Since the launch of Crossfit Inc. in 2000, more than 15,000 affiliated boxes have emerged around the world. The reason for this is simple: Crossfit is a very effective training method to quickly get in shape and appreciate concrete and visible results on a daily basis.
Each box is different !
The Crossfit is first and foremost a brand owned by the American company Crossfit Inc. whose main activities are brand management and training in their training methodology.
The boxes are therefore private companies whose objective is to offer commercial training services; however, do not rely on Crossfit Inc. to guarantee their quality. When you enter a box, it’s like buying a used car, you have to know where and what to look for to make sure you’re not wrong about the merchandise.
The Crossfit affiliation
The first thing to do is to check if the box is affiliated.
As mentioned earlier, this does not guarantee the quality of teaching but can say a lot about the integrity and ethics of the manager, especially since affiliation costs only 3,000 USD per year.
If the box does not appear on map.crossfit.com, it is because it is not in good standing with Crossfit Inc. and therefore does not have the right to use the Crossfit name or term to market its training services.
Qualification of coaches
To be eligible to coach in an affiliated box, coaches must have at least the Crossfit Level 1 Trainer certification. This can be obtained by taking part in a 2-day training course and by passing with a minimum score of 66% a QCM of 55 questions on basic movements and the Crossfit method as well as on some aspects of security and nutrition sports.
This course is only an introduction to Crossfit and remains voluntarily accessible to the greatest number. The needs for physiological and anatomical knowledge are simplified to the extreme and the methodological principles of training and programming are outlined; so that someone with no Crossfit experience, or even training, can pass the test at the end of the weekend.
Getting the Crossfit Level 1 Trainer is within everyone’s reach!
Afterwards, coaches have the opportunity to deepen their expertise of the various components of Crossfit by participating in Speciality Courses (weightlifting, gymnastics, running, mobility, nutrition, athletic strength, etc…) and to raise their level of qualification:
• Crossfit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1)
• Crossfit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2)
• Certified Crossfit Trainer (CF-L3)
• Certified Crossfit Coach (CF-L4)
Given the speed at which Crossfit is moving, a coach who is not looking to progress is a coach who is regressing.
Visit official website to check the certifications of a Crossfit Coach.
Experience of coaches
Beyond the level of diplomas, it is important to consider the experience of coaches and especially their ability to transmit their expertise and knowledge. Although it is essential that coaches practice what they preach; being a good athlete is not enough. In addition to demonstrating a certain level of technical mastery, pedagogy must be at the centre of the approach and, above all, it must be based on a solid knowledge of sports physiology, training methodology, motor skills, nutrition and recovery techniques.
In other words, a good instructor have to have experience as an athlete, a good training in sports science and especially a good relationship with athletes with enough psychology to juggle empathy, authority and motivation. The competence of a coach is not measured only by the decibels it generates during a WOD or by the soreness felt the next day!
Classes programming
Although the philosophy of the Crossfit is based on the use of constantly varied functional movements and performed at high intensity in order to develop all the physical qualities, programming must follow a certain logic to advance athletes in an effective and safe manner. If a coach is not able to justify his decisions with a clear and well-argued explanation, there is a good chance that his sessions will not be structured and that he will not have specific medium-long-term objectives.
Often, novice coaches consciously or unconsciously try to impress their athletes by inventing ever more original movement sequences and/or programming Wods with extensions, forgetting that the majority of athletes simply need to acquire or reinforce their fundamentals.
There is no perfect programming; however, it must be consistent with the level of practice of the athletes. If in a box there are more athletes who produce WODs in “Scale” than in “Rx”, there is a good chance that the programming will not be adopted. In addition to limiting progression, this can ultimately lead to injury.
In older boxes, it is normal to find level groups and a large number of “specialty classes” (weightlifting, mobility, nutrition, etc.) to individualize minimum programming to allow athletes to acquire more complex movements and work their weak points more specifically.
When you’re a beginner, it’s very difficult to judge programming. In this case, discuss with the athletes present to determine their fitness and especially their progression curve over the last 6 months.
Find your future CrossFit in UAE
Infrastructure and equipment
One of the criteria used by Greg Gassman, the founder of Crossfit, to evaluate an affiliated box is the cleanliness of the sanitary facilities. The Commission considers that this reflects the way the company is managed and the clients treated (see video).
The quality of the equipment is also an important criterion to consider because it will affect not only performance but also the risk of injury.
For example, the market offers different games of weightlifting bars whose price can range from 400 to nearly 4.500 AED (Olympic barbe review and shopping guide). A little flexible bar with sleeves that do not turn will hurt the joints of the shoulders and wrists.
A box that invests in quality equipment also invests in the comfort and longevity of its athletes. As with sanitary facilities, this reflects the manager’s state of mind vis-à-vis his athletes clients.
Belong to a community
If there is one thing that distinguishes Crossfit from other training programs, it is the community. The need for human beings to belong to a community is not new and Crossfit is as important an aspect as technique, coaching or programming for at least 2 reasons:
1. Discovering that there are other people who have, or had, the same goals and the same problems that make it easier for us to change habits and above all allows us to visualize the possibilities of progression.
2. Training in a group has a positive impact on the athletes’ engagement during the sessions, this translates into a higher intensity and therefore more progres.
At the Crossfit, it is a tradition to warmly welcome newcomers and encourage beginners and champions with the same enthusiasm, however depending on the personality of the manager, the size of the box, From the spirit of competition between athletes, to your level of fitness, to your training schedule, your Crossfit experience can vary greatly.
If your goal is to lose a few extra kilograms and physically prepare yourself for a football game with friends on Sunday, registering in a very competitive box may not be the best solution, and vice versa. The best way to discover a community is to spend time with its members. At the beginning, it may be interesting to buy 4 or 5 sessions in different boxes and to test them to determine which one is best for you.
A good price
Many athletes focus solely on price without taking into account the different elements that make up a box. The ideal solution does not exist and compromises will always have to be made in terms of schedules, geographical location, prices, etc. The majority of affiliated box owners are artisans who seek to live from their passion and do not hesitate to spend more than 75 hours a week serving and growing their members as best they can.
For some time now, traditional gyms and low-cost gyms have started to install “Crossfit” spaces and to offer competitive prices. It must be understood that this is done at the expense of quality and community:
• The business strategy of these institutions is to sell as many subscriptions as possible, regardless of the price;
• Coaching is usually provided by newly qualified coaches or trainees.
It is important to know that 80% of people who enrol in this type of gym abandon their fitness targets in the first 3 months!
It makes more sense to see a subscription as an investment in better health, a more functional body and a leaner physical appearance. The return on investment is measured in seconds, in kilograms raised, in reps and in well-being…
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