While some of you guys are already training in a hardcore gym or are on a powerlifting team. A few people are always looking to join their first powerlifting gym. Hell, there are even people who are training at a powerlifting gym. They are considering switching gyms altogether for various reasons. Maybe you’re not getting the quality advice you were expecting from your coach/gym owner.
Maybe the two-hour commute from the gym to back home is finally getting to you, and you need a more sustainable daily routine. As someone who has switched between different teams for the exact reasons I wrote, I realize that your reasons for considering another gym are perfectly reasonable and normal.
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Since training at a powerlifting gym is supposed to be a long-term commitment. Here are some things I would consider when assessing whether a new facility or team is a good fit:
Is the coach an elite lifter? Do they still compete? Do they have a good reputation within the powerlifting community? What powerlifting federation are they affiliated with, if any? Is the federation they’re affiliated with using the rules you’re willing to compete under? Do they run meets at the gym or regularly have their lifters go to a venue close to the area for competition? What training methodology do they use on behalf of the team’s programming? Will your coach provide you with personal feedback on your individual performance as you train? How many elite lifters have they produced? How many elite lifters are they currently training right now?
Are they fully equipped with everything you’ll need? While having access to a monolift isn’t necessary if you’re not competing in the RPS or SPF, you need access to a squat rack, competition-grade bench, and quality bars for each lift. Is the gym open for the hours and days you plan on training? How much do they charge per month? Why does the gym charge $350 per month when a comparable gym 45 minutes away only charges $100 monthly? (The $350 a month is a total monthly fee being charged by a powerlifting gym in my area. I’m not making this shit up. Paying $100 a month is acceptable for a powerlifting gym. Paying $350 a month means you’re being conned by a shitty owner.)
Are they trying to lock you into a contract, or do they offer month-to-month billing? How far away is the gym from your house? If the gym is within 30 minutes of your house and you think the commute is too long, you are a pussy. If it’s going to take 60-90 minutes to get back home, and you plan on training here for the next few years, are you willing to stand by the commitment?
Will there be lifters to train with during the hours you’ll be training? How about strong people with elite totals – can the coach name elite lifters that regularly train during your scheduled time slots? Do the people in the gym seem to work together in split teams, or is everyone somewhat scattered around and doing their own thing? Are the lifters taking their shit seriously, or does the room look like a pony show performing for social media?
While these series of questions might seem asinine for something like joining a gym. Also, realize that you take powerlifting seriously and that it’s not just something you do to pass the time. You are goal-oriented, and the powerlifting gym must be results-oriented for its lifters.
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With some experience, you can figure out all of the above by scheduling. A visit with the facility and talking to the coach/gym owner for a few minutes. That’s precisely what I did when I came to CSA for the first time. Talked to Jesse about becoming a team member while asking a few questions.
Bottom Line
Don’t get caught up with what seems like a cool-looking clique of lifters on Instagram when none of them can bench 315. Find a good coach with a reputation for being strong, experienced, and can name off lifters they’ve trained who are doing well in the current scene. Once you find the right fit between yourself and a solid powerlifting gym, you are all set to make some swift progress and get stronger faster than you could ever fathom training.
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