CrossFit 214

To the coaches: You’re going to be judged on how well your athletes move.

We learned a lot running a gym for 12 years, and I’d like to share some of that. Where to start… well, from the beginning as they say…

How about this as a starting point:

When I walk into another gym I can tell the quality of the coaching from how well the athletes move.

If their movement patterns are refined in direct relationship to the loads, speeds, and intensities of their training then someone’s doing a great job coaching them.

What I mean by that relationship, is that newer athletes are still in the gross refinement process of learning to move. They might not have great technique, but that’s ok because they’re loading, speed, and intensity of movement are relatively low.

New athletes are practicing and making big changes… they won’t look great, yet. And that’s ok.

As athletes gain experience, they get stronger, work with larger loads, are capable of more speed, and seek a higher level of intensity. This requires a higher level of movement integrity or the proverbial train comes off the tracks either by way of injury, or more likely, a stagnation in performance.

To get your athletes to a high level of performance, as is the goal with CrossFit, you have to be relentless with pushing them asymptotically toward perfection. The better the athlete the harder to make improvements, but that doesn’t mean you stop.

This is something taught in the Level 2 certification but I see sorely lacking in practical application. If you take one aspect of coaching critically serious, make it movement quality.

Today we have the honor of celebrating a legend among legends in the 214 community. Our own has hit a milestone unique in our more than 10 year history. Dave has completed 2,000 workouts… and for what it’s worth, he shows no signs of slowing down. As a pillar of the 5:30am crew, his consistency and dedication are an inspiration to all of us. And with all the fitness he’s packing, good luck catching him on any workout with burpees. Drop a favorite Kang moment in the comments!