Spotting Too Much — Or Not Enough

Most weight-training mistakes made don’t affect anyone but you. However, if you mess up while spotting someone else, you may be putting your friend (or soon-to-be ex-friend) at risk for injury. Or, at the very least, you may be depriving your buddy of an enjoyable and effective workout. When acting as a spotter, you need to walk that fine line between not helping enough and getting too involved.

Spotting the wrong way
Don’t zone out while you’re spotting someone. Spotting isn’t the time to contemplate peacekeeping solutions in the Middle East. If your buddy poops out in the middle of a set and you’re even a split second too late to grab the weight, your friend may get clunked on the head, chest, or some other body part. Your spottee may also tear a muscle or ligament while trying to do your job for you (that is, to save the weight from crashing). Pay attention. You would want the same courtesy paid to you. See Figure.

Spotting the right way
Tune out everything in the universe other than your spottee. Put your hands in the right place, and watch your buddy like a soldier guarding Buckingham Palace. Don’t wait for your spottee to scream, “Dude! Where are you?!”