Qualified and safe

The teaching hours for Xia, the coach from Shenzhen, are from 8 to 11 am and 2 to 6 pm. For each class, he is required to wear the company's uniform.

Huang, the employer, said his company has more than 1,000 registered coaches who primarily serve clients aged 4 to 16, and offer a variety of courses, such as jump rope, badminton, basketball, physical fitness and roller skating. Each class is one hour long, with fees ranging from 50 to 80 yuan per session.

She highlighted that for the safety of the young trainees, every coach must hold a qualification certificate, an athlete certificate or a teaching certificate in physical education, and have at least two years of teaching experience. Additionally, they have to undergo the company's training before starting their duties.

"Parents can view coaches' qualifications online, and we have purchased insurance for both the coaches and the students," Huang said. "If clients decide not to attend a class after booking, they can directly request a refund. Furthermore, we have staff members readily available to handle any complaints or suggestions promptly."

She said that the emerging industry is currently quite disordered. For instance, some coaches are found to have independently contacted clients to solicit courses without purchasing accident insurance, and some are discovered to claim to be fitness experts but actually lack qualifications.

Huang stressed the need for the systematic management of coaches, noting that her company has strict review and penalty systems in place for the registered coaches who cancel orders after accepting them on the platform.

She also called for government departments to provide oversight in regulating industrial development while promoting national fitness.

Emerging businesses can expand employment opportunities for young people, but their sustainable development requires regulatory bodies and internet platforms to jointly improve service standards and supervision mechanisms, in an effort to guide industry professionals toward standardized operations, Huang said.

Sun Yanian, a lawyer from Huai'an, advised residents to be aware of potential safety risks during exercise. "Before making a decision to book a session, it's vital to clearly establish with the coaches and their company who will be responsible and how the responsibility will be handled in the event of an accident," he said.

"It's also necessary to verify the credentials of both the coaches and their employers," he added, suggesting users keep detailed records and evidence to facilitate any future claims or legal actions.

Wu Xiaolu, a researcher at the Economic Research Institute of the Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences, expressed her concerns about privacy related to door-to-door sports services. "When the service location extends to the home, it involves personal private spaces, which in turn raises issues of individuals' rights and privacy," she told Qianjiang Evening News, a Zhejiang-based media outlet.

"If public spaces within residential communities are used, it may also lead to conflicts with neighbors' rights," she added.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn