Knowing where to look for good is critical to performance.
“There is a lot of ‘training’ out there.
There is very little quality training out there.
To the unknowing, it all looks the same.
However, if you seek quality training and then consistently apply it…
You will have given yourself a massive edge over the masses by default.”
-Ray Zingler on Twitter
One of the main reasons it is very difficult for unknowing consumers to decipher good training from poor training is because in the training world, there is no governing body to hold coaches accountable for their actions.
Much like supplement companies don’t have to get their products approved by the FDA and can slap the term ‘proprietary blend’ on the label (essentially legally not having to tell you what is in them) strength coaches, personal trainers, and “fit pros” don’t have to have any sort of credentials to buy a whistle and some cones today to start coaching you, tomorrow.
“Yeah, but all consumers have to do is read the fine print in the ingredients label to understand good from bad supplements.”
True, but here is the problem. Most don’t do that. Most gravitate towards the fancy marketing and heed advice from their local gym bro who tells them ‘MuscleDeath8200’ gives them “the craziest pump” and then they buy the product, not having a clue in hell what it is they’re actually ingesting.
And the bigger problem in the training world…
There are no labels to read. Consumers are left to their own intuition and must do all the research on their own.
And sadly, like you’d probably guess, most consumers who are understandably very busy in their own lives don’t do their homework.
So oftentimes, who do they choose?
Is it the fundamental, scientifically sound, research backed Professional Strength & Conditioning Coach?
Or is it the local bro selling flashy exercise, cringey marketing campaigns, and most importantly cut rates?
While us Professionals in the industry sure wish it was the former, unfortunately most gravitate towards the ladder thinking they’re saving a buck, when in reality their expensing not only money with these faux gurus, but more importantly precious time.
While learning about and seeking out a quality coach does take a small bit of legwork via homework on the consumer end, I can assure you, making an INVESTMENT (far different from an expense) can pay lifelong dividends for a youth athlete that are nearly unquantifiable.
What a quality coach has the ability to do for a youth athlete today is miraculous, but how that coaching and positive association with training can compound over decades?
Yeah, that value is worth its weight that exceeds gold
.
