It's more than likely that you became a coach because you love doing exactly that, coaching. However, it can be common that the deeper you dive into the world of sports science and strength & conditioning, the more time programming and analysing data than you do actually coaching.
Even if you are still managing to coach a lot, it's likely that your programming and data analysis is eating into another portion of your life. How many coaches do you know that end up missing out on family time because they need to update programmes or get the latest performance stats ready to show the head coach (who may or may not care anyway!).
"a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organised framework or method."
If you go down the route of Google definitions, the above is what appears for "Systems". Suggested similar searches include "Method, structure, process,". Why am I telling you this? Well, this is exactly how and why I want you to think about your programming, monitoring, and data analysis. Or at least you approach each of them
Building a framework into your approach to programming and data collection/analysis allows you to streamline the process. Sure, it may take a little bit of time to lay out in the first place but it most certainly save time down the line.
Your system doesn't need to be complex, in fact, the more complex the more there is to go wrong. In addition, your system shouldn't be absolute rules. To quote pirates of the Caribbean "they're more like guidlines". There will always be exceptions to the rule and things that don't quite fit. This is fine don't stress it.
Your framework should allow you to loosely categorise training/session structure, exercise selection and method of progression. One common method is to use a tier system, with tier 1 exercises being your most essential (main lifts), tier 2 being important but not necessarily essential (secondary lifts), and tier 3 being those movements that are good to get in but of the least importance to your performance outcomes (accessory lifts). If you take the time to put exercises in these categories, you have already streamlined two parts process; Session structure and exercise selection. below are two simple examples of how to lay out your tiers.
Session 1
Warm Up
Main Lift 1 (tier 1)
Secondary Lift 1 (tier 2)
Secondary Lift 2 (tier 2)
Accessory Lift 1,2 & 3 (tier 3)
Session 2
Warm Up
Triset 1
Main Lift (tier 1)
Secondary Lift (tier 2)
Accessory Lift (tier 3)
Triset 2
Main Lift (tier 1)
Secondary Lift (tier 2)
Accessory Lift (tier 3)
Once you have these simple structures in place, you simply need to select whichever exercises fit each category. Obviously, this is a very simple example. However, it hopefully allows you to see why establishing your framework enables you to speed up your decision making process. I personally believe these type of systems are an absolute must for any Online Training or Strength and Conditioning Coach.
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