Finding Your System
I recently asked the TRAINING2XL community on Instagram (if you’re not a part of that team, you can join here) about areas in coaching that they needed some support in, or wanted more information on. One of the options was ‘Building a Programming System’, and it seemed to be voted the most! I will most likely do a webinar on this at some point, but for the time being, I wanted to share a little insight here.
I do believe that developing a programming system definitely takes time, practice, and trial-and-error. It will also most likely vary depending on the demographic you work with, so it is important to figure out a process that not only makes things streamline for you, but also clear for the individual(s) on the receiving end.
Before going any further, please remember that … There are many different ways to get to the same outcome.
There are many different ways to get to the same outcome.
Just because I, or someone else you know, has a specific system in place, it doesn’t mean that yours has to look exactly the same - just as your program most likely won’t look exactly the same! Everyone has a unique way of doing things, and I do believe that is what helps separate us as coaches, trainers, and practitioners.
Here are a couple components that I believe are important parts of the programming process …
Human Interaction
Needs Analysis + Data Collection
Big Picture Plan
Developing a Template OR Using a Software
Sequence of Design
Let me now provide a little further context to each one …
HUMAN INTERACTION:
This is the connection piece that’s often overlooked, but one that is critical to ensure the individual(s) adhere to the plan put in place. Want to retain athletes/ clients? Build a relationship and develop a plan they adhere to. This could be exchanging emails or texts, or even better if it’s face-to-face in real time. The connection opens up the lines of communication between you and them for a more seamless process.
NEEDS ANALYSIS + DATA COLLECTION:
Your opportunity to collect the data and information you need in order to write a program/ plan that will help this individual excel towards their goals. For me, this is a combination of an intake (written document that covers things like goals, training history, injury/ health history, etc), consultation (real time conversation), movement analysis (seeing how they move and understanding their training age), and research (gaining a better understanding of their role/job/sport. This will allow you to get a thorough understanding of the individual from different viewpoints.
BIG PICTURE PLAN:
This could also be referred to as the YTP (Yearly Training Plan) which is essentially a big picture view of the macrocycle (the full training cycle - generally one year). This could look a couple different ways. Some coaches and trainers have a template that they plug-and-play with, and some (like me) have a Google doc + sheet that has notes and visual images to show fluctuations over time (I cover this more in the Practical Programming Course).
DEVELOPING A TEMPLATE:
This is now your opportunity to start applying the information you’ve gathered to the program/ plan you’re developing. I like to kick-it old school and use a template I created in Google Sheets, or some use different apps and softwares (Team Buildr, Train Heroic, Trainerize, MyPTHub, etc) if you can’t be bothered to build your own. This is heavily based on preference, so it might take some shopping around to figure out what works best. You can find a downloadable template in the PPC👀
SEQUENCE OF DESIGN:
Okay, now we’re cookin’! This is where you start to design the program itself. This is where there is a lot of grey area because everyone is going to have a slightly different programming style. I have a very specific sequence that I like to program in (training schedule —> training split —> movement patterns, etc), but honestly, you have to do what works for you. What sequence is going to allow you to think about multiple variables in a systematic way?
As with anything in strength & conditioning and training, there are a lot of different variables that goes into setting up a program and system, and context is a VERY important piece to it. Not one individual is identical to another, so it’s important to have a system in place that allows you to learn more about the differences and how you can support them.
If you want to get an inside look at the TRAINING2XL Programming Checklist and my process of building a program for an athlete in sport, or athlete in life - check out the Practical Programming Course!
That’s all for now Team, if you’ve got a question - leave it below!
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