Facebook is good for lots of things and it also has its drawbacks.  For me, I get to connect with other great strength coaches across this country and read in real-time their thoughts, and sometimes rants, about our industry.

A colleague of mine, J.L. Holdsworth, was so aggravated by a topic that he felt he needed to unload or he was going to bang his head against a wall.  Lucky for me, he chose to use Facebook as his venting tool.  Thus having the opportunity to have his fellow professionals help him through his rant.

What was bothering J.L. this day was how easily people are enamored by the athletic accomplishments of individuals, thus qualifying them to be the “expert” to work with their son/daughter.

“So-in-so was a professional athlete so he must know how to get my son stronger and faster.”

Therein lies the frustration.  Just because someone was a professional athlete in whatever sport, I’m willing to listen to see how they might train an individual, but by no means does that qualify this person to be able to coach them up and get them to where they want to be.

Back in the day, Jimmy Jackson, former NBA player, worked out in our gym one summer.  This guy is a big athletic looking dude.  I thought he was on some awesome workout program designed by his team’s strength coach.

NO!!

He was doing some routine, choosing random exercises that were more for bodybuilding then for helping him be a better basketball player.  My assumption because he was a pro he knew what to do to get himself in better shape was dead wrong.

How about some all-time greats who tried coaching?

Magic Johnson is my MAN, but he couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag.  Isaiah Thomas didn’t shock the world with his coaching.  Anybody remember Frank Robinson’s awesome managerial stint with the Cleveland Indians?  Anybody reading this know who Frank Robinson is?

Just like anything being a strength coach, or any coach for that matter, takes years understanding your craft and how to TEACH it to an athlete so that he/she comprehends it and can be a better athlete.  Just cause a pro athlete took instruction well and performed at the highest level, doesn’t mean he/she can do that for others.

Bo Jackson is building a sport training complex in Columbus and I’m sure there will be people that will go there just because Bo Jackson’s name is on it.  Bo Jackson isn’t training people there.  In fact, he’ll probably be there just once, for the grand opening.

I’m going to credit Brian Carroll here, but he posted six questions each consumer should ask the supposed “guru” they have who is training their athlete.  Forget all the shiny gimmicks, the professional accolades, and the sales speak.  Ask these questions:

  1. What’s his/her educational background?

  2. Who are his/her mentors?

  3. Who has this person coached?

  4. What has he/she done in this profession/sport?

  5. Has this person been able to make people stronger/faster than they are/were?

  6. How good are they at what they preach?

There are probably some other questions you may ask.  Take a look at my post for finding a good speed program that might cover a few more.

I’m not saying that a person with professional or collegiate athletic experience could not be a good strength coach.  Look at former OSU basketball player Jon Sanderson who is a strength coach at Michigan.  But, people do your due diligence.  Don’t entrust this person with your athlete’s athletic development based solely on him/her playing a few years in the league.

Strength coaching is a science.  You need someone who has put in the blood, sweat, and tears to learn how to get YOUR athlete to the next level, not themselves.