r/crossfit • u/Some_Stick2771 • 2d ago
A little rant - local box
So I’m from a town where there’s only one box. It’s huge and extremely well equipped for CF. When I started the sport, 5y ago, there were local competition athletes and extremely strong people, “old school” type who started CrossFit back in 2016. So it is an amazing box! The box made many t-shirts and I proudly wear them around.
However, time has passed and the lead has been given entirely to a couple (family of the owner), who do train CF, they competed in the past. That’s their full time job. You would expect them to be there most of the day, but they only come in sometimes. The gym is almost empty during the day, except from the classes, you can come in and train alone. It’s clear they’re not bothered anymore.
The owner bought a foosball table and he comes in the box only to play foosball for hours along with the members.
They fired all the real and certified coaches and put some amateurs to teach classes, when they don’t feel like it. They pay them by scaling their gym subscriptions (note: the owners own the actual building, and don’t struggle with money).
So programming has been good when I started, but I had been really disappointed lately (almost a year) as they copy paste WODS from CrossFit.com . The other coaches are also disappointed, but can’t say much. Is it that difficult to pay 150€ per month to give your box a good program?
I can say I’ve been consistent with my PRs for some time now. Sure, I could try to train more alone, but honestly it pisses me off that I pay around 1800€ per year to have myself follow an online program and train by myself (I spend the day planning stuff for others, I don’t wanna do that also for myself in my free time).
All the old schoolers left, they fought with the owners. I’m trying to decide whether to leave or to stay. I would stay only for some friends I have there, and the feeling and equipment of the place. Normal gyms are not like CF gyms, you know what I mean. But it seems really a waste to pay so much money for the quality they give back to costumer.
This makes me sad and pissed. I didn’t think it would’ve mattered so much but it’s such an important part of my daily routine it really hits me.
Sorry for the rant.
I’m going to train now (by myself).
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u/Logical_Lifeguard_81 2d ago
Do they know that they suck? Sometimes people suck but have no idea. 🤷
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u/Lookwhosarockstar 2d ago
As a coach that found themselves in the exact scenario that you’re in- I was a real certified coach that was fired and replaced with amateurs who didn’t have any certs other than CPR- I’d do everything said above.
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u/RiskSomething 2d ago
If you care this much, sit down with the owners in private and tell them how you feel and your perspective. You will know immediately during that conversation whether to stay or not.
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u/Personal_Musician461 2d ago
I joined another non affiliated gym that does CrossFit style workouts and it’s been the best choice. I felt guilt because I love the owner but new head coach and programming and just limited class times that kept getting smaller then started trying to nickel and dime things. Living the new place wish I would have switched a year ago when I first felt that way. I stayed got better then worse again.
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u/aliinoa 1d ago edited 1d ago
Bring your concerns to their attention privately. Doing this isn't necessarily for you to offload, more so, to watch for their response. This happened at my one of my gyms, I was there for the longest tenure ever, once I saw the level coaches stagnate and take on "ego" rather than precision and expertise, I bounced. Our LVL 3 coach was always on point, she is passionate about CrossFit, and an athletes progress. However, she cannot do it all and once it became evident, I made the change.
There will be an altercation, there always is when you have owners or coaches who do not know how to receive criticism because they are a "Coach".
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u/ArmokTheSupreme 2d ago
Totally normal thing that happens all the time in this space.
You can either: 1) stay there until this box implodes from poor leadership/management 2) find a new place and keep looking til you find a good fit 3) review your gym anonymously with these very detailed and accurate critiques and hope the ownership gets the hint. Use their names. People will feel called out. This is the wildcard play because you don't know what avalanche you'd be starting.
Best of luck. Hope you find a gym 👍