There are thousands of fitness resources out there..Youtube, online blogs, Instagram hero’s, you name it! It would be easy to google “how to snatch” – watch a video and go to a gym and give it a whirl, or would it?
The problem with all these online resources is that it has de-valued the fitness industry. I would never think to google “how to win a court case” and think I could give that a shot. I would obviously hire a lawyer. A well trained, experienced fitness professional is no different to a lawyer in my opinion, they just serve a different purpose. The difference between the professions is that you cant take a weekend course and become a lawyer but you can become a “fitness professional” in a weekend. Notice above I referred to a well trained, experienced fitness professional – you cant become that in a weekend either.
So, do you need a coach? Simple answer – absolutely! Whatever your goals are in the gym, an experienced coach should be able to help you or know someone who can!
So how can they help you?
- Accountability – this can often be the one thing you need the most. A coach who can make sure you stay on track and someone you do not want to let down thus leading to you not letting yourself down.
- Goals – most people have an idea of what they want as an end result – “look good naked” – “Crossfit games” etc. Many people don’t know the stepping stones to get there. A good coach can break all that down and help set the smaller goals to lead to the bigger picture.
- Feedback – we all need feedback. Whether its a technical tweak that is needed on a lift or someone to tell you that you clearly eased up in that workout. Good feedback will keep you on the right path and help you to progress.
- Direction – we’ve already mentioned this in terms of goals but this time I’m talking more about program design. Depending on your goals, sometimes training might not always be fun. There are certain things that are needed if you want to compete at any sport, a coach should be making sure these essentials are happening.
There could be a thousand different instances that having a coach will be worth while, those are just a few that will resonate with most people. There are also two main types of coaching; in person and remote coaching.
Remote coaching has become very popular over the years in CrossFit. It is something I have done almost since day one of my CrossFit experience. Its also popular in other sports too. There are pros and cons to remote coaching and Im sure you can see the limitations. An athlete needs to be motivated and competent, to a degree, in the sport they are training for. Real time feedback is impossible so technical adjustments can only be made through video. If you have a remote coach then your program should be very specific to you, otherwise you are wasting your time and money.
1-1 in person coaching is by far the better option in my opinion. Obviously finding a good coach might be tough depending on where you are located. I believe combining a good class program with regular 1-1 sessions with your coach is by far the best way to achieve your goals. If your coach can also coach the class program then you are winning. You will already have a great relationship with this coach and he/she will know if you need any extra attention with certain movements/skills.
To summarize, everyone should have a coach. You may have different coaches for different parts of your training, depending on what your goals are. In the end, coaching is a profession and finding a professional coach will help you in many ways, from getting a muscle up, to fixing an old shoulder injury. Try out a coach in your gym and see how they can help you.
Darren Thornton