I want to thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  The beauty of this blog is that it is MY blog.  Therefore, I can write about what I want to write about.  If someone posts a comment that is disrespectful or just plain mean, I don’t have to allow it to get published.

And on the rare occasion I can just vent and go off.  Maybe speak my mind, when in the real world I might not be so quick to say anything.

This is one of those times. 

I’ve been training for almost 20 years.  (Pause for a second as I realize how old I am getting).  I’ve had the pleasure to train young athletes, high school athletes, college athletes, professional athletes, and everyone in between.

I’ve had athletes who have been all-state, captains of their teams, athlete of the week, and been the strength coach of a team that won the state football championship.

I’ve worked with kids who couldn’t jump rope to save their lives, to now they are jump roping phenoms.

I’ve been an invited speaker to local strength and conditioning clinics, state s&c clinics, and corporations.  Paying me more money than some people make in one day.  Seriously, people pay me money so that their employees or attendees can hear words come out of my mouth that might make someone they know healthier or more athletic.

I’ve never had a kid get seriously injured because of my training, but I’m sure there have been athletes who didn’t get anything out of my training.  But what coach is 100% sure they have improved every athlete they have worked with.

I’ve got connections with some of the best speed and strength coaches in the country.  When I come across a situation I’m not familiar with or am stumped, I can rely on them to give me advice and find a solution.

Bottom line:  to quote a favorite saying I see on a lot of t-shirts, “I’m kind of a big deal!”

So when I still hear from my athletes how their coaches aren’t high on private trainers, feeling that we don’t know what we are doing or that we are just praying on the public to take their money, that irritates me just a little.

I’ve got education and certifications in my field that took years to get.  I spent the time, studied, and got what I need to help athletes.

I go to 2 or 3 strength and conditioning clinics a year to keep up to date on the latest training methods.  I subscribe to 3 or 4 periodicals in my industry, once again to keep up on what is working in the speed and strength training world.

Are you doing that Mr./Mrs. Hater Coach?

What I would like to ask each coach is how do I know you are a good

[insert sport here] coach?  What are your qualifications that I should just believe you can get my athletes better for their sport?

Why is it I get my athletes in tip top condition ready to play your sport, yet they don’t get any better during the season?  If you are so quick to just broad stroke me into a category of crappy private instructor, can’t I do the reverse and ask about your credentials?

The moral of the rant is maybe you should take time to get to know me and my philosophy (and vice versa), before you are so quick to label me a “scam artist, know nothing coach.”  The worst that can happen is that I never have any impact on your athletes cause I never see them.  The best is I can make them that much better for you to do wonders with when you coach them in their sport.

We both are in this game to have a positive influence on athletes and their playing careers.  Stop spending so much energy dismissing me and my kind.  Maybe look to see how we can collaborate on helping make better athletes and providing an experience in sports they will truly remember forever.