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Code of Professional Conduct
ICI's standard for professional behaviour in indoor cycling, covering competence, responsibility, integrity, rider care and professional judgement.
Indoor cycling instructors work in a position of trust. Riders rely on them for technically sound instruction, appropriate challenge, clear communication and sensible decisions about safety.
A certificate can show that training was completed at a point in time. Professional practice is what happens afterwards: maintaining knowledge, developing practical skill, reflecting on instruction and responding when evidence or guidance changes.
Experience matters, but length of service is not the same as professional development. Repeating the same practice for twenty years does not make it good practice.
This Code sets out ICI's expectations for professional conduct. It sits alongside the ICI Professional Standards Framework, which deals in more detail with the technical and practical standards of indoor cycling instruction.
Make professional standards visible
The Code is open to every indoor cycling instructor. You can make an annual commitment to work in accordance with it, whether or not you trained with ICI.
Making the commitment is a simple way to state the professional standard you intend to work to. Studios and managers can also use the Code when setting expectations for instructors.
Where an ICI professional record is available, a current commitment and the date it was made can be shown alongside that record.
The commitment is a statement of professional intent. It does not replace appropriate training, certification, insurance or employer requirements.
Professional conduct in practice
These principles sit alongside the technical standards of good indoor cycling instruction. They are intended to support sound professional judgement, not replace it.
Competence and responsibility
Work within your training, competence, insurance and professional role. Take responsibility for the instructions you give and the decisions you make.
- Maintain the knowledge and practical competence needed for the work you undertake.
- Do not present yourself as competent in an area in which you are not appropriately trained.
- Recognise when a rider's needs fall outside your professional role and refer appropriately.
- Follow relevant legal requirements, safeguarding responsibilities, employer procedures and insurance conditions.
- Take reasonable action when you identify unsafe practice, faulty equipment or a significant risk to riders.
- Do not teach when illness, injury, alcohol, drugs or another impairment significantly affects your judgement or ability to instruct safely.
Rider care
Treat riders as individuals and give proper regard to their safety, dignity and circumstances.
- Give clear information that allows riders to take part safely and make informed decisions about their effort.
- Allow riders to reduce intensity, recover, remain seated or stop when necessary.
- Do not use humiliation, intimidation or coercion as coaching techniques.
- Do not present pain, distress or loss of control as evidence that somebody is working hard enough.
- Respond appropriately when a rider appears unwell, unsafe, distressed or unable to control the bike.
Honesty and representation
Describe your training, certification, experience and professional status accurately.
- Do not claim training, certification, endorsements or professional status you do not hold.
- Do not describe expired membership or professional recognition as current.
- Use ICI names, logos and recognition marks only where you are entitled to do so.
- Distinguish clearly between completing CPD and completing instructor training or certification.
- Be accurate when describing your relationship with ICI.
Professional boundaries
Maintain appropriate boundaries with riders, learners, colleagues and other people with whom you work.
- Do not misuse a position of authority, trust or influence.
- Respect privacy and handle personal information appropriately.
- Follow safeguarding requirements and raise safeguarding concerns through the appropriate route.
- Keep physical contact appropriate, necessary and respectful.
- Do not exploit professional relationships for personal, financial or sexual advantage.
Respectful communication and conduct
Communicate in a way that is appropriate to a professional fitness environment.
- Treat riders, learners and colleagues fairly and respectfully.
- Do not discriminate unlawfully or deliberately humiliate, bully or intimidate others.
- Give feedback honestly without making it unnecessarily personal or demeaning.
- Raise professional disagreements through appropriate channels.
- Remember that professional conduct can extend to online communication where there is a clear connection with your professional role.
Safety, concerns and reporting
Do not ignore a genuine safety concern simply because addressing it is awkward or inconvenient.
- Report significant equipment faults and remove unsafe equipment from use where that is within your control.
- Follow appropriate procedures for accidents, incidents and near-misses.
- Raise serious or repeated unsafe practice through the appropriate venue, employer or other responsible organisation.
- Make reports honestly and factually.
- Do not knowingly make malicious or misleading allegations.
Continuing professional development
Initial training is a starting point. Maintain and develop the knowledge needed for the work you continue to undertake.
- Keep relevant knowledge and practical skills reasonably current.
- Reflect on your own instruction and respond constructively to useful feedback.
- Update practice where credible evidence, equipment or professional guidance changes.
- Seek further training before moving into work that requires competence you do not yet have.
- Do not rely on length of experience alone as evidence that practice remains appropriate.
Professional accountability
Be prepared to take responsibility for your professional decisions and for the way you represent your training and experience.
- Be open to reasonable professional feedback and scrutiny.
- Correct inaccurate claims about your training, certification or professional status.
- Keep evidence of relevant training and continuing development where appropriate.
- Take responsibility for mistakes and act appropriately to reduce the chance of them recurring.
- Do not use an ICI certificate or past relationship with ICI to imply endorsement beyond the recognition actually given.
Not every situation fits a rule
No Code can describe every situation an instructor will meet. When the exact circumstances are not covered, use these principles to guide a professional decision.
Who should you contact?
If you have a concern about an indoor cycling instructor, the appropriate organisation will usually depend on the circumstances.
Concerns about the delivery of a class, instructor behaviour, equipment or safety at a particular venue should normally be raised with the studio, gym or employer responsible for that activity.
Safeguarding concerns, suspected criminal conduct or an immediate risk of harm should be reported to the appropriate organisation or authority.
If your concern relates specifically to somebody acting on behalf of the Indoor Cycling Institute, such as an ICI tutor or assessor, please contact us directly.
Professional conduct is one part of professional practice
The ICI Professional Standards Framework sets out the wider technical and practical expectations for good indoor cycling instruction.