Successful Subbing for Fitness Classes

Questions

What are your best tips for subbing? How do you approach finding a sub and subbing for other instructors?

From the Experts

Preparation and Presence

Colleen Freese, ACE-GFI, fitness instructor, Puyallup, Washington.

As instructors, we’ve all needed a sub for one reason or another, and we’ve likely been asked to sub for a colleague as well.

Sounds easy, right? You find someone who’s certified and toss them in front of your class! Not so fast. While we may find ourselves in a bind and not have the luxury of being choosy about who we place with our regulars, there are some things we can do to think ahead. 

Here are pointers for finding a sub:

1. Plan ahead. Look at your sub pool and choose someone who has experience teaching the format you need covered. Will they be able to hop right in with little to no guidance? If not and you’re using an instructor who teaches a different format, make sure your class participants are notified ahead of time so that they know what to expect and have the opportunity to cancel without penalty.

2. Choose a personality who will jive with your students. This isn’t always possible, but I try to choose someone I know my students will have fun with and learn something new from. I encourage my classes to embrace subs whenever possible because it can be a great learning experience for all involved!

3. Set up your sub for success. Do they know what class they’re subbing? How many people to expect in class? Any pertinent participant info they may need? Do they know how to get in and work the speaker or sound system? Ask yourself what you can do to make sure they’re confident and prepared so that they can focus on the class experience instead of logistics.

4. Ask them if they need anything from you. There may be a very simple request or question they have that will make all the difference in their experience with your students. Communication is key!

Here are some things I make sure I know before I sub a class:

1. Logistics. Do I know how to get there, where the room is, what class it is, what time it starts and ends, what equipment is needed, and how to work the sound and microphones? If possible, I get there early to make sure I’m ready and not rushed.

2. Introduce yourself. This sounds like a no-brainer, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into a class with a sub and they just fire up the music and get started with a bunch of confused participants. Tell them your name, what the class is, how happy you are to be there and that you are all going to have a fabulous time!

3. Do your best and let your personality shine through. It’s tempting to want to emulate the personality or vibe of the instructor you’re filling in for, but try to lean into your own strengths, unique traits and what makes you “you”! No one is expecting a clone, and you might be exactly what someone in that room needs that day.

Your biggest takeaways should be: prep, plan, personality, presence and post-class. Follow up with your sub and your students to ask for feedback so you can make the best decisions for next time. And if you’re the sub, follow up with the regular instructor to see if there’s anything you can do to make the next time a positive experience for all!

See also: Class Essentials

Practical Tips for Subbing

Staci Alden, owner of Alden Fitness Solutions, podcaster, presenter and YouTube content creator, Seattle.

Here are my tips being a sub:

• Add the class to your own personal calendar. Then there’s no chance of forgetting or missing class.
• Attend the class ahead of time. You’ll get an idea of how the instructor formats the class, the music they play and the volume they have the sound at. Perhaps the instructor would let you teach a portion of the class, song or pose. This is a great way for current participants to see you work with their regular instructor and be more open to attending class when you sub.
• Smile, have fun and own your class. No apologies. You are there to help a teammate and do your best. If a participant doesn’t like your class because it’s different from their usual instructor’s, it is not your fault.
• Allow extra time to arrive to the facility. If the class is on a different day or time than you usually teach,  there may be more traffic, construction, school buses, delays, etc.
• Don’t feel the need to get too creative: Your class will already be very different from their regular instructor, so just teach your favorite exercises with the class format and order you feel most comfortable with.

Here are some tips for finding a sub:

• Be a sub! Other instructors are more likely to sub for you if you sub for them.
• Get participants excited about someone new. When you secure a sub, hype them up before they teach your class. The more successful your subs feel and the more enjoyable the experience, the more likely they will be to sub for you again.
• Seek subs well in advance. Last-minute requests get old for your teammates quickly because they feel bad when they can’t help with such little notice.

Support and Motivation

De Bolton, NASM CPT, CES, CFGI, HIIT & flow master trainer, Cinnaminson, New Jersey.

Subbing can be intimidating, but remember: You’re not there to replace the regular instructor; you’re there to help a fellow fitness professional. Show up and be prepared before subbing a class. Make sure you are familiar with the format, music and any modifications that may be needed. Arrive early to set up and introduce yourself to the regular participants.

Communicate with the instructor whom you’re subbing for to get a sense of their teaching style and any specific instructions they have for the class if you haven’t taken theirs before—which I recommend for inspiration and networking!

Be adaptable: Modify the class based on the level and needs of the participants. Teach to everyone, especially the back row. Some may be beginners, while others are advanced.

The best way to have a successful class is to create a positive environment: Encourage and motivate participants throughout the class. Try to get the names of the class members as they come in. Use positive language and make sure everyone feels included.

When it comes to finding subbing opportunities, start where you teach. Get to know other instructors, take their classes and support each other. Contact local studios and gyms to see if they have any openings. Let them know the modalities you teach and your availability to sub if they are interested. You can also network with other instructors and offer to sub if they need time off. Make sure to have a strong online and community presence, and showcase your skills on social media platforms to attract potential opportunities.

See also: How to Add Value to Your Fitness Classes