Module 2: Intake Forms and Interpreting Them

Physical history and athletic background tell you where someone sits on the spectrum of skill and lifting age.

Lifting age is not years in the gym. It's defined by the level of commitment to lifting (or to a sport), not the time spent. Someone can lift their whole life and still be an intermediate, maybe not even that. Don't take "I've trained for 10 years" at face value.

A good physical history gives you a quick snapshot of:

• Where they've been
• Their broader training experience
• How quickly they're likely to pick up skills
• Which exercises they can and should be given, and at what difficulty
• Movement limitations, like injuries and chronic pain

Questions worth asking

• Favourite and least favourite exercises. Reveals stronger and weaker muscle groups, how self-aware they are, and where to start programming.
• Injury history and niggles. What happened, when, and whether it still bothers them.

Read the physique

Photos tell you what the questionnaire can't. Look for over- and under-developed areas. Asymmetries often hint at old injuries and movement compensations.

Movement assessment, the practical way

Combine the questionnaire clues (height, weight, goals, training history) with what you can see of them moving before you prescribe anything.

In a high-touch service you might spend a week or two writing a program because you're thinking months down the track. That's not what we're doing here. Asking clients to record specific test movements slows everything down and creates awkward back-and-forth.

Instead, ask them to send whatever lifting videos they already have. Your job is to fill in the gaps. Between your experience coaching reps in person and watching client videos online, whatever they send will give you a good read on what they can and can't do. Module 4 turns this into the actual program.