Ch. 12 - Professional And Legal Responsiblities

Question 1

Rationale for continued development

Answer 1

—throughout their careers, GFI affect the lives of countless individuals
—participants must trust instructors to have the knowledge, skills and abilities to lead safe, effective workouts
—instructors must strive to provide the best possible info., methodology and experience to their groups

Obtaining AFAA certification is a critical first step, but ongoing professional development is equally as important to keep pace with changes in the fitness industry as exercise science and tech. Advance
—for career development, an instructor should explore options to gain experience, seek feedback and evaluation, stay current with research and trends and investigate specializations

Question 2

Feedback

Answer 2

Feedback offers an opp. For learning, growth and improved performance to expand on future opp.
—should anticipate and solicit feedback from participants, peers and supervisors
—take feedback graciously and evaluate how to use it for improvement

Question 3

Participant feedback

Answer 3

Positive feedback from participants is encouraging and validating
—negative feedback can feel defeating
—many factors may influence comments - preferences, age, fitness level, past experiences, relationships with other instructors, and changing moods
—even if it appears a participant may be reacting to elements beyond the control of the instructor, negative feedback should not be dismissed without considering its potential validity

Question 4

Peer feedback

Answer 4

—feedback from fellow instructors is one of the most valuable types
—another instructor will typically have a better-informed perspective than a participant
—when a peer comes to class, invite them to share what worked, what did not, how it could have been better, offer to do the same for them
—when used for mutual benefit and improvement, peer-to-peer feedback is an excellent practice for instructors

Question 5

Supervisor feedback

Answer 5

Regular feedback from a supervisor should be expected and welcomed
—management’s goal is to keep participants happy and classes well attended
—some facilities may also have specific standards, branded programs or guidelines to which instructors must adhere
—supervisors also have the responsibility to uphold the standards specific to their respective programs and to meet the needs of participants

Question 6

Self-evaluation

Answer 6

Or self-assessment, is a review of oneself or one’s actions and attitudes
—viewed in relation to an objective standard
—as a GFI, self-evaluation is a vital and ongoing part of professional development

Question 7

Immediate reflection

Answer 7

—after every session, have a sense of whether class was good or bad
—in either instance, learn and grow from the experience
—identify what factor contributed to the outcome - use info. To do more of what went right and avoid elements that went wrong

Question 8

Long-term evaluation

Answer 8

—refers to the practice of self-reflection over time
—as an instructor gains more experience, it becomes possible to identify patterns or behaviors facilitating or impeding growth
—LT evaluation is also important for instructors deciding how to expand their education or career
—after teaching for months or years, instructors might realize they are passionate about a specific format or population and less motivated to teach the format they started with
—based on that recognition, they may decide to pursue specialized education that enables them to work where they feel most satisfied

Question 9

Self-Recording

Answer 9

—a video or voice recording of a live class can help an instructor identify opp. For individual improvement
—over-cueing, counting incessantly, speaking too fast, or engaging in unnecessary chatter that distracts from the primary objective

When instructors watch themselves in action, they are able to look at their technique, movement quality, interactions with the group, and facial expressions in addition to hearing how they cue

Ideas to self-record a class
—use smartphone to record all or part of class
—have a supervisor or peer film you as part of an evaluation
—when listening to or watching your class, have a notepad handy to write down the elements you observed

Question 10

Continuing education

Answer 10

Cont. educational development is essential for instructors to provide up-to-date, accurate information and technique
—cont. education refers to lectures, courses, webinars, and other programs designed to educated individuals and provide additional skills or knowledge
—workshops, trainings, assigned readings and quizzes, or online courses
—it is important to verify the course has been pre-approved or is eligible to be petitioned for credit, as not all available continuing education options have been approved by AFAA

Obtaining a specific number of approved continuing education units is required during each certification period to maintain active certification or as part of recurrent recertification

Question 11

Recertification

Answer 11

—ensures instructors stay current in info. And approach as industry evolves - preventing instructor from stagnating
—when instructors fail to seek new sources of continuing education, they limit their development and do a disservice to their participants, fellow instructors, and the industry
—important to visit and review info. At www.AFAA.com for most up-to-date requirements and options for recertification

Question 12

Specialty courses

Answer 12

Bc of the intentionally broad focus of AFAA group fitness instructor certification program, additional, specific training is required to teach popular classes such as indoor cycling, mind-body, cardio-kickboxing, dance-based formats, water-based formats, and others specific to various populations

There are many diff. Courses and format trainings that feature specialized equipment, pre-designed branded formats or advanced instructor skills
—specialty courses enhance the skills, interests and abilities of the instructor and also broaden his or her opp. For employment

Question 13

Workshops and live events

Answer 13

—-workshops delivered by a qualified provider can range from a few hours to a few days
—live, multi-day events and conferences offer the opp. To attend various sessions on a wide variety of topics
—each can be valuable to the instructor, not only to earn requisite credits to maintain certification status, but also for exposure to new areas of interest and specialization

Question 14

Keeping certification

Answer 14

—most specialty programs do not comprehensively cover the fundamental info. Provided by the primary certification, and as a result, development, growth and employment opp. May be limited if AFAA certification is not renewed

Question 15

Credible sources

Answer 15

—supported by evidence-based, peer-reviewed research from respected organizations, groups, and individuals
—when evaluating new info., instructors should consider the source and context before using it to influence their class design or cues
—when in doubt, seek out established industry associations and businesses and works of groups and indiv. Who contribute to them

Question 16

Experiential development

Answer 16

—there is no substitute for application and experience in the GFI development path
—being a successful instructor requires practice, observation, a commitment to grow and patience

Experiential development can be acquired through a variety of resources
1. Peer participation
—attending another instructor’s class

2. Co-instruction
   —instructing a class with a peer
3. Mentoring
   —finding a mentor or serving as a mentor
4. Networking
   —connecting with other professionals

Question 17

General professionalism in group fitness

Answer 17

—starts with practicing basic principles of customer service
—arriving on time, comm. in a friendly, professional manner, and setting appropriate boundaries for contact with participants

Instructors must be aware of the influence their attitudes, behaviors, and comm. styles can have
—to earn respect and trust, as well as maintain the integrity of the profession, instructors should strive to act responsibility and professionally at all times

Question 18

Punctuality

Answer 18

Every effort should be made to start and end class at the scheduled time

Question 19

Communication

Answer 19

Instructors should comm. in a manner that is friendly, considerate and inclusive
—vocal tone, choice of words, rate of speech, eye contact, and body language all contribute to professionalism or lack thereof

Question 20

Physical contact

Answer 20

Due to the physical nature of teaching group fitness
—it is important for the instructor to maintain appropriate professional boundaries
—if participant agrees to physical contact, it should always be done with care and sensitivity for the indiv.
—if a participant displays any signs of discomfort, contact should be immediately discontinued

Question 21

Attire

Answer 21

Dress in a manner that enables performance without creating discomfort or distraction for participants

Question 22

Language

Answer 22

In general, profanity or explicit language is best left out of the teaching environment

Question 23

confidentiality

Answer 23

Always maintain confidentiality of the individual and avoid discussing a participant’s personal info. With others

Question 24

Legal and ethical considerations video

Answer 24

Exercise programs, by nature, can result in injuries
—the GFI must not only have a working knowledge of legal and risk-management concepts, but must also adhere to ethical practices to avoid legal consequences

Scope of practice
—GFI are expected to have knowledge of exercise science and the ability to provide safe and progressive exercise program that participants believe have a sufficient grasp of anatomy, physiology and exercise science to ensure safe and effective workouts
—bc of that, sometimes participants assume GFI also have more in-depth medical knowledge or credentials than they do, and might post questions instructors or neither qualified nor licensed to answer

Scope or practice- refers to limitations by law that req. specific education and experience
—it is used by national and state licensing boards - to determine the procedures, actions or processes permitted by a licensee or practioner
—when an individual who is not licensed engages in the practices of a licensed profession then they are violating scope of practice

An instructor must understand what he or she is and is NOT qualified to do or say - and operating outside of those boundaries can constitute a violation of the law

Question 25

Legal and ethical considerations video
Part 2

Answer 25

—instructors must be careful to not go beyond scope of practice: includes pastoral assessments, diagnosis or treatment of an injury, nutritional recommendations, and psychological advice
—the instructor should develop a network of trusted qualified health care providers and refer clients to them

In addition to operating w/in scope of practice, instructors should also be aware of other legal liability exposures and risk-management strategies
—incidents or injuries due to negligence can result in costly litigation for both the facility and the instructor
—these claims may include failing to provide a qualified instructor with sufficient knowledge, training and experience to safely instruct the participant
—failing to supervise or improperly instructing a participant
—failing to have or properly carry out a written emergency plan and procedure

Risk-management strategies for GFI that include maintaining current group fitness instructor and CPR/AED certification at all times
—adhering to industry standards and guidelines for safety
—obtaining necessary training for all formats instructed and equipment used
—understanding and being able to execute emergency exit plans
—being familiar with and acting within all facility policies and procedures
—completing incident reports properly and in a timely manner

Question 26

Legal and ethical considerations video
—part 3

Answer 26

GFI must be familiar with liability insurance and maintain those requirements
—and have participant liability waivers to minimize risk for themselves and the organization

Always want to make corrections before an accident happens
—if an incident happens, the actions of the instructor immediately following can go a long way to mitigate the risk of negligence
—we have to immediately contact emergency or medical personnel, and take detailed notes to provide to the insurer

Ethical considerations
—to be in alignment with ethical standards, GFI commit to always act in the best interest of participants by maintaining the necessary education and knowledge, operating within their scope of practice,and behaving in a consistently positive, constructive and professional manner
—teach class with the best interests of the group in mind, while still acknowledging their individual needs
—prioritize safety
—adhere to guidelines for proper music speed and volume
—obtain necessary training and education for all formats instructed
—be guided by truth, fairness and integrity
—always uphold a professional image

Also make sure you are ready o pay the royalties due on the music you use

Question 27

Music legalities

Answer 27

The act of teaching in a public place in front of groups of people and in a commercial setting requires a commercial music license
—for music to be legal, two groups of contributors must be compensated
1. Publishers and songwriters
2. Record labels and artists
—both parties contribute to a complete sound recording, but they are separate entities and each deserves fair compensation
—legal music pays royalties to both parties

Question 28

Musical works
—publishers/songwriters

Answer 28

1. public performance rights
   —works subject to ASCAP/BMI consent decrees - “reasonable” rate - federal district court (Rate courts)
   —works not subject to ASCAP/BMI consent decrees - rates negotiated in the free market
2. reproduction and distribution (mechanical rights)
3. synch rights (etc.)
   —rates negotiated in the free market

Question 29

Sound recordings
—record labels/artists

Answer 29

1. Reproduction and distribution rights, public performance rights for digital interactive, synch rights etc.
   —rates negotiated in the free market
2. Public performance rights for digital non interactive
   —2a. Satellite radio and pre-existing subscription services
   ——801(b)(1) factors
   ——copyright royalty board

—2b. Internet radio and new subscription services
——willing buyer, wiling seller
——copyright royalty board

Question 30

Self-care video
1. Vocal health

Answer 30

—due to the nature of the role, a fitness instructor can put a tremendous stress on his or her body and voice
—to have a long and healthy career that sets an example, it is important to be mindful of common risks and how to avoid them

VIDEO
—as leaders in health and fitness, your own physical and mental health are incredibly important, and easy to overlook

1. Vocal health
   —long-term vocal strain is a very real concern
   —instructors can develop chronic laryngitis, vocal nodules, and other symptoms of vocal damage
   —like any other muscle in the body, the tissues around the voice need to be worked and cared for properly
   —you need to work the voice like the rest of the body, and rest it when necessary

Some tips for vocal health
1. Project from the diaphragm and breathe from your belly - this will put less strain on your vocal chords
2. Avoid shouting - you can always use body language and other visual cues to engage your class
3. Best case scenario - use a mic
4. REST - weekly or biweekly days of rest can be so helpful I for vocal health - rest and unwind with activities that don’t involve making any sound at all

Question 31

Self-care video
2. Avoid overtraining

Answer 31

Avoid overtraining
—the effects of overworking are not pretty
—you have to avoid overtraining for your mental and physical health
1. Physical health
—progressive overload combined with adequate recovery leads to performance improvements - however, when overload is uncontrolled without allowing for proper rest, overtraining can result
—the first step to recovering is always to get ample rest
—risk of overtraining can be reduced by diversifying the type of formats you teach, managing personal intensity by doing more hands-on coaching instead of demonstrating and making sure all of your nutritional needs are being met

2. Mental and emotional stress
   —its all connected - if your body is stressed, you will start feeling anxious
   —can be stressful when not managed
   —to focus on the benefits and cut down on stress factors, try to be mindful of following things
   —it is easy to get over scheduled and exhausted
   —you can’t just take on every opportunity to fill everywhere - at some point you need to say no and keep a balanced schedule
   —there’s creative pressure in being an instructor - want to keep it fresh and fun - but conastant thought of what to do next can be overwhelming - make a plan and give each sequence time
   —let your class know what to expect and give it all a little more structure

Remember you are human too!! You can’t control perceptions, opinions or comments that you have to absorb as part of your job
—all you can control is how things affect your emotional state and stress levels

With effective schedule planning, reducing creative pressure and better managing emotionally loaded situations - you can spend less time feeling stressed out and more time enjoying the job

Question 32

Additional opp. In fitness

Answer 32

—many options for the GFI to extend his or her reach beyond teaching classes - from managing a group fitness staff, personal training, facilitating education for other instructors
—by gaining experience and seeking additional opportunities, instructors can achieve a rewarding, full-time fitness career while maintaining ability to teach a reasonable class load

Question 33

Group fitness manager

Answer 33

—manager or coordinator assumes responsibility for own delivery in classes but also for the quality and variety of a well-balanced class schedule taught by other instructors
—Responsibilities, time commitment and compensation will vary with the type of facility
—manager should be prepared to manage and develop instructors, engage with members, track participation and payroll and build an effective program that appeals to a wide variety of indiv Yale’s

Frequently a popular and skilled instructor will be promoted to a management role based on success in the fitness classroom
—but teaching skills and managerial skills are very different
—transitioning instructor should be committed to professional development by seeking out leadership training, mentoring opp., and professional industry resources

Question 34

Personal trainer

Answer 34

—instead of interacting with a large group and creating programs designed to meet needs of many, personal trainer can specifically focus on the unique goals and needs of an individual
—an additional benefit of becoming a personal trainer is the enhanced degree of knowledge it requires
—with additional personal training certification - the GFI will increase his or her ability to design effective classes
—also build reputation for delivering classes that are particularly results oriented - attractive to many participants

To become personal trainer, must obtain accredited certification
—through certification, will learn how to assess clients’ goals and develop programs specific to their needs

Question 35

Group personal training

Answer 35

GFI who is also a certified personal trainer can conduct group personal training sessions
—small group of two or more (usually 3-5) clients at once
—group personal training provides individuals with the motivation and camaraderie’s of working out with others - but with more personalized attention and no individualized programming
—also allows clients to work toward more specific goals than group fitness classes can provide

Also in training a group, personal trainers can earn a higher per-session rate and serve more clients at once with creative program design that keeps sessions exciting and fun
—make more income and provide additional revenue to facilities - also more affordable for clients than one-on-one training

Group personal training is a good bridge btwn teaching large group fitness classes and conducting one-on-one personal training

Question 36

Workshop facilitator

Answer 36

—highly experience instructor who desires to share knowledge with others
—as an educator, one can contribute to the development of peers while expanding personal career opportunities and increasing income potential

Two types of workshop facilitators
1. One who presents original content
2. One who presents the material of another individual or organization

Basic qualifications
—dynamic public speaking skills
—ability to organize and present info. Clearly
—in depth knowledge and experience with topic being presented

To get started, an aspiring facilitator may ask a group fitness manager or supervisor for the opp. To present a free workshop to fellow instructors
—low-pressure env. With support from others is an excellent first step to becoming a presenter
—after gaining experience, next step would be to apply to a local or regional conference
—with time and acquisition of skill, knowledge and permutation - some exceptional presenters may find full-time employment as national and even international facilitators

Question 37

Which of the following best represents professional behavior with regard to physical contact?

Answer 37

It is occasionally appropriate, in certain situations, with permission from participant

Question 38

In addition to adhering to industry guidelines and maintaining current certifications, what is an effective way for an instructor to minimize legal risk and liability?

Answer 38

Become familiar with and act within all facility policies and procedures

Question 39

Which of the following is an example of an instructor going outside scope of practice?

Answer 39

Diagnosis or treatment of an injury

Question 40

What type of liability insurance is recommended for all instructors?

Answer 40

Professional

Question 41

Which of the following is the best method for protecting your voice and avoiding vocal injury when teaching?

Answer 41

Project from the diaphragm

Question 42

An instructor is training for a fitness competition and following a very specific diet plan in order to reduce body fat. After class, several participants ask for nutritional advice. Which of the following is the appropriate response?

Answer 42

Suggest seeking the advice of a registered dietician to help them customize their own individual nutrition plans

Question 43

Which of the following is a reliable way for a Group Fitness Instructor to find and share credible sources of information?

Answer 43

Using evidence-based, peer-reviewed research from respected organizations, groups, and individuals

Question 44

Legal music to use for classes should be obtained from which of the following?

Answer 44

Commercial fitness music companies

Question 45

Which of the following is the reason why fitness music companies are able to provide the most efficient access to legal music for instructors and facilities?

Answer 45

They produce and own their recordings

Question 46

Which of the following is true of original artist music downloaded or streamed for a monthly fee?

Answer 46

It is not legal to use in class because it is intended for personal use only

Question 47

Which of the following is the best option for obtaining continuing education credits and making an instructor more versatile?

Answer 47

A specialty course

Question 48

After class, a participant approaches you and tells you about a sensitive and personal family situation. What is your responsibility in this situation?

Answer 48

Maintain confidentiality, unless there is risk for harm to themselves or others

Question 49

An instructor has been teaching the same format in the same time slot for several years. In the past few months, he has found it hard to get motivated to teach, and class numbers have declined. After thinking about it, he decides to attend a workshop on a new format and asks for a meeting with his supervisor to discuss changing the class. Which of the following does this scenario represent?

Answer 49

Long-term evaluation

Question 50

Which of the following are examples of credible resources from which to obtain information and education?

Answer 50

Evidence-based publications

Question 51

Which of the following does AFAA require instructors to acquire to maintain current certification status?

Answer 51

Continuing education units

Question 52

Which of the following best describes the philosophy regarding shouting cues throughout class?

Answer 52

It is a potential pre-cursor to vocal damage