One of the hottest trends in the field of "fitness/training/ exercise" is Crossfit. A brand often times associated with highly intensive lifts, workouts of the day, cult like followings, and a home that is called a "box". In addition to the above, it is associated with training protocols that are varied, combining intensity and volume.
In the field of performance- in which athletes are often trained, the combination of intensity and volume can be a recipe for disaster. When intensity and training volume are combined with an elevating game/ sport volume, injury is often the end results. The purpose of this post is not to bash Crossfit, because from a team building, social standpoint, and physique change standpoint it works; just not for athletes.
An athlete, or competitor outside of the Crossfit games needs a strutured, progressive, periodized, program that is specific to their needs based on time of year, point of the season, physical scouting reports, and injury history. When training an athletic population or a population recovering from injury, it is imperative to consider the individual. Where are they today? Where are they headed? So, with that said, these athletic populations should not be engaging in "trend" based fitness, or engaging in the hottest bootcamp because they are based on fitness, not performance.
Performance is a category with measurable metrics, goals, and outcomes; fitness is not. Fitness people are not strength coaches. Fitness people are called trainers. Performance people are called coaches. The problem is people (clients/ athletes/ customers/ prospects) don't know the difference.
Athletes train. Fitness folks workout. There is a difference. Using randomized training protocols, white boards with a generic plan, or combining your favorite 10 exercises is not training. This is exercise or fitness or as previously stated a workout. Training is built on a customized plan with an end-game in mind.
Now that we understand the difference between Trainers and Coaches, Fitness and Performance, and Workout and Training, it is time to dive into your plan. We will follow this post up with further education on how to train, how to improve personal biometrics, and most importantly how to improve performance. Dont workout. Train.