ATC (Coach’s Prep Course)
WEEK ONE GOALS
Observe two group sessions. With the ‘CFI-6/012 Coaching Evaluation Form’ from the Procedures Book observe and note what you see for future discussion.
Read ‘Foundation of Effective Coaching’ (pages 12-21).
Understand the coach’s role in the health and safety of members and the management of the facility.
Convey in your own words what CrossFit/Functional Fitness means to you.
Discuss and explain what the ‘Ten General Physical Skills’ are.
Watch the video ‘CrossFit's 9 Foundational Movements’.
Read the article ‘What is Fitness’.
Start to read ‘The Alter Ego – Todd Herman’.
Complete the Postural and Movement Workshop and homework.
WHAT IS CROSSFIT?
To the outsider CrossFit can look like a lot of fit people sweating and suffering of the floor after a short workout.
The reality is a lot deeper and complex. That does not mean it cannot be conveyed in terms understandable by everyone. To convey this message, it is important to fully understand how it is arrived at:
Community and Spirit
The objective is to find ‘your way’ to help a client understand by developing an ‘elevator script’, a short 90sec description that would leave a total stranger in doubt of what CrossFit at CrossFit Ickenham is all about,
WHAT IS OUR ROLE – CLASS OBSERVATIONS
You will be expected to complete observations throughout this program. Before the session, the lead coach will introduce you and you will be expected to introduce yourself to attendees you do not know to build relationships with members of the community. This week watch the coach perform the following tasks during the session and using the ‘CFI-8/026 Coaching Evaluation Form’, take notes on what you observe.
Teaching: The ability to effectively articulate and instruct proper mechanics of each movement as well as communicating the intentions of the day’s activities. A coach must have both the knowledge of the movement and the ability to communicate that knowledge to athletes of all levels using a range of methods.
Seeing: The ability to discern good from poor movement mechanics and identify gross and subtle faults in movement whether the athlete is in motion or static. Notice how the coach moves to best see athletes’ movements.
Correcting: The ability to facilitate better mechanics for an athlete using visual, verbal, and/or tactile cues (this includes the ability to triage movement flaws, addressing the most dangerous, serious flaws first). Notice the different styles of cues the coach uses in different scenarios and with different athletes.
Demonstration: The ability to provide athletes with an accurate visual example of the movement at hand. This can be done by the coach, or the coach can choose a member in class to demonstrate.
Group Management: The ability to organize and manage a class. Notice time management practices and special organization of athletes and equipment.
Presence and Attitude: It is our mission to provide our clients with the best hour of their day while in the gym. Beyond the technical side of coaching is the ability to encourage, inspire, and entertain athletes. Practice your ‘alter-ego’, the person you wish to be in front of the class, how they present, move around the class, and interact with individuals. This does not mean you’re ‘fake,’ it means you allow your inner you to come out. Read ‘The Alter Ego Effect’ by Todd Herman, follow the exercises, and put them into practice when standing in front of the class.
POSTURAL AND MOVEMENT WORKSHOP
To start with. What is a postural assessment?
Within any session it is important to observe the client as soon as they enter the guy, within the warm-up and throughout the session to assess any movement irregularities, muscle imbalances, as well as what may be termed neurological issues. This would be seen as a dynamic assessment. Prior to that, we are all gathering information while talking to the client and observing all aspects of their static posture.
The information gathered during these observations will allow scaling / adaptation to the client within the session. This is vital to ensure that the client achieves the goals / intentions of the workout.
Using the ‘ATC Postural Assessment Worksheet’ carry out a dynamic and static postural assessment on someone, identify any issues they may have and possible reasonings for them based upon conversdations. Illustrate how to implement or adapt the session according to your conclusions.
This type of assessment is never a one-off? It happens on every session. Our role is to be constantly looking and assessing every member to ensure we pre-empt adaptations for current and prevent future issues.
HEALTH & SAFETY AND PROCEDURES
The role of a coach is more than standing in front if a class and directing the action. It is about ensuring that every aspect if the session is considered in respect to both legislative health and safety the directives found in the SOP of CrossFit Ickenham.
Within the ‘CFI – Operations Manual’ all procedures and guides are detailed. These need to be read and followed in every activity that happens on the premises and, when required, off the premises. This week start with reading the following SOPs listed below:
There are in addition to the above procedures a wide range of aspects of business practice and SOP for CrossFit Ickenham that would be good to read, and be aware of. The more is understood about how CrossFit Ickenham operates the more successful and professional you appear as a coach to members.