Frequently Asked Questions
A few common questions about the coaching process, who I coach, and how I work with lifters.
I don’t plan on competing, can you still coach me?
Usually, yes! You absolutely don’t need to be a competitor to work with me, and I’ve coached several lifters who weren’t interested in competing.
I’ve found that other areas besides whether someone wants to compete are far more important in determining whether we’ll work well together. I tend to work best with lifters
- Who value a scientific, evidence-based, data-driven approach
- Who can consistently train 2-3x a week (sometimes 4+, depending on level of training advancement and session duration)
- Whose primary goal is to build strength in the powerlifts
- Who prefer training with barbells.
These are a lot more significant than whether you have competitive aspirations (and if this sounds like you, please do get in touch!)
Can you handle me at my meet?
As I’m moving over to the IPF, unfortunately I’m no longer able to handle athletes in-person at meets run by other federations (e.g. BDFPA, WRPF) due to IPF rules. However, I can absolutely do this remotely and we’ll talk through game-day strategy in full prior to your competition and I’ll usually be able to provide real-time support on the day (including weekends).
In-person handling is included for IPF athletes at no extra cost, subject to availability and competition location.
What platform do you use for remote coaching?
Since I completed my RTS coaching mentorship (you can read more about this here), I monitor all lifters using the RTS training log.
I’ve found this to be the gold standard in terms of
- Athlete monitoring (managing fatigue and determining how much training you need)
- Data analysis (i.e. spotting patterns, block reviews and meta block reviews, and figuring out what drives progress in each lift for the given lifter).
- Video linking. It’s relatively easy to pull up a video of your deadlift a x weight from 3 months ago.
- Logged training. It’s also pretty easy to see what weight you last did on an exercise you haven’t done for, say, a couple of months; or what the gain on your squat was for the last block when we did x squat variant.
In sum, it’s a lot smoother than using Whatsapp and a spreadsheet, and has inbuilt data analysis tools that popular apps (e.g. things like TrueCoach) can’t really hold a candle to.
It’s free to make an account on the RTS site, so if you’re on the fence about whether this is the right fit then it might be an idea to make an account, have a poke around in the training log, and see if this level of logging would work for you.
N.B. you can link to videos but they need to be hosted elsewhere, e.g. YouTube or Google Drive.
How long do lifters stay with you?
It really depends. Some lifters will stay for a number of years, others will come for a few months in the run up to a competition.
Most who leave go on to self-coach, which I see as a huge win. Long-term autonomy is so important, and I wouldn’t want the people I coach to become completely dependent on me.
How many lifters do you have on your roster?
I intentionally maintain quite a small roster, and limit the number of people I coach at any one time to around 5.
This is for a couple of reasons.
Because the coaching I provide is quite ‘high-touch’, or provides a high level of oversight (in terms of communication, feedback, and data analysis), I find I do best when I have a smaller number of lifters, as I then have the headspace to give each of them the attention they deserve.
Also, I split my time between coaching and writing—I don’t currently have the bandwidth for a full-time roster!
I’ve never touched a barbell. Can you still coach me?
Potentially!
Complete beginners usually need some in-person instruction at the very outset.
If you don’t live near me but are still interested in remote coaching from me, do get in touch: I may be able to recommend some coaches who are closer to you that can teach you the basics in-person first.
Do you do personal training, or regular in-person sessions without programming attached?
Not anymore.
I do offer standalone in-person sessions for lifters who are not currently clients. These are often self-coached folks who are looking for guidance on a particular aspect of one of the powerlifts, or want a ‘ref’s eye’ on their lifts before a competition.
I no longer offer general coaching, personal training, or regular in-person sessions for lifters for whom I don’t program.
I’m hugely passionate about (and possibly a bit obsessed with) powerlifting and barbell training, and find it the most rewarding and enjoyable working with folks who are similarly inclined—and perhaps would get as excited as I would about doing a velocity test or putting together a custom RPE chart!
As I only coach a small number of lifters at a time, it makes more sense for me to fill my roster with athletes who are looking for a specialist and who’ll fully benefit from my expertise in the sport.
What if I have injuries or health considerations?
Unless a healthcare professional has outright forbidden all barbell training, I will usually be able to coach you in some capacity!
Please declare any injuries or health conditions on your coaching enquiry form, and we’ll discuss them in more detail during your free consultation call. I may need a bit more info from you at this point: it’s important with any prospective lifter that I establish that I can coach them safely.
If we decide to work together, I have all new lifters fill out a Par-Q and detailed intake questionnaire, where you’ll give me more information including training history, how you currently manage the injury/health condition, and the degree to which it affects your training (if at all) as well as if there’s anything a healthcare professional has advised you not to do. From there, and if applicable, we can adapt your training to your needs.
Final note
If there’s anything you’re wondering about that’s not been covered here, please just reach out. The best way to get in touch with me is via email.
