Good coaching requires attention to individualization when it comes to the lifts. Good coaches don’t ask their lifters to perform every lift the same as everyone else. Good coaches recognize the biomechanical differences in each and every lifter and tweaks and changes their movement individually based on those factors. I’ve mentioned this time and time again in considering both starting position as well as overhead position but it cannot be emphasized enough that the mark of a good coach is this consideration.
It’s one thing to watch an elite level lifter complete an elite level snatch or clean and understand what is going on. It’s relatively easy to pick out perfection and precision in the first pull or the turnover or how elite level lifters accomplish these feats with such a ease. What’s more, with the addition of Hookgrip’s super slow-motion video, even a novice coach could pick out specific consistent patterns inside of every elite level lifter.
Where the best coaches in the world excel is in recognizing differences in lifters based on their segment lengths as well as their biomechanics. Recognizing that a lifter with longer arms is going to be in a different position at their hips as well as a different position overhead or recognizing that a lifter with longer tibias will set up differently at the start is extremely pivotal to the proper coaching of even novice level lifters.
My good friend and previous national coach at the OTC, Harvey Newton, mentioned this in his monthly newsletter this month. He referred to some observations from Carl Miller and stated some pretty good advice for developing coaches like myself.
He states, “I called Carl to confirm some details. Related to arm length (and Carl wrote much more on other segments), Carl compared upper arm length to whole arm length and determined (from a sample size of 721 lifters) that an upper arm measurement that is more than 56% of total arm length is longer than average. Mine? Fifty-one percent, perhaps a reason I did fairly well in the press.
When comparing total arm length to total body length it was determined that “an arm length more than 38% of the total body measurement is longer than average.” Mine is 0.36, a good explanation for why I have to have suit jackets sleeves shortened.
These and other data affect how one should effectively lift. An informed coach takes into consideration segment lengths when determining starting positions for both lifts, placement of the bar on the shoulders in the clean and prior to the jerk, whether one may need additional remedial work, such as pressing, and a host of other topics.
To ignore these variables can easily point the beginning weightlifter down the wrong path in terms of mastering efficient technique.”
Topics such as segment length and starting position are all items I will be covering with Mike and Emily in our Power and Grace Performance Seminars. I think far too often coach’s assume that everyone of their lifters or athletes or clients and their gym must set up the same, lift the same, and look the same. This is just an impossibility considering that every single skeletal structure has its own unique features. We will be discussing how to assess those unique features as well as manage and change lifting styles based on each person’s biomechanics. Be sure to check out the training camps in your area coming up.