Movements Amateur Coaches Should Pass On

Hello everyone and happy Friday eve (Thursday). Today I want to talk about something I've noted over the last 5-6 years, movements that proper Strength and Conditioning coaches should nail, but amateur coaches (sport coaches trying to be strength coaches mostly) should leave the hell alone.

Usually, these types are movements that a strength coach (trainer) should be able to coach someone up on in a session, maybe two, no more. The top culprits are below, you’ll notice they all belong to one pattern of movement.

Despite the strange look on my face, this is the proper variation for this athlete.

KB Swings (snatches, cleans too)- Most want to have their athletes do swings because they know the benefits, BUT could not coach them with worse form though. I believe, when push comes to shove, a quality strength coach should be able to coach this movement up in a session at most. Me personally, I do like to progress and build them up over time, still, if you held my feet to the fire, I could get it done in a day, any of my colleagues as well.
 
1-Leg RDLs- These are problematic mostly because athletes, without the proper coaching, try to rush them, because they are too busy trying to not fall over. These are absolutely a necessity in an athlete’s program, however there are some variations, pregressions and so on, that are more appropriate for the super balance challenged out there. While I believe I can get most people to do a 1-Leg RDL without looking like Bambi, the go to movements to dial things back on are at my finger tips, simply because I've been doing it for a bit, as it should be for most strength coaches.
 
Deadlifts- Super important lift for any athlete here, no denying it, and holy brain farts do I see them butchered with little to no correction from coaches (again not my colleagues that are proper coaches). Credit to them for knowing the value, an F for execution and not thinking about getting help. More often than not, the lift gets super squatty OR the proper variation for the athlete isn’t applied, ever. Too many coaches die on the hill of certain variations being trash over others. If it fits the person, it should be on the table. Kettlebell, trap bar, barbell, sumo stance, conventional stance, elevated, and on and on. Know the variations, know where people need to start, regardless of what they tell you, and know where to go should things start to get wonky. Easy for a strength coach, not so easy for the amateur (or sport coach).
 
*Olympic Lifts- These aren’t quite in the same category, but they’re almost in the same category (so you don’t f**in hit em…anyone?) I see way too many amateur coaches thinking they can coach cleans and snatches, cleans mostly. To be honest, I’m probably only coaching cleans, if either of them, and I used to be much better with both. This poses the question, if I'm a bit gun shy with these, having 10+ years in the field, why the hell do rookies (or pseudo strength coaches) think it’s wise to unleash their athletes (or clients) with them?
 
The solution to them all is ask someone to help coach. Honestly, I myself would jump at the chance if someone either reached out or walked up to me for help coaching. There’s no gate keeping here friends, everyone needs a bit a help so people don’t walk away in serious pain. Thanks for reading friends and if you know this type of stuff is happening to other athletes, I'd highly encourage a conversation between yourself and the sport coach...or just hire someone like me for your athlete. Happy Thursday fam!