“My child is shy and has never lifted before. Do we need to start with private sessions?”
That is a reasonable question to ask. At Warrior Sports Performance in Norfolk, being new or quiet does not automatically mean an athlete needs personal training. A coached group can be a good place to start. Private sessions can also help when an athlete would feel more comfortable learning one-to-one or needs more focused instruction.
I want the choice to fit the athlete. That means looking at how they learn, how much attention they need, and which environment helps them keep showing up.
A beginner should feel part of the group
My team and I make it our job to help new athletes and adults feel seen and heard. We introduce them to people in the group, ask questions that get everyone involved, and make sure they know they can ask for help. A shy kid should not have to figure out how to fit in alone.
We also start with an appropriate exercise and a light load. The first goal is to understand the movement, not match what an experienced athlete is lifting.
My athlete groups typically have around six to eight athletes per coach, although the size and staffing of a particular session can vary. Many returning athletes know their exercises and need feedback, checks on their reps, and spotting rather than a new explanation of every movement.
That lets me divide my attention. I might explain an exercise to a beginner and have them gather the equipment for their station. While they get ready, I check in on the other athletes, watch some reps, and ask who needs help. Then I return to coach the new athlete through the movement. Group training still involves individual coaching; the attention moves around the room.
When more individual attention would help
I look at whether the athlete is learning the movements, not whether they are becoming significantly stronger right away. Someone can be putting in real effort and still need more time to understand a cue, set up an exercise, or repeat it consistently.
If those difficulties continue despite adjustments, I may recommend private training for a period of time. I would explain it to the parent like this: “The effort is there. I want to give them more time with a few of these movements so they can get the most out of their training. Let’s work on those together and then reassess the group setting.”
Sometimes that might mean roughly a month of personal training before we check in again. It is a starting plan, not a promise that every athlete will be ready on the same timetable.
How we decide whether to return to a group
I look for more consistent movement and greater familiarity with how we run a session. The athlete should be able to recognize the basic exercises, understand the setup with coaching, and move through the workout without needing continuous one-to-one instruction.
They do not need to memorize every variation. If they see “split squat,” I want them to understand the basic movement. We can then explain where the weight goes and how we are loading it. Learning those details takes some athletes longer than others.
We keep coaching technique after the athlete returns to a group. Rejoining does not mean their learning is finished or that we stop making adjustments.
What if private training does not fit the budget
Tell me. Depending on the athlete’s needs and the schedule, we can discuss a shorter private sessions. A 30- or 45-minute appointment might let us focus on a few key skills with fewer rounds, rather than trying to fit in a full workout. Another option is recommending the parent sign their athlete up only in groups with lower enrollment.
Those are options to discuss case by case, not a guarantee that every format or time is available. The aim is to find a workable way to give the athlete the attention they need.
I may also assign practice between sessions and use video check-ins to review it. That could be a mobility exercise, a controlled squat, or a drill we have already worked on together. The assignment should address that athlete’s needs. It is more useful when I can see how they are doing it and give feedback than when I simply tell them to do extra work.
Why I value the group environment
Private training gives us focused time, but a good group offers something different. Effort can be contagious. Athletes see other people working toward goals, encourage each other, and bring energy to the session.
They do not even have to play the same sport. A younger soccer player might watch an older football player train and ask what he was doing at that age. That conversation can help the younger athlete understand that what they see now came from time and consistent work.
Friendly competition can be motivating, but the athlete’s own starting point still matters. If someone is the slowest in the group, we can look back at their training records and discuss their progress rather than judge them only against the fastest person in the room. Some changes are small, and progress will not show up in every metric every week.
The environment I want is one where athletes push each other and still feel supported. A group should give someone a reason to come back, not make them feel embarrassed about where they are starting.
Start by finding a suitable first session
If you are unsure which format is right for your athlete, reach out and tell us what you are looking for. We offer two free group trial sessions, so an athlete can experience the coaching and group environment before deciding what comes next.
We will help you look for an appropriate group with space. Those trial sessions give us a chance to see how the athlete responds and talk through whether group training, private training, or a different starting arrangement makes sense. The free trial offer is for group sessions, not private personal training.
You do not need to have every answer before getting started. Bring your questions, and we can work through the next step together.