Finding the right powerlifting coach can be a game-changer in your lifting journey - a coach can be a great coach, but still not the right coach for you. Coaches vary substantially coach to coach, and finding the right fit can be the difference between a lasting and excellent relationship and burning out and leaving the sport altogether.
Services and Support
Know what you’re actually getting
Key Questions :
“What services are included in your coaching package?”
“How often will we be in contact? When and how?”
Powerlifting coaching is not standardised in terms of coaching packages. A key component of all coaching is a program and some sort of feedback loop, but beyond that, there is significant flexibility in terms of offerings. Some coaches will include ad hoc, weekly, or per-block feedback, some will include nutrition coaching, mindset coaching, or meet day coaching, and others may not. In addition, some coaches may offer their personal phone number or some other contact in case of emergencies or questions.
All of these are okay - many of these questions have no right answer - the important bit is that the offering aligns with what you need. If a coach only offers monthly feedback sessions but you need weekly feedback (or more frequently!), it may not be a good fit.
Programming and Personalisation
Understanding how a coach meets your needs
Key Questions:
“How do you tailor your programs to individual needs?”
“What factors do you consider when writing a program?”
Although the exact services included in a coaching package vary, one of the core components is a program. Understanding how a coach write a program for you can help you understand if they’re going to be able to accomodate your personal needs and desires, and also tells you something about their philosophy of coaching.
Most coaches will start with a fairly generic program or your previous training as a baseline - the steps that come after that are what makes a coach stand out.
Experience and Track Record
Evaluating Experience and Success Stories
Key Questions:
“What is your background in powerlifting coaching?”
“Who have you coached before who is like me?”
A coach being inexperienced is not a red flag or a bad thing - experienced coaches have to come from somewhere, after all - but you need to know what you’re getting. An experienced coach will usually be able to get you where you’re going faster, but they may also charge more and have more clients (which might mean less 1-1 time for you.) By contrast, a less experienced coach has fewer experiences to draw on, but might be cheaper and might be more directly invested in your success (I was only my own coach’s second athlete!)
If a coach is more experienced, you might also want to know more about who they’ve coached who is similar to you before - where that might mean the same age range, weight, height, magnitude of goals, experience level, etc.
Logistics and Practical Considerations
Understanding the Practical Details
Key Questions:
“What are your pricing, contract terms, and scheduling processes?”
“How do you handle adjustments if my needs change?”
The actual logistics of coaching vary as much as anything else when dealing with powerlifting coaches, including details like pricing, payment methods, payment frequencies, and even contract terms (e.g. some coaches will have a minimum duration or lock-in periods.) This is very much one of those things where there is no right answer, however it might be somewhere you get hit with an unpleasant surprise if you don’t discuss these details up front.
Finding the right coach for you is an important step in your powerlifting journey - the right coach for your friend or your favourite elite lifter won’t necessarily be the right coach for you. Before you speak to a new coach, make sure you note down what things you want to know from them.
Feel free to use these questions in your next coaching interview, or let me know your favourite questions below. If you’re ready to start your own journey with a new coach, you can find out more about my coaching here.