BB coach

[dabears8273]

I will compete in my first show in a little over a year. Is it generally a good idea to hire a BB coach? I have a decent grasp on my diet and training, but I can always learn more I suppose.

[str8flexed]

I will compete in my first show in a little over a year. Is it generally a good idea to hire a BB coach? I have a decent grasp on my diet and training, but I can always learn more I suppose.

here is an article I wrote on this subject, hope it's helpful

Choosing the right coach

By Dr. Layne Norton, PhD Nutritional Sciences

“I learned this about coaching: You don't have to explain victory and you can't explain defeat.”
~Darrell Royal

Over the past few decades the number of coaches or ‘gurus’ in bodybuilding has increased tremendously, in fact in each town there is typically a ‘go-to guy or gal’ in terms of preparing people for shows. Then at the national/pro level there’s high profile ‘guru’ type coaches who we read about fairly often. I often hear various lamentations about contest prep coaches on the MD forums. Many are to the effect that bodybuilding was better before prep coaches existed. Others seem to believe that if they had the right guru, they’d have no problem achieving their dream physique. The reality is actually very similar to other sports. In all the major sports like football, baseball, and basketball, when a team is doing well the coach gets far too much credit, and when the team is not doing well the coach gets far too much of the blame. You are only as good as your last athlete’s placing and peak and while a bad coach can do a severe disservice to an athlete, a good coach can make prep much easier and more effective. I compare it to buying a Toyota vs. a BMW. You don’t need a BMW, a Toyota will get you around just fine and you can still reach your destination with it. But if you can afford it, is a BMW a nicer ride? Absolutely!

What to look for:
There are so many coaches out there from local guys charging dirt cheap prices to high profile guys charging several grand. Typically you get what you pay for, however you can find good coaches at any price range and bad coaches at any price range and so it is important to do some shopping. Just like when buying a house, car, or any other big purchase, start shopping early, and do plenty of research. A few pieces of information to look for that may be helpful:

-Background: I’ve seen coaches charging for prep services that have no education and have never competed! And while you don’t have to be a pro or have a PhD to be a good coach, if someone is going to charge you for prep, they better have some validation for being a coach. Obviously if you find someone who has both experience and education in a field that relates to bodybuilding, that is a plus.

-Former clients: Does the coach have a history of consistently bringing people in shape? Ask for references, contact some of the coach’s former clients and ask them what the best AND worst thing was about working with that coach.

-Responsiveness: When you contact the coach, how quickly do they get back to you? If you email them asking them about their services and they don’t get back to you for 2 or 3 days, then it may be best to walk away. If they take that long to get back to you when they are trying to get your money, think about how long it will be once they actually have your money!

-Willingness to answer questions: Ask them details about their service. What specifically is included? Are their limitations on how often you can contact them? Try to learn as much about them as you can. If they are abrasive to these questions it is probably best to walk away.

-Personality: Personally I have worked with people before who are good people and I’d like to think I’m also a good guy, but for whatever reason our personalities did not mesh well and it ended up being a strain on the client-coach relationship. If you are very meticulous and detail orientated, make sure you are working with a coach who is similar. If you are very independent and want a bit more freedom, make sure you don’t get with a coach who is breathing down your neck every day.

Red Flags:

-Slow response time: As discussed above, during prep response time is crucial. If you are in peak week and you have a question that needs answering, if your coach doesn’t respond for 3 days, it could be a big difference in placing.

-Unwillingness to explain methods: “Because I said so” is not a valid response to questions. You are the client; you have every right to try to understand WHY the coach is having you do what you do. Now on that same token don’t expect the coach to be able to convey all their knowledge to you in a few emails that is unrealistic. But they should be able to give you a reasonable response when discussing why they recommend certain protocols.

-All about the benjamins baby: If their conversations start with how you should pay them and end with how you should pay them, then you probably need to look elsewhere. If you email them a question about their services specifically and they answer vaguely and instead tell you how they can be paid, then run the other direction. Make sure they treat you like a person and not a dollar sign!

-Not asking YOU enough questions: If a coach sends you a plan and all they ask you about is your age, height, weight, and sex then you can be assured they are probably about to send you a cookie cutter protocol they sent to 50 other people last month.

Overall, the right coach can make a significant impact in your physique onstage, but a coach is a luxery, not a necessity. Make sure you have enough money saved to afford one and make sure you do proper research to determine what coach will be best able to help you achieve your goals.

[rewaste]

Great write up Lanye I found that this time getting ready for my Sept 10th show a coach is very important. Besides the Pictures 2 times a week and the once a week in person meeting I've found this time around i'm less stressed wondering if i'm on track. I just ask questions, and follow the program. Atm I've maintained a lot of size and already better then my last year show by a long shot. My Avatar is the 5 week mark.

[dabears8273]

Awesome, that answers it!