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“Just call me Coach”
Can female coaches effectively train male clients?
A while back I read a blog where a male professional argued that women cannot always train men.
He argued that female coaches could not effectively train male clients because of the “strength barrier”.
In other words, if a male client can eventually lift more than you, you couldn’t safely spot them, etcetera.
I just want to point out how unbelievably miscalculated and misinformed this individual is.
Here are some fun facts about lifting and coaching.
1. There are some women who can lift more than some men.
Sit with that a moment. Digest it. Then go look up Powerlifting World Champions Jennifer Thompson or Kimberly Walford.
So, even if you’re female and coaching only female clients, it is inevitable that you will still have clients who can eventually lift more than you. We women have exceptional potential in the strength realm. After all, who brought you into this world? Think that was easy?
2. Even male coaches have male clients (or female) who supersede them in strength either immediately or eventually.
(Unless you’re Chad Wesley Smith or someone else on that ridiculously short list) If you don’t have clients who surpass you in lifting PR’s, you may want to look at the way you’re coaching.
3. Hello, spotters?
Even the big lifters use multiple spotters for big lifts. Squat for example. One in back, and one on either side of the bar. Same for bench. (Anyone who’s attended even ONE lifting meet, knows this) These same spotting techniques can, and SHOULD be used in training, when necessary.
4. Safety bars, anyone?
And then we also have handy tools such as safety bars for bench or in the squat rack. All clients should be taught how to safely get out of a failed lift, BEFORE they ever come close to failing.
(Which brings us to number 5.)
5. Coaching skills are not gender specific
If it’s THAT questionable as to whether your client can make a lift, again, you may want to take a look at your coaching skills. The goal is to successfully make all lifts AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. A good coach can play the numbers game with a very high success rate. Male or female is IRRELEVANT.
Above is a picture of one of my male clients, PJ. I’m in the process of writing a success story about him for my blog. After 9 months of training, I’ve helped him add 15 pounds of muscle to his frame. At this point, he benches and deadlifts a lot more than me. But you know what? So do some of my female clients.
Don’t let misinformed bias limit you in your perception of what you can do or in what others can do for you. And don’t just take anyone’s word for it.
Educate yourself.
Jeannine Trimboli, CEO, real [FIT] life
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