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Perspectives on Training from a 71 yr Old Crossfit Coach

I started CrossFit in 2012, at the age of 66. As a retired Army Officer, my background led me to become a Crossfit coach. I got my L1 at age 67 and have since followed up with certifications in kettlebells and power lifting.

As an older athlete, with multiple mobility/health issues (triple bypass open heart surgery, major shoulder rebuild, inoperable rotator cuff damage, hip replacement, knee replacement, both upper biceps detached), there are Crossfit movements that I cannot personally perform or demonstrate.

My days of back flips, walking down the street on my hands, power lifting, and running marathons are well behind me.

frank zedar senior crossfit coachSource: BOXROX
Still going strong!

I often use experienced athletes and/or videos to demonstrate.  However, my favorite method is to pick an inexperienced athlete and “talk them through” a movement.  We then spend teaching time correcting the athlete’s skill, so everyone can learn together.

At CrossFit BearCat, in Bunnell/Palm Coast, Florida, we have a great team of owners and coaches, all with our unique skill sets, strengths, and coaching philosophies.  At 71, I’m the box senior citizen, and these are some of my thoughts on coaching:

Earning the right to be called “coach,” requires a positive answer to three very important questions:

  1. Can I Trust you? Trust doesn’t happen the day they walk in the box, but the process does start then.  Confidence in my coaching builds with time.
  2. Do you Care about me? Does the new, overweight athlete learn quickly that I care about them and their goals, every bit as much as the box competitive rock star?
  3. Can you Help me? This is all about competence.  Do I take time to study each athlete’s form  and technique every day?  Are my cues effective?  Do I read, study videos and pursue training seminars from credible sources?  Am I current and relevant?
crossfit coach frank zedar with louie simmonsSource: Frank Zedar
Frank with Powerlifting and strength legend Louie Simmons of Westside Barbell

Perfection is un-achievable and it is psychotic to chase it.

The goal is not always to become a champion, it’s about “excellent pursuit.”

I don’t coach an athlete to achieve “my” goal.  I help them along to what “they” want to get out of it.

I believe that the athlete is paying for – and deserves – a full hour of coaching effort.

It’s my thought that the warm-up, skill practice, and strength work is equally important as the daily WOD.  I let them know if I think they are cruising and “saving themselves” for a hot WOD time on the whiteboard!

Adverse conditions teach discipline and build morale

Even though there may be griping going on… it’s the good kind.

I enjoyed a 20 year Army career and I don’t ever recall hearing the Captain or the First Sergeant announce that training was cancelled “because it was raining, or too hot, or too cold, etc.”

Know the difference between your recreational Crossfitters and your gamers.

Give gamers extra competition box time.  If they ask for more, expect more from them.

chris hinshaw and sara sigmundsdottir talking on the trackSource: Chris Hinshaw
There are many aspects involved in being a good coach

Help your athletes spend more time on their strengths than their weaknesses.

Whoa!  Did I just say that?  So, CrossFit is a journey and it starts with the basics.  Pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, running, rowing.  Then there’s the trickier Olympic and power lifts.  On to “Murph” with a 20# vest, muscle-ups, handstand push-ups, pistol squat burpees over the bar… peg boards, etc.  Don’t make every WOD one where the majority loses interest because they will never be in red and they feel disenfranchised.  Face it, many will never get a muscle-up and that’s OK.

As coaches, our aim has to be on teaching the athletes:

  • Form, technique and mechanics before load
  • Focus and concentration
  • Strong mental attitude

Timing, rhythm, proper load and pacing holds it all together.

If the WOD is “Fran,” 21-15-9 of thrusters and pull-ups and 95# is Rx… and the guy insists on using 95# and it takes him 30 minutes… Well, that just isn’t the spirit of that sacred workout…

When they leave the box after the WOD, I want them to think, “That was hard!  But it was fun!  And I learned something today!”

 

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