Coaching Standards

1. Qualifications and scope

Represent your qualifications, experience and specialisms accurately. Work within your competence, maintain your skills and keep your professional information current. Refer clients to an appropriately qualified professional when their needs are outside your expertise.

2. Safe, individual coaching

Understand each client's experience, goals and relevant limitations before planning their training. Explain movements and their purpose, offer suitable adaptations and respond to pain, concerns or changing circumstances. Do not pressure a client to continue an activity they feel unable to do safely.

3. Respect and inclusion

Treat clients and colleagues fairly and with dignity. Make your coaching welcoming and accessible where possible. Harassment, discrimination, humiliation and body shaming are unacceptable. Respect each person's choices and boundaries.

4. Professional boundaries and safeguarding

Maintain appropriate professional relationships and communications. Follow the safeguarding procedures relevant to your clients and coaching setting. Take concerns seriously and report them through the appropriate safeguarding or emergency channels; use platform support for concerns about platform conduct.

5. Consent and privacy

Use client information only for the coaching purposes for which it was shared. Explain what you need and how it will be used, respect consent and access limits, and keep information secure. Obtain appropriate permission before sharing client details, photos, testimonials or progress publicly.

6. Honest advice and communication

Explain your services, fees and limitations clearly. Avoid guaranteed results or misleading claims. Do not present general fitness or nutrition guidance as medical diagnosis or treatment. Disclose commercial interests that could influence your recommendations.

7. Insurance and professional responsibilities

Understand and maintain the cover and professional arrangements relevant to your activities and setting. For your application, provide insurance details and expiry or explain your circumstances, including any employer or gym cover. A personal policy is not mandatory for submission. An explanation is reviewed by an administrator and does not itself establish that you are insured. Keep relevant details current and address gaps before undertaking activities that require cover.

8. Accountability and platform use

Take responsibility for the programmes and advice you provide, including reviewing AI-generated content for suitability before using it with clients. Report concerns, cooperate with verification and review, and keep your qualifications, services and professional information accurate. Coach access is subject to the platform's terms and review processes.

Acknowledging these standards

When applying for Coach access, read these standards and tick the separate acknowledgement before submitting. We record the standards version, submission time and application revision with your account. You and the reviewer can see this record in your application history. Opening this page does not record agreement.

Older applications may show “Acknowledgement not recorded”. Acknowledgement is your declaration; it does not replace the administrator's verification of your application.

Related guidance and policies

These are daPumpClub's platform standards, informed by professional coaching principles. They do not imply endorsement or accreditation by an external organisation.

• UK Coaching: Code of Practice for Sports Coaches
• CIMSPA: policy, guidance and code of conduct
• Privacy policy
• Terms
• Contact daPumpClub