What are some tips for giving feedback that improves your client's form and technique?

I like to give the Compliment Sandwich. Compliment something specific they did well Critique/correct something that needs improvement Compliment the effort.

As beginners often are not able to properly replicate the correct movement. The key is to repeat the movement often, as it is a skill they need to learn. So focus on 1 exercise per muscle group and not 3. After a while with small tweaks and adjustments you can even film the movement and show they the optimal bar path etc.

Your experience will largely depend on the client you are working with. In most of my client relationships, they understand that my role is to assist and guide them in improving whatever they aim to enhance. 99% of the time, I act as their cheerleader and source of motivation. However, when it comes to form critique, I prefer to provide feedback in a gentle and uplifting manner. I always commend them for their strengths. As beginners often get discouraged easily, it's crucial to build a supportive environment. To foster this, I consistently praise my clients, reassuring them that they're doing a great job. I also give them a few pointers, not too many, to help them improve.

It is effective to keep the word count at a minimum when encouraging proficient technique during a movement task. The goal is to avoid information overload before the client performs the movement. It would help to focus on one salient cue that will provide the most reward when correcting movement. Visually-rich language when used with analogies can help the client imagine and 'live' through a scene in his/her mind to 'peel the skin' off your cue. This is a form of external cueing. For proper technique during a vertical jump, the coach may suggest "reach for the stars" to encourage adequate arm drive or "blast off the ground like a rocket" to stimulate triple extension. Usually, LESS is MORE when it comes to coaching technique.

I aim to provide feedback to my clients promptly, ideally within 48 hours, and we further discuss it during our weekly calls. In scenarios where we cannot hold feedback sessions between our calls, I prefer to review their videos and provide real-time feedback during our weekly discussions. This allows me to demonstrate and visually explain what they are excelling at and which areas require more focus. Providing visual cues specific to them, rather than generic ones, facilitates their understanding.

People react differently to feedback and need different levels of help. Some of my clients don't send many videos for feedback, while others do during training to improve their techniques. It's important to know who you're working with and adjust your feedback to them. A good way to do this is by setting clear expectations from the start. Some clients need to check in every day, others every other day. Some just want their training program and don't worry too much about feedback. The aim is to change your coaching to fit your clients' needs.