3 workouts/week or YNDTP?

[matze]

I d like to become a good starting strength coach.
I am currently reading the 3 books and started to coach some friends and have more interested but often they just want to commit to 1 or 2 workouts per week.

I feel a bit stuck now deciding between
- just taking them all to get as much coaching experience as possible, with probably mediocre training results due to the lack of sessions,
- or if I should insist on 3 workouts per week so that I can properly apply the SS method, and hopefully be able to prove its effectiveness to then get recommended to more people?

What would be a reasonable approach?

[Mark Rippetoe]

How can you obtain experience with the SS method if you don't apply it in your coaching?

[Jason Donaldson]

The method is comprehensive - it includes not only execution of the lifts, but also the programming of them, the recovery, etc. If your clients will ignore the programming and the recovery, then you can get experience coaching the movement execution, which is something, but not the sum total of the method.

That may be of value to you at this phase of your development, but it cannot stop there. It may be a way to get some of them into the whole method, but then maybe not.

You say that they "often" want to commit to 1 or 2 workouts per week - does this mean you have some who will commit to the full deal? If so, by all means, prioritize them. If you can fill your available time and attention with them, then doing so will maximize both your growth and theirs.

[matze]

Thanks lads, got it.
It's 3 times per week* or go pounding sand!

*unless indicated otherwise

[HailMary]

I was hesitant when I started. I had read The Barbell Prescription. Set up an appointment with a coach to learn the lifts and I remember saying I was only willing to do two days a week. 2 days a week turned into 3 days a week within a couple months after experiencing some progress & wanting more.

[matze]

Fair point. Thanks for sharing

[halvorsenb]

I've been thinking about this a lot. I've been doing twice a week, not because I'm lazy but because of my work schedule. I work 4 days on 3 days off. On the 4 days I work 12 hours at a very physical job. I've tried working out after work and I was hitting stuff that should have been an easy 5 reps for a grindy 3. I want to do a 3rd workout but I don't know if it's even productive to work out that fatigued.

[Peter Bex]

I've been thinking about this a lot. I've been doing twice a week, not because I'm lazy but because of my work schedule. I work 4 days on 3 days off. On the 4 days I work 12 hours at a very physical job. I've tried working out after work and I was hitting stuff that should have been an easy 5 reps for a grindy 3. I want to do a 3rd workout but I don't know if it's even productive to work out that fatigued.

With this kind of hard work, a 2 day schedule is fine. If your recovery is this impaired, you simply can't do the program as written. You have to adjust the program to fit your needs (as you did).
Technically that means YNDTP, but that's not bad in and of itself if you are unable to do the program. You'll still make progress, but slower.

An experienced coach would (need to) know when the program is not applicable and actually advise you to do something else.

For OP it's a different situation, where people who are otherwise capable are just not willing to do the program.