Day in the life of
CrossFit Coach – Billy Brown
I’m a CrossFit coach. I lead CrossFit classes at a local box, and I also write up nutrition and powerlifting programming for individuals.
My day usually starts out with me checking in with my clients via text or email. Many of those clients are remote, so I’ll check up on them to see how their eating and/or workouts went the day before. I’ll answer any questions, address any concerns, and offer tips and advice. Every week or so, I’ll also send them a recipe or accessory movement that I enjoy or offer an instructional anecdote.
In the afternoons, I’ll head to the gym to coach a few hours of CrossFit classes. I lead each class through warmups, go over the workout with demos on form, technique, and strategy, then coach them through the workout and a short cooldown. Every class lasts an hour and it includes a warm-up, either skill or strength work, then a workout that lasts anywhere from 10-30 minutes. So I need to plan out how to do all of that within 50-55 minutes per class. That gives me an extra 5-10 minutes to prep for the next class.
My key responsibilities are to make sure every member gets some one-on-one time with me, that everyone knows the ins and outs of the workout and skill work, and to make sure that each member knows how to perform all of the movements safely and effectively. I also make sure to stay engaging and encouraging to make sure that all of the members are having fun while they push themselves.
After the last class, I’ll typically clean up whatever equipment is left out, make sure that the trash cans are emptied, restock the fridge with Fit-Aid, shut off the lights, and head home.
Pros
The biggest pro is seeing people’s fitness and confidence improve as people progress. I love hearing stories not only of how people are getting fitter but also of how their smaller wins at the gym (a personal best, feeling less sore) translate into bigger wins in daily life (moving better, more energy, more confidence at work and in relationships). I get a rush whenever someone learns a new skill or hits a milestone that they thought was impossible.
Cons
This is a passion project, so the cons are few and far between. Mostly it comes in the form of seeing a member discouraged for one reason or another, but I feel like it’s my job to help them push through. It’s never fun to see a member struggle through an injury or setback, but it’s always rewarding to help them overcome it, whether that’s rest and recovery, rehab, or pushing through a mental boundary.
