Shon Grosse, owner of Comprehensive Physical Therapy and Personal Fitness in Colmar, Pennsylvania, works as a personal trainer, physical therapist, athletic trainer, and strength and conditioning consultant. He has been in the industry for roughly 20 years and works with approximately 150 athletes and clients.
He received his bachelor's in exercise and sports science from Penn State and his master’s in physical therapy from Hahnemann University.
1. What strength coach or trainer has had the most impact on you and why?
I would say George Salvaterra, PhD, ATC, Head Athletic Trainer, Penn State Football. As an undergraduate athletic training student at PSU in the late 1980s, George taught me the art, science, and technique of critical thinking in both the rehabilitation and strength and conditioning fields. (As you know, both fields eventually end up "hand in glove" at some point, especially when dealing with competitive athletes.)
Twenty years later, I still have these critical thinking "tools" in my possession—tools that cannot be "bought" in a nice, neat package but only passed down and further forged as one's own wisdom and experience grows daily. George also taught me the value and discipline of hard work and service to our athletes. If we as trainers did not emphasize this, we did not belong in the profession. This effectively weeded out people who were in our program for the wrong reasons, or, at least made a student really understand what our purpose was before proceeding further.
2. Do you still compete in athletics?
Yes. I still train and am working on a system of traditional karate for the adult practitioner who isn’t interested in competition.
3. What are the most common mistakes that you see strength coaches and trainers make?
Using "canned" programs based on magazine or media trends or those that emphasize looks (i.e. Body for Life) versus the true development of strength, athleticism, and health; and using poor exercise techniques that lead to injuries. Also, lack of progress and "burnout," not guiding the client toward what he or she truly needs, and not performing as a role model (i.e. asking a client/athlete to perform a routine without actually having performed the routine as a coach or trainer).
4. What mistakes have you made as a strength coach or trainer?
All of the above in addition to others not listed.
5. What are the most glaring weaknesses you find in athletes?
Poor hip/gluteal strength (most kids cannot squat or deadlift properly even without a load), poor grip strength, and overemphasis on chest/shoulder development with decreased latissimus development and strength.
6. Are there any exercises that you feel every athlete, Regardless of sport, should do?
Trap bar deadlifts, chins, dips, incline presses, and grip work.
7. What is the biggest obstacle you have to face as a strength coach or trainer?
Getting regular sport coaches (with no real understanding of exercise physiology or biomechanics) to agree with the merits of my programs.
8. How do you deal with hesitant and/or stubborn coaches that don't agree with your program?
I try to train their competitors, get their competitors to beat their athletes, and then re-open dialogue.
9. What advice would you have for those wishing to become a part of the industry?
I would try to talk them out of it. It is hard to get in the door, and most jobs are low paying. The industry is geared to pleasing "soccer moms" and their spoiled, largely non-talented kids (i.e. Velocity). You really need to be highly educated and diversified in many disciplines to gain a real understanding of strength and conditioning, which takes time, energy, and sacrifice. I feel most people don’t understand this when they start out.
10. How do you explain your system/program to your athletes so that they understand what they are doing? Or do you do this at all?
Through the results of others (my own athletes and other successful trainers, therapists, and coaches), through science and research (when applicable), and through personal demonstration in my clinic/studio. (It’s very apparent to a kid and their parent or a client that they don’t understand what they’re doing when they’re asked to squat or deadlift with proper form and they don't even come close.)
11. Do you have any final comments?
Yes. I want to comment that Elite Fitness Systems’s website, company, and customer service are excellent examples of how things should and can be done professionally and correctly.
Editor’s note: This article was taken from a coach and trainer survey submitted online through the EliteFTS.com
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