How do I know if my personal trainer is any good?

Grade them on ten things: a real intake before the first workout, measured progress, eyes on every rep, technique before intensity, a program that changes as you get stronger, a plan between sessions, explanations, the right number of sessions, progress you can name after eight weeks, and whether you could tell them it is not working. O-SEA Fit's Trainer Report Card scores all ten.

Does the Trainer Report Card collect my trainer's name?

No. It never asks for a name or an email. Only the ten answers are counted, anonymously, in the public scorecard.

The Trainer Report Card: Grade Your Personal Trainer

The Trainer Report Card

Grade your personal trainer in two minutes.

Ten questions, any trainer, anywhere. O-SEA Fit wrote this report card from the questions a CrossFit Games competitor and coach since 2012 asks of his own coaching. Answer honestly; nobody sees your trainer’s name, because we never ask for it.

1 Before your first workout, did your trainer ask about your health, sleep, stress, injuries and goals? Yes Sometimes No

2 Did your trainer tell you how your progress will be measured, and do they actually measure it? Yes Sometimes No

3 Does your trainer watch every rep and fix your form, instead of counting reps or checking a phone? Yes Sometimes No

4 Does technique come before intensity in your sessions? Yes Sometimes No

5 Does your program change as you get stronger, instead of repeating the same workout? Yes Sometimes No

6 Do you leave each session knowing what to do until the next one? Yes Sometimes No

7 Does your trainer explain why you are doing each exercise? Yes Sometimes No

8 Is the number of sessions a week right for your goal and your budget? Yes Sometimes No

9 After eight weeks, can you name progress you have made? Yes Sometimes No

10 Could you tell your trainer it is not working, and expect them to change the plan? Yes Sometimes No

How the grade works

Yes is two points, sometimes is one, no is zero.

18 to 20 is an A, 15 to 17 a B, 12 to 14 a C, 9 to 11 a D, below 9 an F. Each question links to the O-SEA Fit guide that explains what good looks like, so a low grade comes with the fix. Your answers are counted anonymously in the public scorecard; no name, email or trainer is stored.

Choosing a personal trainer

The questions behind the report card.

Every question comes from O-SEA Fit’s guide to choosing a personal trainer and the trainer guides, including when a personal trainer is the wrong answer.