This is NOT a Gear vs RAW debate. I have 3 High School lifters who are competing in Powerlifting. This is the first year of the program where I coach, so we started the season without any equipment…and we have been in the top 5 3 times (1 lifter twice the other once) and always in the top ten.
Example: last night my two top guys were 20lbs and 60lbs out,repectively, from placing in the top five, lifting RAW versus equipped.
Well, the head coach has ordered us Squat Suits, Knee Wraps and Bench shirts. We have 4 weeks before the Regional meet. The top 10 lifters advance to the Regional meet. These guys need to hit at least one more meet in between to solidify their place in the regional meet.
SO! For the more experienced out there: How can I most efficiently introduce my kids to the equipment in the short amount of time that I have? I am an unequipped powerlifter with limited experience, so I could use some guidance…thanks.
I am going to use the assumption you have absolutely no equipment knowledge, so forgive me if I say stuff you already know.
What you need to do is introduce different levels of support incrementally so that it doesn’t overwhelm the strength levels of your kids. From what you indicated, they have 4 weeks to get ready. This should be enough time to at least get opening weights to appropriate squat depth and under control.
Squat:
Start with the knee wraps and belts. This alone just might put those kids in the top five for you.
Once you have established new maxes with wraps and belts, put on the squat suits. Pull the squat suit on and do not pull the shoulder straps up immediately. Just having the squat bottoms on will provide good support. Establish new maxes with wraps, belt, and suits on with straps down. Next, pull the shoulder straps up on the squat suits and establish new maxes.
Bench:
Bench shirts are more of an all or nothing situation. Once you have it on, it has been easiest for lifters at my gym to use board presses or foam presses to get used to the shirt. If you have boards, start with 4-6 boards on the chest and work your way down incrementally each week until they can touch weights to the chest. My fear at this point is you might not have enough time to get the kids used to the shirts. You’ll just have to judge for yourself if they’re ready or not.
Deadlift:
Use the belts and squat suits for the deadlift. Just like the squats, start with the straps down and work up to pulling the shouler straps up. Of course, don’t use the knee wraps.
At our gym, we put over 150 lbs. on a high school seniors total with just a belt, knee wraps, and a squat suit used for the deadlift. We didn’t even use the squat suit for the squat or a bench shirt.
Thanks a lot. We will get started on Monday. We do have boards.
Thanks a lot.
sb