5 Things I Learned in the Transition From Intern to Strength Coach
Becoming a strength and conditioning coach is not the path for everyone. However, for those ready for the challenges, here is some advice from a young coach.
Know When to Hold 'Em and Know When to Fold 'Em
Reading enriches our lives and teaches us invaluable lessons. One of these lessons is taking control of our own lives and doing what’s necessary for our happiness and our career.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Gives Advice to College Students
“It’s going to feel heavy as fuck, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”
From a Side Hustle to a Full-Time Job: Building Your Online Coaching Bus...
A lot of people think online training is easy to do, easy money, and something anyone can do and be successful at doing. They’re all wrong. It takes a lot more work than that. If you’re thinking about dropping your 9-5 gig for an online training job, take these points into consideration first.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #16 with Dave Tate
In this episode of Table Talk Podcast, Dave Tate talks about his childhood, attempting meditation after the episode with JM Blakley, Q&A videos in the elitefts archives, and of course, he answers as many questions as time allows.
Comfort Zones are Death Zones
As I start up my new job, I wanted to give younger strength and conditioning coaches some advice: Don’t be afraid to spread your wings and fly out of your comfort zone. Be bold and be brave. It will pay off at some point.
Disruptive Innovation and Blue Ocean Strategies
Don’t compete for fish in chum-filled waters. Instead, go where no one else has ever gone before. Be the next Takeru Kobayashi. Be the next CrossFit. Be the next elitefts. Become whatever it is you want and change the game.
The Lost Art of Training Hard
I’m not suggesting that you destroy yourself. What I am saying is that a lot of new trainers are coming out of school with information about corrective exercises but zero practical experience of knowing how to push people in the gym.
Focus on Success
Two people see the same situation; one person sees the opportunity, and one person sees the obstacle. In order to overcome the obstacle, it takes a different perspective — a positive one.
Grad Assistants: Read This Before Applying Anywhere
Out of all the applications I have received from prospective graduate assistants, I kid you not, 40 percent of them went into the junk file right off the bat. Here’s how your future application can stay out of junk folders.
Managing Meet Day Stress
You’ve spent months preparing and training, and you’ve made a significant financial investment in entry fees, lodging, food, and so on. All this of stress for just 9 lifts sucks up a lot of your energy. You can’t afford to waste your energy, so manage it instead.
5 Ways to Find a Healthy Balance Between Bodybuilding and Family
Contrary to what some people may tell you, it IS possible to balance between bodybuilding and your family. It takes work, and I’ve done the work. These 5 steps might not save your marriage, but they’re certainly worth trying.
What It Means to "Pass On"
Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of coaches telling other coaches to be careful of people who ask for advice in case they’ll steal their trade secrets. Knock it off. Where did you learn the stuff you know now? That knowledge is not yours alone.
6 Strategies to Advancement
Consider this me throwing you a lifesaver in the vast sea of information. This will help you figure out how to improve yourself by seeking out the best information possible… and how to best find that information.
I'm Sick — Should I Train or Stay Home?
Listen: I’m no doctor or rocket scientist, but even I have enough common sense to know that if you’re feeling under the weather, you shouldn’t be lifting. You should be resting at home. Yeah, you heard me: Go home and stay home. And stay out of your fancy little garage gym, too!
Goodbye 2018, Hello 2019
My life went through a lot of changes and adjustments during 2018, which meant I had to learn and re-learn things. Lesson 1: the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but sometimes it is, so watch your lawn and don’t forget that some grass is better than yours.
How to Get In and Stay In
If you think you have what it takes to become a strength coach, you’ve got to start with an internship. This one’s for the future interns who want to get on the field and on the strength and conditioning path. Just know there’s little to no money or prestige in the gig.
WATCH: I am Ashley Jones
elitefts columnist Ashley Jones is Australian by birth, a New Zealander by choice and marriage, but first and foremost, he’s a strength and conditioning coach with 40 years of experience under his belt with plenty of passion and advice to spare to future coaches.
Here are Team elitefts' New Year's Resolutions for 2019
New Year’s resolutions have been around for thousands of years, which gave the elitefts staff plenty of time to share their opinions on the subject and a few goals of their own…
If I Could Write a Letter to Me...
I took the opportunity to write myself a letter but with one caveat: I couldn’t include ANY reference to working out, competing or being “buff.”
The Self-Education Lessons I Learned from John Meadows
The academic world will only take you so far. Once the formal education is over, how will you continue to improve yourself?
6 Ways To Increase Strength
Six REAL factors to getting strong, not the same crap we’ve read over and over… and over again. Seriously, how many times do we have to be told to train hard, be consistent, follow a program and eat right? Those may not even matter anyhow but these do.
An Open Message To All Competitors And Coaches
Recognize your role, accept your responsibilities, and quit making excuses to hide your flaws.
Making the Best Use of Summer Training
This article is dedicated to all those involved in the greatest season for strength coaches…the summer!
No Bullsh*t: How To Not Sound Like an Idiot
For those times when you do have to open your mouth and speak…
Do It: Interns
Whether you are an intern or a coach who is advising interns…consider these points from the men who have been there.
Adam Driggers: Advice Through the Years (Part 1)
I have some worthy advice to share from Rick Hussey with you.
Monster Garage Gym: It Is Not If, But When
At some point in your career as a powerlifter, you will be injured. How will you respond?
If I Knew Then What I Know Now: More Than Just a Coach
Some will argue that it isn’t our “job” to be a friend, parent, or mentor. But I disagree.
Coaching = Life, Part I
What’s consistently surprised me is how coaching is such a microcosm of the real world.
Skepticism in Training
One of my great passions in life is spending time in the gym lifting heavy weights.
Angry Coach: Delivering Bad News
Long story short, I had to tell a very close friend of mine that his wife was cheating on him.
Don’t You Dare Quit: Advice from the Addict
Nobody quits “one day at a time.” Quitting doesn’t happen that way.
