Coach,

I attended the CrossFit Football trainer seminar couple months back in the UK and learned more from your team than any certification I have attended. So much so, we want to host one in Germany whenever you are available.

I have started training a few players from a professional hockey team in Nuremberg, Germany in preparation for their upcoming season. They want a strength program in conjunction with their conditioning work. They have exposure to strength training but nothing you would call organized. I would like to start them on the amateur linear progression. Do you think this wise or should I assume the amateur window has closed because they are professional athletes? The majority of players are between 20-23 years old.

Thanks

Drake

Pagan #1

First, call me John. I get a strange feeling when someone calls me “coach.”

The term “coach” is affectionately reserved for aging and out of shape men who watched me play football while screaming incoherent things, all while wearing uncomfortably short shorts.

I have yet to abandon my fitness or don the polyester shorts so affectionately worn by coaches across America.

You might have seen a movie back in the 80’s called Dragnet with Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd. It was a remake of the original Dragnet TV show from the 50’s. To this day it is still one of my favorite movies.

Early and Streeback go undercover to infiltrate this group of troublemakers known as the PAGANs. PAGAN is an acronym for:

People Against Goodness and Normalcy

As they pull up in disguise, a guy in a horned goat mask reminds them, “Don’t forget your goat leggings,” and hands them two sets of goat fur chaps.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/gdfPrkw_V3M[/youtube]

First, I have always counted the athletes following the CrossFit Football site as my own PAGANs. People who want something different than the majority; people more prone to take the road less traveled than follow the herd. Frankly, it takes a certain person to put a heavy bar on their back week in and week out and keep coming back for more.

Second, the amateur linear progression is the “goat leggings” of the program; can’t hope to make gains and take part in a program without laying the vital ground work. Much like Early and Streeback showing up for their first PAGAN meeting, you need to strap on your “goat leggings.”

Third, I consider anyone who has not done this style of training to be an amateur. And when I say “this style of training,” I mean putting a heavy bar on your back or in your hands a few days a week and squatting, pulling or pushing 80%-100% of your best for reps. This means your training is composed of heavy compound movements and a formalized strength program with progressions and direction.

And I am not just talking about for a few weeks to tone up before spring break, but everyday, for months, if you not years. I am referring to someone who knows the joy of making gains and the pains of getting “Swinglined.”

Pagan #2

The term “Swinglined” refers to the old staplers we had in school. When the weight staples you to the bench or platform we call that “Swinglined.”

Drake, start your athletes on the amateur linear progression. Let’s see where their level of adaptation is. If they have been training seriously, you will know pretty quickly whether it was a good idea or not. If they fail, then put them on the collegiate program.

My advice would be not let them max out day 1. Start their sets of 5 well below what you think they can do, around 30-40 lbs less than what their best is. Let them start to feel good about the training and give them a chance to get up to speed. Just know in a few weeks, things will get serious and you will be better able to evaluate your athletes after they put on their “goat leggings.”