I have been blessed to launch the IPA powerlifting team which is comprised of extreme beginners and novice lifters. The facility is great but the times these kids were getting in was not allowing them to be around other experienced knowledgeable lifters. Upon arrival 5 of the team members had 8 weeks until a meet, we are now 5 weeks in and peaking, the guys peaking are responding to coaching really well and feeling good. Not everyone's lifts have jumped up, obviously since they are just now being coached, but major improvements have occurred with minor adjustments implemented. After the meet, I will enjoy breaking everyone down and rebuilding from a fresh slate with all the data I have on each of the lifters. Here we have two of the bigger guys, Aaron and Delvin. Aaron has had no formal coaching and is a clean slate to take cues. Delvin is a bench only lifter who has had coaching but nothing very in depth. A lot of the changes (like foot position as you see in the video) was odd for him the first day, what you cannot see in the video is his HUGE smile everytime he got off the bench. He says, "man that feels good, I don't feel it in my shoulders, and I feel drive".
Our other group is doing General Physical Preparedness (GPP). I am confident in saying these individuals have NEVER done anything like this and probably do not understand why yet as they signed up for a POWERLIFTING TEAM. The majority are brand new to the sport so teaching is crucial for the "why?". They all currently understand the reason for GPP and all look like are going to die after each session.
Stay tuned as the two group's will merge and start training together WITH myself and we all navigate our training ups and downs for our next meet around the November time frame.