The impact of a training crew cannot possibly be overstated in powerlifting. A good group of training partners can build you up, help you with technique and programming, and help you reach your best mental state for every training session. A bad group of training partners, on the other hand, can give you bad advice on your training or bring down the atmosphere for the whole group. You want to avoid these kinds of lifters, and instead, train with people who you know will have your back.
In this video, Steve Goggins talks about this concept and discusses what it means to have someone's back. He explains that having someone's back means supporting them when they're making good decisions but also advising them down a different path when they're making wrong or bad decisions. Having someone's back is not simply about agreeing with a decision someone makes so that you can be there to support them. Truly supporting or caring about a person means that you tell them when they're making a stupid-ass decision.
Do your training partners have your back? Do you have theirs? If they squat high in training or hitch their deadlift lockout, do you tell them, or do you wait until the meet for them to find out? What if they get angry when you tell them that their lifts aren't up to standards? If they disagree and tell you that they're sure their squat was to depth and you must have misjudged it, do you stand your ground and tell them they're wrong?
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