How to coach climbers online, one on one

Start with a test, not a plan

You can't watch a remote client climb, so numbers matter more than they would in the gym. Before the first block, ask for the tests you want from their page: finger strength on a 20 mm edge, open hand, a 2-rep max pull-up, max hang endurance, bodyweight, or a test of your own. If they have a Tindeq Progressor, they can run force tests in the iPhone app. Each test is ticked off on your side when it's logged.

Ask for a few logged sessions as well. A month of their logbook (boulders by grade, flashes, goes and effort) says more about where they are than a questionnaire.

Write a block they can follow alone

Write four to eight weeks, with a lighter week at the end. Each day in the coach area is a wall day, a skills day, an off-the-wall day or rest, and every exercise carries its minutes, intensity and injury risk, so it's easy to see whether two hard finger days landed back to back. Make your own exercises for the things you teach your way, and give them a short video only your climbers can watch.

The climber sees each session in their app with its sets, rest and minutes. On a paid coach plan they also get the guided timer for your plans, so hangboard work is timed for them.

Read, then adjust

• Check-ins before training tell you who slept badly or has a sore finger. Finger pain goes to the top of your screen.
• Their page shows the sessions they logged against your plan, and Workload against their own usual week, finger load on its own.
• Change today's session from their page when you need to. It changes in their app.

A rhythm that works remotely

1. A short call to start the block, with their tests in front of you.
2. A look at their page once or twice a week, and a message when something stands out.
3. A call at the end of the block, the same tests again, and the next block written from both.

What to charge for

The app does the delivery and the reporting, so what you're selling is your judgement: the plan, the changes and the conversations. Price per block or per month, and take payment however you do now.