Becoming a strength coach advice?

[Paul Richardson]

Hi Ripp,
Just wondering if I could ask for some advice/general thoughts from you regarding my situation.

I'm currently leaning towards the 'strength is best' in my coaching style/thoughts, and would like to aim for that as my 'direction'., i.e. coaching the basic lifts to get people stronger with barbells.

Based on the below information can you think of anything that I've neglected/missed out/got wrong on the direction I should be taking myself as a barbell based strength coach? Anything that you feel is important to coaches that you feel is neglected or missed out in most? Or any specific things that helped you a lot when you started coaching?

My info:-

- I've been doing xfit for 3 years.
- Done Starting Strength for about 7 months in that time.
- Been coaching xfit a few times a week for the last few months at a affiliate.
- Attended your Xfit barbell cert.
- Aiming to go to your Starting Strength Seminar.

My 'weaknesses' which I'm currently trying to 'fix' :-

- Experience (coaching, and personnel time under the bar, I realize a few years is nothing experience wise).
- Anatomy (currently absorbing as much as I can on this).
- Programming beyond simple linear progression.
- Don't really have a 'strength coach mentor' to learn hands on from.
- No formal exercise/fitness certification/background.

Things I am currently happy with (but obviously aim to improve)
- Techniques/Teaching in the basic lifts.
- Nutrition Info.
- My teaching style etc

Many thanks for any ideas/opinions/insults or vulgarity,

Paul

[Mark Rippetoe]

You seem to be on the right track. The hole I see in your prep is the lack of formal science education. What is your college major/background?