Being a strength coach is much more than simply shouting “Knees out!” As SSC Shelley Wells told me: “We are more than just cues.” Coaching is a multifaceted role that involves upholding standard practices, guiding trainees towards their strength goals, and continuously expanding one's knowledge. In this article, we will look to explore various aspects of what being a great strength coach entails, including the challenges faced by new coaches. 

Why You?

So, why do you want to become a strength coach? I've seen many people come and go, lasting only five years before burning out. It's a common occurrence. When you're financially struggling and wondering if coaching is a viable career option, doubts can creep in. However, if your vision and focus is pure and you have a genuine desire to help people, you will succeed. I've experienced tough times myself, to the point where I contemplated asking a tramp for spare change. That's the kind of poverty that can hit you hard, even when you're working over 40 hours a week with a fully booked schedule. Big-city life can be unforgiving and drain your finances rapidly.

Now, let's talk about that deep burning desire that keeps you relentlessly pursuing excellence in the realm of strength training. Is there a chip on your shoulder, perhaps stemming from childhood experiences? Or is there a profound admiration for those legendary titans who came before you? This inner drive needs to fuel you for not just a few years, but for decades. In my case, it was the experience of being bullied that ignited my determination to build myself up and take charge of my life. I wanted to pass on the mentality of being a resilient and a determined individual, coupled with mastery of the barbell.

To me, becoming a strength coach is akin to embarking on a personal quest of self-discovery, a pilgrimage of sorts. I want to share that transformative experience with individuals who are genuinely committed to their training. Part-timers need not apply, this isn't the path for you. The rewards don't come in the first six months, but over the long run. It's about pushing yourself physically and mentally, surpassing the limits you thought were impossible. The journey is challenging, but it’s worth the wait. If you're pursuing strength coaching simply because the gym is your "passion," you’re not gonna last. Dig deeper. 

New SSCs: The Beginning

Passing the Starting Strength Coach (SSC) Certification marks the beginning of your professional strength coach career. However, it is essential to recognize that acquiring your SSC is just the start. Just like passing your driving test, becoming an SSC does not automatically mean you’re an experienced and skilled coach – it just means that you're a coach. Just as when you pass your driving test, you don’t instantly become a great driver. You passed the platform and the orals, but can you hang with the big dogs? It takes years of learning, experience, and honing one's craft to truly excel in the weight room. That requires decades of time, not just a few years. Decades.

Experienced coaches possess the ability to respond to common questions from various angles. Through repeated exposure but also personal reflection, coaches develop refined answers. We get questions about appropriate deadlift footwear, concerns about shoulder impingement in the press, the difference between practice and training, programming, common injuries and shiny fallacies, among many others, and they require thoughtful and concise responses. Coaches have the privilege and responsibility of debunking these myths, instilling honesty, and guiding trainees towards successful habits rather than seeking quick fixes.

Coaches accumulate invaluable intangibles through their coaching career, which often include personal and coaching mistakes, injuries, collaborations with other professionals, and experimentation with new ideas. These experiences shape a coach's instincts, education, and intuition. From training while injured to managing stressful situations, coaches learn to navigate various challenges and consistently make progress. It’s problem solving, not excuse management. We strive towards progress, always. 

Seeking Advice

Whenever I’m in doubt, I ask Rip. If it’s an Olympic lifting question, I ask Josh. If it’s an injury question, I ask Will. If it’s a programming question, I ask Andy or Nick. If I have a physics question, I ask Mia. If I have a diet question, I ask Bob Santana. Even experienced coaches like myself seek advice when in doubt. Consulting seasoned professionals and experts in specific areas helps me expand my knowledge and make better and more-informed decisions. Recognizing that there is always more to learn and remaining humble in the pursuit of knowledge is a crucial trait for a coach's growth.

That also means respecting those that have come before you. We are all standing on the shoulders of the giants who paved the way before us. Success takes a village; very rarely is a coach bootstrapped and self-made. The knowledge and coaching that helped build you up came from a coach who spent time figuring this shit out in the trenches. That should not be forgotten or be taken lightly. Especially now that you’re the new sheriff in town, you should be respectful of the people that got you there. 

A Few Observations

Creating a thriving gym culture is akin to planting a tree. It requires a stable and well-equipped facility (the soil), knowledgeable and nurturing coaches (the water), enthusiastic and dedicated members (the sunlight), and effective management (the splint). A positive gym culture fosters a sense of community, motivates trainees, and generates an environment where everyone can thrive, so the gym develops into a solid oak tree.

When growing a great brand, it’s crucial to prioritize quality over quantity. Using great restaurants as an analogy, each venue can offer signature dishes while maintaining the brand's identity. The head chef, symbolizing a new coach, adds their unique flair to the menu, becoming a new reason for people to return. However, quick expansion can lead to soulless spaces lacking appeal. The goal should be to expand carefully, like Nobu, not metastasize, like Starbucks.

The presence of established coaches like Rip and Josh brings a unique energy to the room – the fear of God comes to mind. Coaches with a track record of success can instill a healthy dose of respect and buy-in for the trainees, pushing them to perform their best. The trust and connection formed between coach and trainee is what sets great coaches apart.

Becoming an SSC is just the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and growth. Being a great strength coach, to me, is a continuous process of improvement, adaptation, and dedication to both your craft and the success of your trainees. Embrace the challenges, seek knowledge, and always strive to be the best coach possible. As a paid professional, your dedication and diligence as a strength coach will always be in demand. This was a hard certification to get, and the public knows this – no wonder there’s not that many of us, although we are growing our numbers.

The SSC credential opens doors to great opportunities. However, to truly excel and differentiate yourself from average trainers you must go beyond the three letters after your name. Embrace the thirst to deep-dive into your profession, explore new avenues, and continually push yourself to excel. The next ten years of your coaching career will shape you into an exceptional coach with an expanded toolkit, a broader mindset and a rich wealth of new experiences. Keep chasing that version of yourself, always seeking improvement and never resting on your laurels.

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