I have worked in the field of Strength & Conditioning for nearly 20 years now. I know less now than I thought I knew when I first started. The beauty of this and many I attempt to surround myself with is that we work on very few absolutes. We continually try to challenge all concepts and theories that we currently use and see others using. We couple that with proven science to formulate and develop discussion and thought provoking ideas. Squat university embodies this concept. One main goal is to stimulate thoughts, ideas and challenge everything we do as a profession. In doing this, we have struck a chord with many. Some send us stimulating questions and thoughts. Some send notes of encouragement and thanks for well thought out ideas and concept. Then there are those who try to “help” us or straight out want to dispute everything we write and present. Despite the science that we cite, they disagree with us and still think the world is flat.
I feel like Squat University and those who have engaged with us are benefiting our profession. Hopefully the application of what we discuss could eventually have a positive influence on the system we all function off of. We spend a lot of time talking about squatting and lower body, but along the way I have the desire to take a moment and speak less about legs and get something off my chest.
Our system is broken. We are failing ourselves professionally. We have failed the athletes, coaches, parents and young colleagues around us. This would be a good time to pop some popcorn and prepare for an aging mans rant… We’ll take a break from the other well written and thought out posts of Squat University. This will be less of that and more of a conversation with your grandfather discussing how he walked up hill both ways to school in the snow and how this generation has ruined everything good.
Old man rant starts here…
- You are not an “expert” because you train professional athletes. Despite what the public thinks, because you have trained someone that has been successful in their sport, or possibly were a former professional athlete yourself, this alone means jack squat (pun intended). I’m not saying there aren’t experts training professional athletes. What I am saying is that there are people training athletes that are terrible and clueless. Unfortunately the consumer can’t tell the difference. More and more coaches are spending time self-promoting by posting pictures of workouts of them and someone successful in sport. They should be spending more time on developing sound periodization and improving their coaching skills.
- If you are a former college or pro athlete and think that qualifies you as a strength coach….you are wrong. People are misguided by your athleticism and think you have the abilities to teach them to move like you. Unfortunately you don’t know what you don’t know. You don’t even know why you move the way you do. Training is not a one-size-all method. What worked for you doesn’t always work for everyone else. Vomiting up what things you remember your college and pro strength coaches did with you isn’t it either. Stupidity recycles itself and you are part of the problem. But please keep posting pics of you in your uniform and reliving your glory days on the field. Please keep on convincing the moms with check books that their kids will never make it to the next level if they decided to train elsewhere (insert sarcasm).
- Too many people are in the business of training and forget (or never knew) how to coach. Others in an attempt to be too open minded have allowed their brains to fall out.
- Getting YouTube hits and social media clicks is becoming the new training fad. Don’t get me wrong, I am often impressed with the show of athleticism that many of these videos show. Unfortunately how many plates you can jump up on is the new choice of training for many for the next 5 years. Eventually someone else will come out with a new circus trick to show off his or her freakish athleticism.
- Tired does not equal good training. Unfortunately, many athletes decided whether their workout was successful or not based on their ability to walk after.
- The strength and conditioning industry has been over-monetized and measures success by providing the athlete with things they want instead of what they need. Get a t-shirt, massage and a smoothie with every workout. If business takes off and you are having success quickly develop a certification process that you can sell to others so they can put more worthless initials behind their name as well. No one knows what all those initials mean. Stop it. It’s stupid and doesn’t make you any better of a trainer because you have more worthless initials behind your name. If you are looking for more initials behind your name may I suggest making up a symbol instead like the artist formerly known as Prince.
- Our training has become too sensitive for public approval. We try to make the coach, parent and/or athlete happy instead of training athletes the way we’re supposed to. We bypass fundamental movement skills and instead place in sexy drills. We use gadgets and drills that fool consumers into thinking that we’re innovative and cool. Money into the pocket over fundamental skills. We place athletes in great danger and risk of injury by taking this strategy. Crawl, walk, RUN.
- Many of the companies and coaches center their training to improve testing outcomes that unfortunately have negative translation to the field/court or do nothing to improve performance. Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. I’m sorry…….ok that’s a lie, I’m not sorry. It’s time for the strength and conditioning professionals to take back things like the NFL combine and instead develop a better system that translates to the field. I’m proposing the problem, not the solution. It’s my rant; I don’t have to have the answers. I can just be an angry man thinking I’m solving all the world’s problems amongst friends at the local coffee shop can’t I?
- Early sport specialization causes poor underdeveloped motor programs. By the time the athlete reaches college or the professional level it may be too late or at best very difficult to make significant change in these programs. It can take up to 30,000 correct reps to change a poorly developed motor program. So to those individuals who have responded to our previous facebook/instagram post (especially about RGIII) and somehow feel butt hurt because we posted a pic of your favorite player, someone you played sport with, someone you coached personally, or “know his strength coaches well”. I offer no apology.
- I am not disqualifying you as a good coach, nor am I endorsing your skills as a coach. This is a systematic problem, that enforces the need for our profession to be forward thinking, more proactive than reactive, and realize the importance of good “coaching” at ALL levels, not just good “training”. The more we defend some athlete or coach the greater the problem. These posts aren’t targeting someone; they are targeting a systematic problem. You can choose to stay inside the current system and thought processes because it keeps you employed. I get that. But we are more concerned about the global progression of our profession and less about buying into the “next great training method” or the “newest and greatest piece of equipment that cost thousands of dollars”. All that means SQUAT to me if we don’t know how to coach. Coaching>Training.
- In conclusion, if Jesus Christ himself displayed uncontrolled valgus and internal rotation moments while walking across the water…well…we’re here to talk about it and try to stimulate ideas on how we can fix it.
We believe proactivity is for pros and reactivity is for amateurs. We believe in building habits and being students of our process. Our way is harder. Be smarter. Play the long game instead of the short game. Prepare, learn and do the work.
End of Rant
Seriously great article! We are in a field that requires a life long passion for learning.
Please allow me to address the coaching v training dilemma. I’m in the process of writing CPD plan for Professional Skills Class that’s required for my MSc in S&C here at the University of Edinburgh. This assignment has given me an opportunity to take a closer look at the ethics, skills, and standards required of a strength and conditioning coach. Great I have a BSc in Exercise Science, I’m CSCS and RSCC. Wow look at those letters (sarcasm). Those letters aren’t what make me proud to be a Coach, it’s the thank you’s from my athletes, the pictures of their accomplishments they send me when they’re outside of my gym. I’m proud of them because they’re the ones who have busted their asses for years. Here’s the problem, I’ve demonstrated my knowledge is sufficient to be credentialed and live up to the standards set forth by the NSCA, but there are no standards for “coaching”. What makes a great coach outside the realms of exercise science? Words such as empathy, compassion, understanding, enthusiasm, inspiration, communication, guidance, authenticity… Only years of experience, the ability to be humble and allow ourselves to be behind the scenes knowing we’re doing whats best to keep our athletes safe, applying simple strategies, being creative with our coaching cues to teach our athletes to crawl, walk, run optimally.
It’s humbling to see you let loose and go on a rant, thank you for doing so. Keep up the great work!
Thank you!
Well written! I completely agree with everything! There should be more focus on quality of coaching and movement capability; everything else should take a back seat, especially any coach’s focus on their interests. The focus should be on each athlete and what’s best for their development.
Thanks for the rant!
Thanks Doug! Glad you liked the article!
I’m a student and now I have an injured knee so now I cannot do sports although I’m a professional athlete. What to say, I miss a big sport very much. Studying distracts me but I’m not good at writing and have to use EssayExplorer service that gives me information on the helpers in writing academic papers. So I have more time for thinking and recovering and even light workouts. Only God knows how many tears my trauma has cost me.
Hey, a spam post, hadn’t seen one all day.
Read all about the Squat University through this blog. I have read this blog and learned a lot from this. The way they were promoting the extra co-curricular activities is amazing and I need to get custom essay services for my thesis work. I truly appreciate them for sharing this blog with us.
I am glad to read this article. google
Obstawianie meczy w internecie za pośrednictwem komputera lub nowoczesnego telefonu komórkowego odbywa się w dogodny dla https://bukmacherzy-legalni.net.pl/obstawianie-meczy-przez-internet/ gracza sposób, a pełny e-book sprawi, że nie przegapimy żadnego ważnego wydarzenia. Zakłady online można postawić w dowolnym miejscu – w metrze, autobusie, w drodze do pracy, a nawet na stadionie. Aby móc obstawiać zakłady przedmeczowe, potrzebujemy jedynie urządzenia z dostępem do Internetu oraz pieniędzy na pierwszą wpłatę. Ten szczegółowy przewodnik podpowie graczom, jak odbywa się obstawianie meczów i jak wygrywać pieniądze u bukmachera.
I agree with this article, that our system is broken and we are failing our athletes and coaches. It’s important to continually challenge our theories and concepts, and to use proven science to develop our ideas. Unfortunately, too often it’s like trying to explain the concept of a casino https://casinofaenger.com/ to a flat-earther. We need to do better and raise the bar on our profession.
Sensitive electronics such as computers, televisions, and audio equipment should be transported separately from other items. These items can be damaged by vibrations and rough handling during transport. Car Shipping Rates Marion County, Tennessee
Is it possible to lose money in an online casino not through your own mistake or failure? For example, fraud or some kind of failure in the system.
That’s Amazing & Great to know that you are a good researcher!!
Coachella was an chick fil a breakfast hours unforgettable music experience.
I’m always inspired by your posts. Keep them coming! https://www.edmontonfurnacecare.com/
Furthermore, the ability to constantly improve efficiency while seeing tangible Geometry Dash SubZero increases in in-game wealth provides a strong feedback loop that is difficult to resist.
Absolutely agree — the willingness to challenge systems and embrace uncertainty is where real growth happens. “System failure” isn’t a flaw; it’s a spark for evolution. Like you, we value spaces that foster thoughtful dialogue and constant questioning. That’s exactly why tools like the download castle app exist — to help rethink structure, test limits, and keep the conversation dynamic.
Explore Sprunki Game’s Normal and Horror modes, vibrant creativity or chilling soundscapes? Your beats decide the town’s fate.
Really powerful read — and honestly, this rant needed to be said. 👏 The point about coaching vs. just “training” really stood out. Too often the industry gets caught up in flashy drills, social media clicks, or certifications that don’t translate to actual performance on the field. The reminder that fundamentals, motor patterns, and long-term development matter more than short-term hype is spot on.
Thanks for voicing what many are probably thinking but don’t always say out loud. Coaching > Training — couldn’t agree more. For more insights and resources, you can check now.
The points about understanding movement breakdowns and addressing weak links really resonated with me. Training isn’t just about pushing harder, it’s about knowing when to step back and rebuild the foundation. I’ve noticed the same principle in food traditions: balance and preparation matter as much as intensity. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy making argentina empanadas — the dough, the filling, the timing, everything needs harmony for the result to work. Just like strength training, cooking them teaches patience, structure, and respect for process, and the reward is something deeply satisfying and worth sharing.
My store that sells Chesterfileds https://www.cigstore.co/product-category/chesterfield/ is also needed to be optimized. What can you do for me and how much is it?
Kitchen Essentials
Totally agree with your whole perspective — the field really does need more genuine coaching and less of the social-media performance stuff. Reading your post actually made me think about how I approach things in general, even something simple like choosing a solid, reliable meal from the Texas Roadhouse menu instead of chasing whatever looks flashy. Substance over hype applies everywhere. Your rant hits hard, and honestly, it’s a needed reminder that real progress comes from fundamentals, patience, and actual coaching, not shortcuts or trends.
Daman game club
provides a stable environment for online gaming. Players enjoy a seamless experience.
This rant really highlights how systems fail when image replaces fundamentals.
Coaching, like any system, breaks down when shortcuts and surface-level validation become the goal instead of real understanding.
What resonated most is the idea that people work around broken systems rather than fixing them at the root.
You see the same pattern outside sports too, where users look for alternatives when the core structure doesn’t meet real needs.
I noticed a similar mindset shift while reading about toca boca mod ios, where workarounds emerge because the original design stops serving users properly.
Different field, same lesson: fundamentals first, trends second.
This post speaks to a deeper issue in strength and conditioning that many avoid acknowledging coaching has slowly been replaced by performance theater. Training professional or elite athletes doesn’t automatically create expertise if the fundamentals of movement, progression, and long-term development are ignored. The obsession with social media validation and surface-level fatigue has pushed many coaches to prioritize what looks impressive over what actually transfers to the field. True development is often slow, repetitive, and unglamorous, which is why it rarely trends online. Early specialization and shortcut methods only amplify faulty motor patterns that become harder to correct later. This same pattern of valuing visibility over understanding exists in many industries today, not just sports performance. A recent discussion on truecallarapk highlighted how systems break down when fundamentals are sacrificed for quick wins, reinforcing the need to rethink how we define real expertise.
This rant highlights a real issue in strength and conditioning the confusion between visibility and actual expertise. Training elite athletes or having a successful playing career doesn’t automatically mean someone understands coaching principles, biomechanics, or long-term development. Too many professionals chase validation through social media, flashy drills, and endless certifications instead of mastering fundamentals. As the author points out, tired athletes and viral workouts don’t equal effective training. Real progress comes from questioning methods, applying science, and staying honest about what actually works. In many fields, authority is often misunderstood, which is why debates like true or false? backlinks build authority. exist in the digital space as well. Whether in coaching or influence, substance, consistency, and critical thinking always matter more than shortcuts.