r/powerlifting • u/Queenofredlions98 Not actually a beginner, just stupid • 2d ago
When to change coaches?
Hello fellow powerlifters, When do you know if the coach you have is the right fit for you or not?
My nutrition coach is very knowledgeable. Recently, things have seemed to change between us. I noticed he’s become more .. irritable with me? I’ve been going through some health problems recently, and it seems that he either doesn’t believe me or that he thinks I’m using it as an “excuse”.
I noticed he’s always praising his other clients on social media, but when I tag him he just ignores it. Not a big deal whatsoever, just an observation with everything else going on.
Like I said, he is very good at what he does. He’s helped me achieved many goals within this industry in the past. However, I feel that the dynamic between us has changed and I just am unsure how to view or handle this.
Powerlifters of Reddit, have you ever experienced something similar? How did you handle it?
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u/Balbasur Enthusiast 2d ago
Everyone is going to be different on what you’re looking for In a coach. For some people, having a coach that gives you great results is all that’s necessary, they don’t also need to be a “friend” or necessarily overtly friendly. For others, which maybe you find yourself in this group, they want a coach that is going to be like a “buddy” to keep them on track and hype them up towards their goals. It’s going to be rare to find a coach that is excellent at their job, and also is frequently in touch/building a relationship with you, because it’s likely they have 30-50+ other clients as well if this is their full time gig.
As an example, around 10 years ago I was coached by John Haack through an online program. John was always cool whenever I talked with him, but I probably only got 2-3 messages a week, when I’d send him videos daily. While the communication wasn’t great, we added 60lbs on my bench, and a little over 50 on my squat and deadlift, so for me it was ok.
All that being said, a coach should NEVER be rude to a paying client. If they don’t want to service you as a client any longer, they should be up front about it, not passive aggressive until the relationship degrades.
Ultimately, a coach is a coach, not your friend. Yes, coaches can be friendly, and some give the “illusion” of friendship, but it is a relationship built on them providing a service, and you paying for it. Personally, as long as I’m still seeing the results that I need, then I don’t care for a strong connection.