It is important to understand the role of a coach in any sport, and powerlifting is no different.
If you’re a powerlifter, the following guide will help inform you as to the questions that you should be asking a potential coach, plus what to expect from them and why one could be beneficial to you. If you’re a coach, the following guide will offer you some insight into what your athletes might need or expect from you. Let’s get started.
What is a Powerlifting Coach and What Do They Do?
A powerlifting coach is a training coach for powerlifting athletes and lifters. They help their clients with training, mental preparation and competition day coaching. Powerlifting coaches can train on a 1:1 basis, or in small groups, making it a great option whatever your needs.
Powerlifting coaches work closely with their athletes to provide the best plan for success. They will help lifters maximise their strength in each of the three power lifts – the Squat, Bench Press & Deadlift. The coach will ensure they can not only achieve their goals, but continuously improve upon them over time.
A powerlifting coach will work with their clients to develop tailored training programmes that reduce the risk of injury and aid performance. They can help keep their athletes healthy by providing guidance on making informed decisions about what to eat, when to eat it and getting enough nutrients from different food sources.
A good powerlifting coach will be able to provide motivation, feedback, knowledge and personalised coaching to their athletes. They can give guidance on how an athlete should compete in a powerlifting meet once they have reached that stage in their training, including lifting within the rules, warm up strategy and attempt selection.
You Might Like: What is the Difference Between Powerlifting and Olympic Lifting?
Who is a Powerlifting Coach For?
A powerlifting coach can work with anyone that is committed to developing their powerlifting. Great coaches can help athletes at any level – from beginners to world-record holders in all age groups and genders.
They can help people who have previously been injured and are looking to get back into regular, heavy training. They can put together a periodised training programme for their clients, ensuring they can meet specific goals, needs and technical understanding for each of the lifts. By keeping their clients motivated and training consistently and correctly, powerlifting coaches drive their clients’ performance.
New lifters will benefit from the powerlifting coach by learning correct technique for each of the three power lifts right from the start. They will also learn how to train for strength effectively so they can develop their lifts over time with regular training.
A powerlifting coach will help take the guesswork out of competition day decisions. A coach may also provide general guidance on nutrition, however it is important to note that a Powerlifting coach is not a nutritionist, and that would require a separate specialist service.
Related Reading: The 6 Best Powerlifting Exercises To Build Strength
When Might a Powerlifting Coach Be Useful?
There are certain times when a powerlifting coach can be especially useful to you. This includes if you are after something specific, such as:
- If you want to try competing in powerlifting for the first time and need guidance on what is required
- If you would like help with your technique on any of the three power lifts
- If you have reached a plateau in your training and need help with working out how to break through any barriers
Of course, there are many different occasions that a powerlifting coach can be useful, and this isn’t an exhaustive list. It’s ultimately up to you. But, if you feel that you could benefit from guidance at certain points in your powerlifting journey, then it may be worth considering!
Powerlifting coaches are also usually available to help with motivation and accountability if needed, as well as promoting positive change and driving you to achieve your goals.
What Makes a Great Powerlifting Coach?
A great powerlifting coach should be able to give you the knowledge, guidance and experience you need to achieve your goals. A powerlifting coach can help by creating periodised training programmes based on your individual needs. You will get advice on how to complete exercises correctly and learn tips for reducing the risk of injury.
A great powerlifting coach will certainly be well-trained in all the main lifts and exercises for powerlifting. They should have a good knowledge and understanding of how these movements work, how to adapt them to suit different athletes, and how they can be best used to develop the muscles and strength required for powerlifting.
The best powerlifting coaches will make you aware of how to correct your technique on the exercises if necessary, as well as helping you understand how to boost your overall strength. If a particular lift is weaker than the others, a good powerlifting coach will know how to improve it.
There are many methods of training for powerlifting, and a good powerlifting coach will be familiar with these, and be able to advise you on which training strategies would suit you best.
Powerlifting coaches can often provide general advice on nutrition for strength development. While they are not nutritionists, powerlifting coaches know the important aspects of eating for strength – such as adequate hydration, protein and carb intake – and they also have knowledge of strategies for making weight for competitions.
If you’re looking for a great Powerlifting Coach in London, we’ve got you covered.
What Can a Powerlifting Coach Do For You?
If you’re wondering what benefits you can hope to gain from finding the perfect powerlifting coach, then here are just some of them:
Improved Accountability
Having someone there to encourage you and keep you on track can help motivate you to train harder than ever before. Having a program tailored to your needs will ensure you don’t miss out on sessions and your coach can motivate you to step up your training and maintain a strong mindset.
Better Technique
Learning correct technique is one of the most important aspects of powerlifting, as it can prevent injury and help you lift weights that are heavier than before. A coach will be able to teach the key powerlifting lifts, for example the squat, and will be able to provide one-on-one attention to work on your individual technique.
Lift More Weight
A powerlifting coach can create a training programme to help you lift more weight on the big lifts as well as help you improve basic exercises. A good coach will be able to take your level of ability into account and make sure that you are pushed without creating an injury risk.
Learning From Experience
A powerlifting coach will have years of experience in the sport, and they can pass on their wisdom to you. They should be happy to offer advice about how things work within the world of powerlifting when it comes to training, nutrition and competition day strategies.
How Do You Find a Great Powerlifting Coach?
While it may seem difficult to find a good powerlifting coach, there are things that you can do to help your search. Here’s how:
Step 1: Google It!
A simple Google search should help you find any powerlifting coaches that are operating in your city — for example, try Googling ‘Powerlifting Coach London’ and seeing what options are available. You can then contact them and ask for further information or request a meeting to see if they could be the right coach for you.
Step 2: Look For Experience in the Sport
As powerlifting is a competitive sport, it’s important to check that any coaches you are thinking of using have experience in the sport. This may be as a seasoned competitor, technical official or as a coach of a club or group of athletes. They may also have certifications in powerlifting or general strength training.
Step 3: Trust Reputation & Recommendations
It’s also important to check that any potential powerlifting coach has a good reputation. You could start by checking their reviews, testimonials, or success stories on their website, as well as talking to other people who have used them before. If you’re really stuck, you could ask for local recommendations in your area.
Step 4: Book a Session!
The best way to find out if a powerlifting coach is for you is to book a session with them. This will allow you to experience their coaching style and see how they work with you during a workout. It can be a great way to get an idea of whether or not they are the right coach for you.
Looking For an Expert Powerlifting Coach in London?
At Strength Ambassadors, we pride ourselves on the excellent coaching we offer clients at our London gym. Our head coach Sally has years of powerlifting and weightlifting experience and is passionate about helping people of all ages and abilities succeed in their fitness goals.
Book a Strength Class or Learn More Out About Our Powerlifting Coach Sessions Today!