There's a guy at my gym who I've seen trying to do squats, and I've introduced myself and said hi to him on a few occasions.
Yesterday I saw him trying to clean and press 65lbs, but he had no idea what he was doing. One of the big strong guys in my gym (~380lb bench) walked up to him on the platform and started coaching, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. Bear in mind that I've never seen the strong guy clean, ever, and he always remarks to me how good my form is on squats/cleans/bench and laments that his is bad. He is a very nice guy, and naturally strong, but he is weak on the technical points of these lifts.
So the new guy continues trying to clean after big strong guy walks away, but now he's doing weirder stuff. Sets up with his arms bent and just tries to fucking jump. Watching his elbows lock out under that kind of force made my elbows hurt just watching it. Of course he also muscles it up. I took this as an opportunity to come by and say hi, and I let him know that if he ever wants advice I'd be very happy to help. He responds by asking a few questions, which I answer. I also tell him not to jump off the ground, to straighten his arms before he pulls, to put the bar over his mid-foot, and to not use his arms. He responds by saying that big strong guy told him to jump straight off the ground and to use his arms.
Frustrated, I explained that there are a few ways to teach the clean, but that none of the ones I'm aware of include those points. I asked him what program he was on, and he said, "Well I just finished Muscle & Fitness's Super Shredder (or something) and now I'm doing Arnold's something something."
I figure that Arnie must know what he's doing, but when he explained what the program called for I could tell it's more of a BB routine. Too advanced for him, in my opinion. He's barely benching 135lbs.
I don't think he'll make much progress, but I tried to help. I told him about SS if he wants to look at another program.
Not to be a dick, but you don't need a squat rack to deadlift. In fact, I don't even know how you could DL in a squat rack. In front of one, sure, but at that point, you are basically curling/shrugging/dancing/whatever it is that pisses everyone off in the rack. Just go find an empty spot about 7'x4' and do your deadlifts. I usually do mine either in between my gym's two racks, or in front of one of the less popular machines, like those weird step resistance things.
This must be a world-wide phenomenon now. Just the other day, I had to move the preacher curl away from the platform since it was a little too close. I noticed the seat was off of it, and I thought that was strange. I even commented to another guy about it not feeling good sitting on the pipe. I put the seat back on and moved it. Maybe this "modification" was in Men's Health this month?
I never did get that either. On a couple of other forums I visit, people complain about having to wait for a "bro" to finish curling in the rack, so they can start DLing. I think, DLing in the rack? Why? Unless they are doing rackpulls, they are just hogging equipment other people could be using for squats, GM's etc. The only logical idea I can think of is that they want to protect people from stepping near the bar. If you DL in the power rack with the pins pulled out, the metal frame sort of keeps people away. If they get close on the sides they can still get hit, but the rack is like a warning flag. I still think it is better to just do it on the floor. People will get the idea.
Most globo gyms are so packed with benches and other equipment that there isnt floor space to pull from the floor other than in the cage or right in front of the rack. In my gym the only other place is in the corner between the wall and the second rack, but that is often occupied with people doing lunges and what ever other silly shit people do in the "free weight" section.
Well maybe your body is just in a different state than mine. I definitely don't need PVC or bands while I'm resting. I just sit there and maybe stretch if my quad feels tight or something. And, yeah, in the event that I need to change to my non-squat shoes for some reason I just walk to the locker room and come back.
To each their own. I side with the gym employee in this case. A million bags sitting around the gym would make me rage.