness" experts on Instagram with a leggings deal will earn more than those with a degree or coaching experience as they can sell a product based off their following and sex appeal......Sorry but truth hurts. Quality won't be great but they will do better.
- The coaches who have continued to work with their clients during lock down I salute you. Well done. Not all of us can, due to family, new temporary jobs or lack of access to kit at home to demonstrate with.
- The use of technology in sport and the fitness industry will increased/has increased. Take zoom as an example.
- I can see a bigger increase in applications for nursing, physiotherapy and other health related courses post COVID - 19. For an array of reasons. The most obvious one will be there will be a demand for these jobs to help support our wonderful NHS. Secondly, I have feeling universities will target these courses more as the health sector hasn't folded or reduced scale when compared to other sectors.
- As Phil Graham said, "a trainer/coach with high levels of knowledge and no business skills will lose. A trainer/coach with medium levels of knowledge and good business skills will survive". We will probably see individuals from the business sector venture over and create fitness ventures, private gyms or services post COVID - 19.
- To all you who shitted on Esports, bet you are kicking yourself now. It is the only sport on atm, most sports are using esports versions to keep their fan base. In turn are creating the next generation of fans. Literally attack and conquer a market. Esports saw the sports market and stole it in this chaos. Don't get mad, get even. Be an advocate for it and help link the two together. Zwift with Cycling, Fifa with Football, Ashes with Cricket, F1 with Forza/F1 games etc.
- Post lock down I reckon group training will be killer as people will seek interaction. Better adapt 1-1 sessions to small groups 3-5. Still offer 1-1 but be prepared for more people wanting to train with a friend or family member. Boot camps will be good as people will want to exercise more in green spaces.
- On the thoughts of green spaces if you run a running club or boot camp. Get a mailing list going and get ready to make a fortune. £2 a head for an hour session x 20 people. £40 an hour for a group run. I think the sport of orienteering may see a rise of participation as well. Just needs promoted well enough.
- Calisthenic trainers who are online selling plans will crush it. Many people will be trying this out and looking for coaching
- Sames goes for Yoga and Pilates instructors - webcam (Zoom) session with your clients and run through a beginners class get a subscription list. You have a client base.
That is my take on the industry right now. I will probably go back and edit this at a later date.
Thanks for reading
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Andrew Richardson, Founder of Strength is Never a Weakness Blog
I have a BSc (Hons) in Applied Sport Science and a Merit in my MSc in Sport and Exercise Science and I passed my PGCE at Teesside University.
Now I will be commencing my PhD into "Investigating Sedentary Lifestyles of the Tees Valley" this October 2019.
I am employed by Teesside University Sport and WellBeing Department as a PT/Fitness Instructor.
My long term goal is to become a Sport Science and/or Sport and Exercise Lecturer. I am also keen to contribute to academia via continued research in a quest for new knowledge.
My most recent publications:
My passion is for Sport Science which has led to additional interests incorporating Sports Psychology, Body Dysmorphia, AAS, Doping and Strength and Conditioning.
Within these respective fields, I have a passion for Strength Training, Fitness Testing, Periodisation and Tapering.
I write for numerous websites across the UK and Ireland including my own blog Strength is Never a Weakness.
I had my own business for providing training plans for teams and athletes.
I was one of the Irish National Coaches for Powerlifting, and have attained two 3rd places at the first World University Championships,
in Belarus in July 2016.Feel free to email me or call me as I am always looking for the next challenge.
Contact details below;
Facebook: Andrew Richardson (search for)
Facebook Page: @StrengthisNeveraWeakness
Twitter: @arichie17
Instagram: @arichiepowerlifting
Snapchat: @andypowerlifter
Email: a.s.richardson@tees.ac.uk
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-richardson-b0039278
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Richardson7
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