
At SBWC, lifters are training a sport – a discipline – regardless of their end goal. However, no one is a professional or making a living from powerlifting. People have other priorities in their lives. Members come from different backgrounds and work out for various reasons. Regardless, we ask that members take the idea of being coached in seriously, which we know isn’t easy for adults. With that in mind, here are 15 tips to make powerlifting training at SBWC a more rewarding experience.
All of the pointers fall under one mantra:

Let’s break it down.
Be Prepared
- Be on time (which really means “early”) for your powerlifting session. Be aware of any time constraints you have that day and plan your training accordingly.
- Familiarize yourself with the day’s training exercises and determine appropriate weights ahead of time.
- Show up with everything you need for training – a water bottle, snacks, training plan, proper gear, etc.
- Keep a comprehensive powerlifting training log and have it available to reference during the session.
- Walk into the gym with a clear mind. If you aren’t in the right mental state, take a few minutes to get into it when you arrive.
Be Present
- Actively listen to your coaches.
- Communicate with your coaches about how you are feeling – what stresses or conditions you have encountered outside the gym recently.
- Be aware of what is happening around you. At the same time, don’t let anything distract you when it’s time to execute a set.
- Pace yourself through your training and don’t dilly-dally.
- Understand the term proprioception. Apply it to your powerlifting.
Be Positive
- Sweep negative thoughts out of your head.
- Try something before shooting it down or telling yourself (and your coach) that you can’t. Trust your coaches.
- Stop overthinking. Visualize and shut out any excess “noise”.
- Do not “campaign” for a change in the session’s programming or load, unless there is a sincerely legitimate reason for doing so.
- Respect your fellow gym members, your coaches, and the physical space. Interact with the other trainees – spot them, ask for a handoff, and encourage them unsolicited. A smile or a “hello” goes a long way.
If you think you’re ready to be coached in powerlifting and have fun with it or even if you don’t, let’s get you started with a FREE intro by clicking the button at the top right corner.