Finding Your First Class Cover

When you run a fitness business, what happens when you need time off? Let’s talk about getting class cover.

There are plenty of pros and cons when you run a fitness business single-handed. The challenges really show up when you need to be away, whether it’s for an hour or for a week.

Who can cover for you?

Should you cancel the classes?

How do you find someone you trust in your absence?

Why not offer to cover someone else’s classes in return? After all, everyone needs class cover at some point.

Is it difficult to get fitness classes covered?

Class cover can be a challenge for solo business owners and facility owners with a small group of teachers. If you’ve got a roster of teachers, it can be difficult to get the message out and organise the best cover according to skills and schedules.

As a solo fitness professional, you might not have needed to find cover before. But everyone needs time away from the business sometimes, whether it’s for sickness, holiday, or emergencies. You have two options: cancel your classes, or get someone to cover for you. Both solutions have risks.

But getting class cover needn’t be risky to your business or your members. With systems, planning and a good network you can take time off without stress.

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Not sure getting class cover is right for your business but still want the ability to take time off? Check out our blog Taking Time Off When You Offer Memberships.

3 ways to find class cover as a fitness professional

1. Build a local network – start networking with other fitness professionals in your local area, especially those with the same areas of interest and skills. Find people on online residents groups or through your own training.
2. Ask for recommendations – listen in when local people talk about other trainers or gyms. Who do they recommend, who did they like training with? Consider adding these people to your network.
3. Form an unofficial partnership – why not offer to cover someone else’s classes in return? After all, everyone needs class cover at some point. An unofficial partnership could lead to a collaboration that’s stronger than the sum of its parts.

How to get started finding class cover

1. Build up a long list of potential class cover teachers using your local network and recommendations.
2. Reach out well in advance so you (and the other person) have plenty of time to get used to the idea.
3. Have something in writing to cover the basics of class etiquette (and to reduce concerns about your clients being poached).
4. Provide the other person with everything they need to deliver your class and look after your clients the way you would.
5. Communicate the change to members (and let them know when you’ll be back) so they feel informed and considered.
6. Give members the option of switching to another class if they’d rather wait for you to come back, but make sure you’re not out of pocket.
7. Maintain good communication with your class cover friend both whilst you’re away and after you’re back, and be sure to thank them.

Systemise your class cover format

If you want your fitness business to grow, you need other people – especially when you’re away. Needing class cover won’t be a one-off, so it makes sense to have a system set up to make finding and organising class cover easier. Develop a way to store contacts, message potential teachers, share information, alter class details, and contact your members.

Coming soon is Striive’s multi-trainer function that does it all in a few easy steps. Use the multi-trainer function to add people onto your Striive account as team members. They can add their availability and you can allocate classes accordingly.

And if you’ve already got a team of teachers, use Striive’s multi-trainer option to offer class openings to the team and organise the diary.

Are you currently running a fitness business on your own? Make the transition to working with other people easier with Striive.