I’ve wanted to write on this topic for a while now because I’ve seen this problem get as out of hand as an open bar party on Fat Tuesday.

What has me so riled up? Earning the title of coach is equivalent to being considered a subject matter expert (SME) in the business world. You have to master your craft over years of dedication and hard work. I am a CrossFit owner, I have my USAW Sport Performance certification, CrossFit Olympic Lifting certification, multiple degrees, and I still do NOT call myself a coach. There is a reason CrossFit makes you call yourself a Level 1 Trainer and not a coach.

I’ve had the opportunity to work one-on-one with Greg Everett, intern coach under Coach Burgener, work with Coach Steve Miller, and discuss weightlifting with Daniel Camargo. These gentlemen, as well as others in America and around the world, have dedicated most of their lives crafting the art of coaching Olympic weightlifting. The aforementioned coaches are all featured in American Weightlifting, as are several other coaches in the United States. The one thing that resonates with me about all these coaches is that they paid their dues and EARNED the title of Coach.

As Glenn Pendlay says, “A weekend certification does not make you a coach.” I wholeheartedly agree! Watching YouTube videos and reading several Olympic weightlifting books does not make you a coach either, and it damn sure doesn’t qualify you to host Olympic weightlifting seminars. I have seen “Coaches” with inflated resumes or no resume at all host Olympic weightlifting seminars.

When I talked to Danny Camargo about this over dinner, he said that anyone approached about hosting a seminar should ask two questions about the coach:

1. What has the coach accomplished as an Olympic Weightlifter?
2. Who has the coach produced as an Olympic Weightlifting coach?

Danny and I discussed at length what it means to answer both. The answer should never be “I snatched 130kg in my garage once, or, "I have an athlete in my box that I coached to a 150kg Clean and Jerk.” The answer should be a list of accomplishments achieved over time. If you are just starting out as a coach, just admit it and let people know that you are trying to build your resume by working with more athletes. Don’t charge $50 a head at a CrossFit for an “Olympic weightlifting seminar.” Only a legitimate COACH who has earned the title can do that!

When I was interning with Coach Burgener a few weeks ago at a CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting certification, we talked about several great coaches and the fact that their athletes respect them because they mastered their art. Abajiev is still feared to this day because of his wealth of knowledge and brutal training camps. Even the best samurai honors his Sensei by acknowledging the fact that he has earned the title “Sensei.” In China and Russia, there is a national system to earn the title coach. Of course in these countries, the government fully funds both athletes and coaches as they prepare for the Olympics- not an option in America.

Gym owners, please be aware of people out there looking to make a quick buck by offering Olympic weightlifting seminars to your athletes. It is your responsibility as a business owner and an instructor to do your research and protect your athletes from these faux-coaches.

I’ll leave you with this. If the person cannot answer the questions Coach Camargo presented, "What have you accomplished as an Olympic weightlifter?" and "What have your athletes accomplished as Olympic weightlifters?" then save your money and your time and bring in someone who HAS earned the title of Olympic weightlifting Coach.