When the time comes that you’re in the gym and someone calls on you to help them with a few exercises, remember the do’s and don’ts of being a responsible spotter.
- Don’t impose a lift-or-die mentality upon your lifting partner. Just because he may have planned to complete five reps doesn’t mean that you should withhold assistance if he starts struggling after three.
- Don’t offer too much help too soon. This eagerness defeats the purpose of spotting, because the person only needs a spotter because they’re trying to test the edge of their limits. If you prevent that person from testing that edge, you’ll annoy the heck out of the person being spotted.
- Don’t lean so close to your spottee that you impede or distract his movement. Bench-pressing isn’t enjoyable when someone’s face is directly over yours, and you can see up the person’s nose.
- Be a cheerleader! Now put your pom-poms away. You don’t have to jump up and do the splits, but people appreciate support — and may even lift more weight — if you offer enthusiastic encouragement: “You’re almost there!” or “It’s all you! You’ve got it!”
No comments:
Post a Comment