Being a Coach vs Being a Trainer

Hey Everyone,

If your reading this Dan and I are already in the air on our way to Denison TX to meet up with our very own Coach "Big" Mike as he gets ready to compete for his pro-card at the North American Strongman Nationals.  This is a truly exciting time for all of us at Varsity House.   Anyone who come to our gym knows how great a coach Mike is and how hard he has been working to his goal of becoming a light-heavyweight pro strongman.   Of course he has plans of winning outright, but no matter the outcome he has nothing to prove to us.  He is and will continue to be one of the BEST people I have ever meet! 

I started thinking about the first time I meet Big Mike in my A&P class that I teach at Montclair State U, and how he has been an integral part of our team since the day we opened.  I was wondering what is it that makes Mike, myself, and the rest of the VH crew different. How do we continue to have one of the TOP gyms in the North East with the results to prove it?  What is the "IT" that makes some gyms great and others...well...not so great? 

It's because we are all COACHES not trainers.  So I wrote an article to give you some incite as to what that means to me.

GOOD LUCK BIG MIKE!  

Being a Coach vs Being a Trainer

By Joe Riggio MS CSCS

Over the fifteen years I been involved in Strength & Conditioning as a profession I have been approached by many.  They usually say something to the effect "Are you like a personal trainer?"  In which I almost always just walk away annoyed!  When I think of a "TRAINER" I think of that meatball in the commercial BIG BOX gym wearing his poofy workout pants, a blowout, sipping his protein shake, and talking to his client about his adventures at the club last night!  It's not their fault their notion of what I do is tell people how to workout.  I design workouts and count reps and bark orders right?  Well yes, but that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Let me point out some KEY differences. 

The first being that "TRAINING" is not something I do to pump up for the beach or as a hobby it's what has defined who I am for the better part of 20 years since I was a young boy.    I've played competitive sports my whole life, and started training when I was twelve.  Since then I have NEVER stopped!  IT IS MY OBSESSION.  

Second.  "COACHING" is a lifestyle.  You have to love to teach, you have to have passion for what you are teaching, you have to hyper analyze, scrutinize, and obsess over every little detail to be a great coach.   Show me a "TRAINER" who has spent their entire life educating themselves in the field of strength & conditioning.  College degree, reading 100's of books, going to seminars, mentorships, you name it in the past fifteen years I have continued to learn and progress in my own abilities EVERY year.  I have brought that knowledge to everyone who works and trains here!  Reading MUSCLEHEAD magazine every month doesn't count!!!

Third, a "COACH" has a vested interest in the lives of those he coaches.  Since I'm not just working to collect a paycheck I actually care about the success and or failures of my athletes, their families, and all who train here with us.  I have an entire gym full of little brothers, and sisters who look up to me and the rest of our staff.  How many "TRAINERS" are you inviting to your wedding or having over for dinner?

It's not by chance that my business partner Dan was a former athlete of mine.   We trained, and bled together for years in the gym and developed a strong bond like brothers.  It's not by chance that together this year we had over 2.5 million dollars in college scholarships awarded to athletes we train.  It's not an accident that many of our athletes wind up interning and working for us.  It's not a fluke that many of our athletes continue to come to the gym long after their athletic careers are over.  They come for the brotherhood, for advice, to see their old friends who had the amazing pleasure of playing a part in not only their athletic but personal development as young men and women.  The "COACHES" here at Varsity House are LIFERS and eat, sleep, and breathe the art of performance and training young athletes.

Now as I get older, and the closer side of forty (37) approaches I can look back with perspective.   When I started coaching athletes it was all about the results.  I just wanted to be the best and turn out FREAK athletes.  Now I know that my role has been so much more than just a strength coach.  I am a mentor, educator, brother, and most of all a friend to help guide them through the good times as well as the bad.  The walls of our gym are filled with the heartfelt testimonials of the athletes and clients who have trained with us.

Lastly I would like to say that anyone who considers themselves a "COACH" must also walk the walk.  You cannot expect to lead and inspire by sitting on the sidelines.  My crew and I all continue to set lofty training goals and personal expectations.  If it is your plan to "COACH" then spend some time COACHING YOURSELF, WALK THE WALK, and become the absolute best you can be at something...anything.  

Do you have a "Coach" or a "Trainer"?  It's not hard to tell.