Do you need a coach?

Maximise Your Performance: with an experienced coach on your side.

How important has it been for you to have a coach, and do you see more elite CrossFitters getting coaches in the near future?

“For me, having a coach has been an amazing experience”. It takes away all of the thinking, I am almost robotic and will do whatever he sends me. I think it’s crucial to have a coach, and I think you have already seen most top athletes start working with coaches. Those who don’t will eventually make the transition. In every other sport there’s a coach, and as CrossFit grows I think it will follow the same pattern.”

I can concur with the above statement. I had a coach for many years, well around 20 years to be exact, before I became a coach myself. However, even after becoming a coach I would still seek out other coaches to help me with our programs and specific areas where I didn’t have the knowledge. One of my athletes said exactly what the Cross-fitter said above.

He is a smart guy, a PE teacher and an Olympic athlete. There was very little he didn’t know about sprint training but he loved that fact he could just turn up to the track and not have to think about what he had to do after a long day at work.

There were times when I had to seek out help from other coaches as well. Im a big believer in gravitating to people that have done it before. I wanted to fast track his Olympic lifting techniques and I didnt have the time to learn all the intricate details as this would take me years. I have a solid background in strength and conditioning but hadn’t been exposed to a lot of Olympic Lifting. So, I did what I always do. I reached out to a specialist coach that just happened to be the Australian Women’s Olympic Team coach who was 20 mins from our track. He was more than happy to help my athlete.

Paying for a coach can indeed be a significant investment, but it's one that often yields returns far beyond its monetary cost. Why spend years of your valuable time struggling through trial and error, making avoidable mistakes, and potentially developing bad habits when you could accelerate your progress with expert guidance?

A skilled coach brings years of experience and knowledge to the table. They've likely seen hundreds of athletes at various stages of development and understand the most efficient paths to improvement. This wealth of experience can help you:

1. Avoid common pitfalls that could set you back months or even years

2. Learn proper techniques from the start, preventing the need to unlearn bad habits later

3. Receive personalised advice tailored to your specific needs and goals

4. Stay motivated and accountable, increasing the likelihood of long-term success

5. Gain insights into nutrition, recovery, and mental preparation that complement your physical training

Moreover, a good coach can help you achieve your goals faster and more safely than you might on your own. This efficiency not only saves you time but can also prevent injuries that could sideline you for extended periods.

Investing in a coach is investing in yourself. It's a way to fast-track your progress, maximise your potential, and make the most of every minute you spend training. When viewed through this lens, the cost of a coach isn't just an expense—it's an investment in your future success and well-being.

Happy Training

Rod