As a group exercise coordinator, when do you discontinue a class?
Hi Alicia,
at the center where I teach, the number of class participants are tracked very carefully. There is a rule called 5 x 5 which means that a class will be cancelled if 5 participants or less are in the class during a 5 week period. This may mean that another format is offered or that the class is taken off the schedule entirely.
If an instructor shows up late for class repeatedly, this is grounds for a dismissal. It can happen once with a valid reason but after the second time, I would give a reprimand with a notice of probation. An instructor with poor time management has no place in the fitness industry.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com
Hi Alicia,
A similar rule is in place at the Rec center where I do some training. If a class has 10 or less participants for a number of weeks (not sure about the number…sorry) they will either give it to another instructor and see if that instructor can grow it or cancel the class.
If an instructor is repeatedly late (in my opinion 2 strikes and they should be out) then he/she needs to be fired or at the very least lose the class.
I’ve never been a coordinator, but I have taught group ex in a fairly wide variety of settings, and I’ve run my own program. It is common (I wouldn’t say universal, as there are always outliers) to track class participation. Some places don’t seem to tweak the schedule on a regular basis, unless there is something new they want to add, some revamp the schedule at a more regular basis. I’ve been places where a class or instructor will be moved to a different slot. I would say that is more common unless the instructor is problematic for other reasons, such as the one you mention (extreme tardiness). I have seen it happen where a slow class/instructor really grows if it is placed where it will reach the right audience. It is kind of like before everyone had VCRs and they would schedule a new show opposite a really popular one.
This by the way is one of the things that really matters in hiring a coordinator. A coordinator that only teaches one format will understand that one well, but might not really get the balance of all the options. Most of the best coordinators I’ve known teach at least 2 formats, and take the time to get to know members who are not in those classes, and to take other classes.
Of course, sometimes a class that is popular might get cancelled for other reasons….. such as the center buying a trademarked program and needing space to promote it.
I certainly know of instructors who have lost classes for repeat tardiness. I have also taught where the management did not set great standards themselves.
I think it is good to have a policy in place and to hold people accountable. I taught a5 am class for years and only missed it twice… once when both of my alarms failed, and once when I was (literally) up all night bailing water out of my basement and it was still flooding when 4 am came. At that studio missing last minute once was forgiven, the second time I taught the next class for free to make up. That seemed like a fair policy to me. It really makes you want to save your ‘get out of jail free’ card till you really need it. 10 tardies seems like too much. The professionalism of your center will be judged and found wanting even if the instructor is good. It might be useful to have a tiered system, where they are given a warning at a defined time, and where it is in writing and read and signed by both parties what the expectations are.
I will allow a class to run if attendance pays the instructor and I have no other class to fill the spot that can do better. Classes with low enrollment get moved to less favorable times. Many classes have run for quite a while like that and then suddenly had great numbers.
I haven’t had a problem with late instructors, but I have moved classes to times that worked better for the instructor if it works for them and the studio. I would replace an instructor that was always late. Once every 3 months would slide, but more than that and I would have a problem. If an instructor was late once every week or two, I would teach the class myself if I had to until I found a replacement.