Why CPPS is Changing the Game for Coaches
Invest.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- you must invest in your training and business knowledge to better serve the people you work with on a daily basis. You owe it to them. Your clients invest in you as a coach so it’s only natural- for the good coaches who actually care. When it comes to this area there’s no room for excuses or cheapskates. If you’re an athlete, then you must view your training as an investment, not just the upfront training membership.
This is our attitude at PowerStrength.
Last week I was in New Jersey at Joe DeFranco’s Gym. I was attending a couple of their CPPS (Certified Physical Performance Specialist) Certifications. Friday was their football cert where Joe D. covered EVERYTHING you’d need to know to develop dominating football players. They were kind enough to let me hang around the rest of the weekend for their Level 1 cert as well and even help coach the bench press! I already completed this Level 1 certification back in December and STILL took pages of notes! (Again, the best coaches are constantly refining and adding to their program.) I talked and hung out with coaches from Australia, Denmark, Canada, and a bunch of other coaches from around the U.S. All cool guys with a ton of knowledge.
I was at different seminar a year ago and the speaker was talking about business. He said that we all already have enough training knowledge to be able to run a successful training business- I knew what he meant but I disagreed. You have to be constantly learning and picking the brains of not only smarter, more experienced coaches, but coaches from different backgrounds and experiences. This field is constantly changing and you must stay on top of it…this is where the CPPS raises the bar.
The list below is why the CPPS Certification is changing the game in certifications. I’m also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA. While recognized as being a quality certification, it didn’t make me a better coach in the gym, running groups, and getting awesome results with a variety of athletes. It made me good at taking a test and spewing out the info they wanted to hear. Maybe it worked better for other coaches out there?
After running my own facility for two years and training hundreds of athletes the last six years- I’ve had three parents ask if I was certified- I rattled them off and they stared at me blankly…I could’ve made them up and they never would’ve known if they were real or not. That’s just the industry I’m in I suppose. However, with the CPPS certification I make it a point to tell ALL my athletes and parents about what it entails and the types of people that are involved. Read on and you’ll know why…
Why CPPS is Changing the Game
- Hands-on certification that allows the coaches in attendance to coach the other coaches and perform everything themselves (practice what you preach!). This automatically makes you a better COACH, not just a better exercise scientist. Too many times I’ve seen coaches who are ‘book smart’ but aren’t strong/in shape themselves, don’t train anyone who is strong/athletic, and have zero personality in the gym. A coach should be able to at least perform what he/she is trying to coach!
- The powerful network of coaches who want to go to the NEXT LEVEL. Everyone who passes the certification joins a private Facebook group where we collaborate on anything and everything. Having like-minded coaches to count on is POWERFUL. The guys I have connected with are all cool, down-to-earth dudes. No jerks or pompous douchebags allowed.
- Progressions and regressions for everything in the gym. This is how you train a variety of clientele of all backgrounds using the same thought process and training style. This is VITAL for any quality coach.
- Program design template that is proven to work- strength, power, speed, and recovery…it combines it all into a well-rounded template. I’m not talking about a ‘one-size fits all program’. It goes back to progression and regression and the template organizes the complexity of the exercises you want to implement.
- Integrity. The CPPS certification is usually 10-20 coaches at a time. This is designed to ensure the quality of coaching and have their questions answered. If someone doesn’t possess integrity during the cert or afterwards it’s easy to correct. Just keep in mind, if you put the CPPS letters behind your name you’re automatically representing me…better bring you’re A-game and act the part.
- Along with the Level 1 certification, CPPS also provides other certifications for Football, Kettlebells, Olympic lifting, and a Level 2 certification focused on business. Like I said, I attended the football certification and will be heading back for the Level 2. Olympic lifting isn’t a big part of our program but I still may give that certification a look just because I’d love to learn from more quality coaches. The coaches that are in this network that teach these are smart, successful dudes. I’m fortunate to learn from them.
- CPPS has REAL monthly workouts. High–level athletes are performing them and you get to see upfront how the workout is supposed to flow and be done. It’s like you’re a fly on the wall in DeFranco’s. I do them with our NFL and higher-level athletes every month and they love them. I pick up something new every time. What did I say about investing?
- Besides being successful and extremely bright, Joe and Smitty are some of the most down-to-earth guys I’ve ever been around. No matter how simple, or complex the question, they always answer in way to make the person understand. Whether this be simplifying a complicated answer or explaining a simple concept to not make the coach feel inferior. You can’t do this if you’re not sincere and truly care about paying it forward. Multiple times during quick 5-minute breaks during the certifications Joe goes behind his desk to grab a quick snack or check his messages. It’s about 30 seconds before a coach is they’re asking him a question. He immediately stops what he’s doing and gives full attention to the coach- always providing more info than necessary. I know because I’ve done it. Smitty is no different. That guy cares and is determined to make the people who invest in their certifications successful- not just in business/training but life. Can’t fake that.
This is getting lengthy but here are a FEW things that have happened at PowerStrength since the Level 1 certification I attended in December. I was always a follower of Smitty and a DeFranco disciple, but adding what I learned from them first hand really raised my game as a coach.
-Gained over 20 new clients- 4 who are D1-bound
-Continued to create the monster that is Jared Veldheer of the Oakland Raiders- set PRs in all categories
-Had a D3 linemen make it through his combines and is getting his shot in the NFL
-Put 2.5-4 inches on over 10 athletes vertical jumps in 8 weeks
-Rehabbed an NFL-hopeful to full strength after a blown out knee in under 5.5 months
-Implemented more progressions through our program as a whole.
-Began PowerLead- a leadership course designed for our athletes
Just wanted to spread the word to coaches who may be interested. I’ve met a variety of coaches and trainers at these- gym owners or just sport coaches. Everyone is there to learn. If you want to get a boatload of knowledge in one weekend and join a powerful network then you have to ACT! They’re having another Level 1 cert in a couple weeks and won’t have another for months. I’ll be there and would love to chat with you.
Invest in yourself and your athletes.
-Mark Ehnis, CPPS
Find out more at…
