This post is for the people who have emailed and asked about my Fitness Coach Mentoring service. Those of you who are interested in beginning this service in October 2013 have to complete the below intake assignment (to the best of your ability) AND submit it via e-mail before you will be eligible to partake. There is a limit of 5 new clients.
Showing posts with label Fitness Coach Mentoring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitness Coach Mentoring. Show all posts
Fitness Coach Mentoring - May 2013 Registration
(picture taken during my presentation for the athlete development day at the OPTathalon, October 2012, San Diego)
This post is for the people who have emailed and asked about my Fitness Coach Mentoring service. Those of you who are interested in beginning this service in May 2013 have to complete the below intake assignment (to the best of your ability) before you will be eligible to partake. For those interested but are not able to commit at this time, there will be another offering for registration in September 2013. Email to be added to this waitlist.
Here is some information about the service:
You will learn:
- the basics of ATP physiology and why it is important to training philosophy and understanding.
- how to assess an individual based on their known physical abilities using strength ratios and prediction formulas.
- how to assess an individual to discover currently unknown abilities and limitations (i.e. energy system testing, muscular endurance testing, and the like).
- how to design effective weight training programs to gain muscular strength, power, and mass.
- how to effectively manipulate tempos, repetitions and sets in weight training programs to optimize results.
- how to overload and de-load a weight training protcol in a safe and effective manner to ensure proper adaptation and subsequent performance improvement.
- how to design effective oxygen independent (i.e. anaerobic alactic and anaerobic alactic) energy system training sessions. You will learn general ideas about when and how to implement these kinds of training sessions, what kind of person this will best suit, and why training this system is imperative to performance in high intensity events lasting from 1 minute to 30 minutes (or more).
- how to design effective oxygen dependent (i.e. aerobic) energy system training sessions. You will learn how to design training sessions for both single modality (i.e. cyclical modalities like running, biking, etc.) and multiple modality (i.e. external loaded movements, bodyweight movements, and cyclical movements). You will learn how designing these sessions is very individualized, both from a goal perspective and an ability perspective.
- why the oxygen dependent energy system is the back bone of performance and longevity in most sporting and fitness events.
- how to propely assess and design a variety of energy system training templates (i.e. weekly, monthly, and yearly planning) to best prepare and advance the abilities of a single competitor/client. You will be taught how to design training templates to meet the needs of ANYONE.
- how to properly assess and design a variety of energy system training templates (i.e. weekly, monthly, and yearly planning/periodization) to best prepare and advance the abilities of all individuals partaking in a group based training facility/program.
- how to assess and differentiate individuals and groups in based on testing parameters and certain distinct traits in order to optimize their training program/longevity.
- how to adjust a training plan with an injured client/competitor to still allow for maintenance and/or progress.
- and more...
Meetings:
- meetings typically occur on a monthly basis, either once per month or twice per month based on your need/requirement.
- if meetings occur on a monthly basis, they will last up to 90 minutes. If the meetings occur twice per month, they will last up to 45 minutes.
- these meetings will occur via an online face to face exchange (i.e. Skype, FaceTime, etc.) or in-person for those near our Calgary based facility.
- during each meeting we will discuss your recently completed homework/assignment(s) and address the next part of your learning.
Variance:
- If your focus is to design training programs for a certain group of individuals (i.e. specific sport, age, ability, etc.) then the focus of the service will be entirely based on that.
- Many individuals utilize this service as a means to improve the program design for their own individual client's/competitors.
- Many individuals utilize this service as a means to improve the program design for their own fitness facilities, typically for the group classes that occur there.
- Many individuals utilize the service as a means to upgrade their own knowledge and understanding in order to put it to use for themselves because they are not coaches or fitness facility owners.
- Coaching experience and training knowledge varies greatly amongst all. Generally, no matter what level you are at in your coaching journey, we will create a path to lead you to success.
Commitment Length:
- There is no commitment length. As with all of my services, if you are unhappy with the service or feel you need a change, you are not held to anything.
- However, anything less than 3 appointments is generally not useful for significant improvement and understanding.
Cost:
- $150 per 90 minutes of appointment (i.e. 1 x 90 minute meeting per month OR 2 x 45 minute meetings per month).
Initial Homework
*The simple reason for this homework is to assess your ability to design a variety of training programs based on different scenarios. This is how things will work in real life coaching. You will have many different scenarios/client's to deal with if and to help succeed. The needs of everyone will not fit into your favourite program. It's impossible.
*Do your best. Do not be intimidated. There is no failure. You will only learn from this experience.
*MUST be submitted via e-mail prior to our first meeting.
*Respond to the following to the best of your knowledge and based on YOUR beliefs (i.e. wear your heart on your sleeve). Please be prepared to justify your decisions:
1) What is fitness? Give a few main points. No examples needed. Do NOT copy and paste from somewhere else, use your OWN words.
2) In 150 words or less, define YOUR training philosophy. Basically, where does your bias and decision making come from when it comes to both analyzing and designing training?
3) Design a 3 day fitness competition to establish who is fittest based on what YOUR definition of fitness is. Assume there are no limitations on equipment, space, judging, etc. Describe in detail what the point of each event was (i.e. What were you trying to test, why you selected the movements, how will this test distunguish people, etc. How valid, reliable, and repeatable is the test? What is a legitimate test? Was is just for "show"?).
4) Design a 6 week training program for a 10k runner. This person's goal is to do a 10k time trial at the end of the 6 weeks (i.e. peak). This person is able to run a 5k in 19 minutes, a 10k in 40 minutes, and a half marathon in 85 minutes. Assume no injuries or movement limitations. Is able to train once per day, 5 times per week, Monday and Friday are off days. Please provide all of the training sessions for all of the 6 weeks. As well, be sure to prescribe intensity with each of the running training sessions. To the best of your ability, adjust the weekly running volume and intensity to allow for optimal training results while avoiding over-use or under recovery.
5) Assess and design the training for the following 2 individuals. I want to see one week of workouts (i.e. all their training sessions) for each person. Ensure the week has a structure and a plan such that the following week would follow a similiar scheme. Prior to the actual design of the workouts, I want to see your initial assessment of the individual. Assume both individuals just have the goal to become "fitter" in your definition of the word. Assume both individuals have no pre-existing injuries, and do not have any mobility limitations. Assume they are able to train on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. They are only doing one training session per day.
Individual #1 - Male, 20 years old, 72 inches, 185lbs
Deadlift - 200lbs
Back Squat - 160lbs
Front Squat - 135lbs
Power Clean - 110lbs
Power Snatch - 85lbs
Weighted Chin-up - 15lbs
Standing Press - 120lbs
Close Grip Bench Press - 180lbs
Tabata Push-up Score - 10,7,5,3,3,2,2,2
500m Row - 1:40
2000m Row - 8:15
400m Run - 1:25
1 mile Run - 8:30 min
- is unable to perform a muscle-up, handstand push-up, or chest to bar kipping chin-up.
- has never performed the olympic lifts in full (i.e. squat snatch, squat clean, or split jerk) during his previous training
Individual # 2 - Female, 20 years old, 64 inches, 130lbs
Deadlift - 300lbs
Back Squat - 240lbs
Front Squat - 205lbs
Power Clean - 170lbs
Power Snatch - 135lbs
Snatch - 150lb
Clean and Jerk - 185lb
Weighted Chin-up - 55lbs
Standing Press - 120lbs
Close Grip Bench Press - 180lbs
Tabata Push-up Score - 20,15,12,12,9,9,9,9
500m Row - 1:35
2000m Row - 8 min
400m Run - 1:15
1 mile Run - 7 min
- is able to perform 5 unbroken Ring Muscle-ups, 20 strict handstand push-ups, and 30 unbroken chest to bar kipping chin-ups
Questions
If you are unclear of what is expected of you for this initial assignment, please e-mail for clarification.
Feedback
Fitness Coach Mentoring - New Recruits for Jan 1st, 2013
On January 1st, 2013 I will open up to 5 more spots for my Fitness Coach Mentoring service. This is a first come, first serve service offering. For those interested I will try to clarify the expectations of the service, some general outlines of the service, the variance in approaches taken, as well as the initial homework prior to the first meeting between you and I (either in person or via Skype).
This service is sold out. Next openings will be May 1st, 2013. E-mail to be placed on list for next openings.
Expectations
*You will have homework/assignments that must be completed prior to our next meeting.
*The goal of the service is to have you develop your own system or framework for training design and analysis.
*You will be asked to design training programs and/or assess individuals of varying abilities, varying goals, varying ages, and varying sports/endeavours in order to get a true appreciation of the individualization process.
General Outline
*During each call we will discuss your recently completed homework/assignment(s).
*Each call will last between 75-90 minutes, unless we are meeting twice per month, then each call will be half the time.
*Generally, you will be asked to design training sessions for all levels of individual ability and for all energy systems (ATP-CP, Anaerobic, Aerobic, and their variations). Once I feel you have a solid understanding of this, we will move into designing weekly, monthly, and yearly training templates, as well as the training sessions that go along with these templates (i.e. periodization and planning).
Variance
*Meetings are typically arranged once a month. However, if your situation would benefit from more frequent meetings, we can move to 2 meetings per month (i.e. 35-45 minutes each meeting).
*If your focus is to design training for a certain group of individuals (i.e. specific sport, age, ability, etc.) then the focus of the service will be entirely based on that.
*Many individuals utilize the service as a means to improve the program design for their own fitness facilities, typically for group classes.
*Many individuals utilize the service as a means to upgrade their own knowledge and understanding in order to put it to use for themselves because they are not coaches or facility owners.
*Coaching experience and training knowledge varies greatly amongst all of the clients. Generally, no matter what level you are at in your coaching journey, we will create a path to lead you to success.
Commitment Length
*There is no commitment length. As with all of my services, if you are unhappy with the service or feel you need a change, you are not held to anything.
Initial Homework
*MUST be submitted via e-mail prior to our first meeting.
*Respond to the following to the best of your knowledge and based on YOUR beliefs (i.e. wear your heart on your sleeve). Please be prepared to justify your decisions:
1) What is fitness? Give a few main points. No examples needed. Do NOT copy and paste from somewhere else, use your OWN words.
2) Design a 3 day fitness competition to establish who is fittest based on what YOUR definition of fitness is. Assume there are no limitations on equipment, space, judging, etc. Describe in detail what the point of each event was (i.e. What were you trying to test, why you selected the movements. How valid, reliable, and repeatable is the test?).
3) Provide an example of a "Yearly Periodized Training Cycle" for a Fitness athlete. Describe the progression throughout the year, the adjustment of training goals based on the time of the year, and an example of a peaking phase pre-competition. I am not looking for anything specific to any particular athlete, just a general idea for a "Regional" level competitor looking to make it to the Games.
4) Design a 6 week training program for a 10k runner. This person's goal is to do a 10k time trial at the end of the 6 weeks (i.e. peak). This person is able to run a 5k in 19 minutes, a 10k in 40 minutes, and a half marathon in 85 minutes. Assume no injuries or movement limitations. Is able to train once per day, 5 times per week, Monday and Friday are off days. Please provide all of the training sessions for all of the 6 weeks. As well, be sure to prescribe intensity with each of the running training sessions.
Feedback
Here is some of the feedback from this service from some of my Fitness Coach Mentoring clients. If you have a question about the service that was not stated above, please e-mail.
(Current Fitness Coach Mentoring Client, Brad Forbes and myself)
(left to right: Current Fitness Coach Mentoring Client, Kevin O'Malley, myself, and a solid dude, John McEvoy)
Fitness Coach Mentorship - Feedback from Clients
The Fitness Coach Mentorship has been an awesome service for me. I obtained this service because I needed something different that would meet my needs. Being deaf, Michael provided something that I have not seen others do. Individual attention, personal assessment of my strengths and weaknesses, progression at an appropriate level, and assignments that challenge critical thinking, are just a few of the many experiences I've gained from working with Michael. The biggest takeaway so far has been the simplicity in how Michael explains things and how it challenges my creativity towards programming and exercise selection. I would highly recommend this service to anybody who really appreciates the art and science of programming and coaching. I plan to continue this service for as long as Michael can tolerate me!
--Brad Forbes (Fitness Mentoring Client)
I have been a remote coaching client with Michael since November 2011. During this time I was able to see how effective and methodical his individualized programming is. The overwhelming results I achieved in such a short time left me wanting to know more. As soon as a space was available for Fitness Coach Mentoring, I jumped at the opportunity to become involved in the program. I feel like I was able to take my coaching to a much higher level by learning how to target specific energy systems and design appropriate strength sessions using reps, sets, tempos and rest times. Having the knowledge to understand, program, and explain these methodologies to others brings nothing more than results for myself and the clients I train. I would definitely recommend this program to other coaches looking to expand their knowledge; it is like having a personal trainer teaching you the science behind coaching!
--Chip Thorndike (Remote Coaching Client, Fitness Mentoring Client)
I decided to sign up for the Fitness Coach Mentoring because I reached a point in my training where I was all over the place, and needed some guidance. I have qualified for the Northeast Regionals for the last two years, and had disappointing finishes. I was following and talking to James FitzGerald for about three years, and was trying to implement this style of programming into my own gym, Vagabond CrossFit, for the last two years. However, I needed more guidance and knowledge for practical application. I have been talking to Michael for the last 6 months and my knowledge has grown. Both myself and my clients have seen great results. Without Michael’s guidance, I can honestly say I would be stuck in a rut, and the programming in my gym would be sub par. We have seen huge gains within Vagabond, since I started working with Michael, and also since we have been doing the online classes for OPT CCP.
More specifically, I have learned to be a critical thinker, and actually have a plan and purpose to my programming. I have tried to do this in the past, but now we actually have a rhyme and reason. We are not guessing at what we are doing, but we are assessing every little thing, and the improvement within our gym has shown this. All my clients have improved in someway, and they have done it injury free. The time and effort I put into my programming now, I take pride in because I now have a scope of what I am doing when I sit down to program for each individual. I am always thankful to the Optimum Performance Training community, and what they have provided for myself and Vagabond CrossFit.
--Kevin O'Mallay (Remote Coaching Client, Fitness Coach Mentoring Client)
I have been doing the remote coaching service with Michael for 7 months now and it is definitely the best thing I have ever done. I used to be one of those guys who would always train based on ‘feel’. It got to a certain point, but then after honestly assessing myself I knew I wasn't reaching my full potential and I only had myself to blame. Subconsciously, whether I wanted to admit it or not, I did favour my strengths. Having an emotional connection to your training can be a good thing, but also can be a big downfall if you are letting it dictate what you do on a daily basis.
This all came to a head in August '11 when I woke up one morning. I bent down to put my shoes on before going to the gym and felt a tweak in my back. It was definitely a culmination of overtraining and under-recovering. Cut a long story short, I ended up having a disc bulge at L5/S1, it resulted in me having a thing called foot drop, which meant that when I was walking as soon as my heel touched the ground my foot would slap on the ground (I couldn't dorsiflex my ankle no matter how hard I tried). I was seeing a Neurologist and almost had a discectomy. The Neurologist told me I would never be able to lift over 30kg again the rest of my life.
I think the way any bad news works is like this: negativity, blame, acceptance, and progression. It was a pretty shit time, I always tried to lead from the front and seeing guys who I always used to train with start to beat my times from the past was depressing. I did pretty much nothing for 3 months except some walking and light swimming...
I avoided the operation and eventually one day I tried to raise my foot up and it actually came up. It was only for a short period, but it was progress.
I started to really look inside and be honest with myself, I knew how I would be going back to training (if I ever did again). I knew I would pick something up, think 'that feels good' put a bit more weight on and keep doing that and eventually I would be back to hurting myself again. These were hard things to admit to, knowing I am really not the best at taking care of myself - when I am someone coaching a heap of other people and I should be setting an example!
I needed a coach who would tell me what to do and keep me grounded, I didn't care how long things would take, I just wanted to not have a paralyzed foot and start to move around again. I needed a person who's views of fitness also correlated with health and who I trusted. Michael was the guy I chose.
I am waffling on now but my first week of training was super simple, I think the hardest thing I did was air squats @ a slow tempo. I had no ego and didn't care because I was happy to be moving again. We slowly progressed everything and now 7 months in things are starting to come together. I still have a long way to go, but I don't forget where I have been, which is the most important thing. I am still about 40kg off of my deadlift and back squat PR from before the injury, but that stuff doesn't really matter anymore nor is it important in the big picture. I am thankful every day for being able to move again and most of all I am appreciative of being associated with a guy who has his head screwed on and can take some time out of his day to help me out.
I did the OPT CCP in November last year and it has made me grow tenfold as a coach. 'The more you know the more you realize what you don't know' is such a wonderful statement. I always want to try and be the best coach possible and I knew working with Michael in the Fitness Coach Mentoring program would help keep me focused and on track with what I believe about health and fitness. You need to be able to question things and make things uncomfortable for yourself to grow and working with Michael helps encourage that to happen with me.
The past 12 months started out being the worst I have ever had (not being a skirt, I know people have endured MUCH worse) - but looking back on it now without it happening I never would be where I am today - "everything happens for a reason".
--Scott Dillon (Remote Coaching Client, Fitness Coach Mentoring Client)
Fitness Coach Mentoring - New Recruits
There are a maximum of 5 spots available for the Fitness Coach Mentoring service. For more information, please go here. Here is the initial assignment that MUST be completed and e-mailed to info@optimumperformancecalgary.com before you will be officially enrolled into the program. Upon submission of your assignment, we will set-up our first meeting (Skype or in-person). Here it is, any questions regarding the assignment can be e-mailed to the above address. Registration deadline for this service will close on September 9th, 2012. The next openings will begin later in 2012.
Part 1 - Philosophy
The purpose of this part is for me to get an understanding of where you are coming from when you make decisions and choices in training design. In your own words, describe the following to the best of your ability:
- Describe what you believe Fitness is. Be specific. Minimum 500 words.
- Design what you believe would be a legitimate test of fitness, considering all important components involved in competition (i.e. judging, scoring, variety, etc.). Design an 8 event, 3 day competition, be prepared to justify your decisions and choices. Assume you would have access to anything you needed (i.e. equipment, area, volunteers, etc.)
Part 2 - Design
The purpose of this part is to get an understanding of your ability to design training programs based on the person's abilities and their goals, as well as managing all the variables related to training in order avoid over or under training and injury. Design a 4 week training program for each of the following individuals. Each training program must include the days of the training session (i.e. Monday) and the entire training session that goes along with it. You do no have to plan for a peak or anything, linear progression is fine (if you do not understand what I mean, just do your best). Before each design, please describe in point form what YOU believe the training priorities for these individuals should be and HOW you came to those conclusions. As well, assume they do not have a competition for 6-8 months so you are free to start training with any template/priority you like. At the end of each 4 week design, briefly describe what you would plan to change going into the next program, if anything.
Individual #1 - 25 year old Female that wants to compete in CrossFit based Competitions.
*Assume no flexibility issues and no previous injuries
*Able to only train on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday
- Height = 5'8"
- Bodyweight = 125lbs
- Deadlift = 200lbs
- Back Squat = 135lbs
- Front Squat = 115lbs
- Power Clean = 95lbs
- Clean and Jerk = 95lbs
- Power Snatch = 70lbs
- Snatch = 75lbs
- OHS = 85lbs
- Close Grip Bench Press = 95lbs
- Press = 70lbs
- Weighted Supinated Chin-up = 10lbs
- Weighted Bar Dip = 15lbs
- AMRAP Chest to Bar Chin-ups = 3
- AMRAP Ring Dips = 2
- AMRAP HSPU = 0
- Muscle-ups = 0
- 500m Row = 2:15
- 1000m Row = 4:35
- 2000m Row = 9:20
- 400m Run = 1:30
- 800m Run = 3:25
- 1600m Run = 7:15 min
- Fran = 12 minutes
- Helen = 15 minutes
Individual #2 - 25 year old Male that wants to compete in CrossFit based Competitions.
*Assume no flexibility issues and no previous injuries
*Able to train any time, any day
- Height = 5'10"
- Bodyweight = 185lbs
- Deadlift = 500lbs
- Back Squat = 375lbs
- Front Squat = 330lbs
- Power Clean = 225lbs
- Squat Clean = 250lbs
- Clean and Jerk = 245lbs
- Power Snatch = 185lb
- Snatch = 205lbs
- Close Grip Bench Press = 275lb
- Press = 195lb
- Weighted Supinated Chin-up = 110lb
- Weighted Bar Dip = 125lb
- AMRAP Chest to Bar Chin-ups = 45
- AMRAP Ring Dips = 35
- AMRAP HSPU = 35
- 30 Muscle-ups for time = 3:30 min
- 500m Row = 1:25 min
- 1000m Row = 3:10 min
- 2000m Row = 7:30 min
- 400m Run = 1:00 min
- 800m Run = 2:25 min
- 1600m Run = 6:25 min
- 5000m Run = 24 min
CrossFit Open 12.1, AMRAP Burpees in 7 minutes = 115 reps
Fran = 2:20 min
Helen = 9 minutes
Nate = 20 rds
Individual # 3 - 40 year old Male that wants to qualify for the Boston Marathon
*Make no assumptions here
*Able to train any time, any day
*Describe what you believe would be necessary testing for this person to go through if they came to your facility (i.e. what would you do with them for an assessment that would give valid information and therefore be beneficial to designing a training program for this person).
- Height = 6'0"
- Bodyweight = 175 lbs (under 10% bodyfat)
- Maximum Heart Rate when Running = 182
- 10k = 40 min
- Half Marathon = 1 hour 29 min
- Marathon = 4 hours
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