crossfit: too competitive?
CrossFit's emphasis on competition, such as the annual CrossFit Games, has led to an explosion in the popularity of the sport. We see the iconic imagery of almost supernaturally fit athletes, and the incredible physical feats they accomplish. However, this emphasis is a double-edged sword. In places, it has created a culture of “maxing out”, of pushing oneself to the limit, potentially encouraging regular athletes to sacrifice form, or ignore warning signs of overexertion in pursuit of better results. This type of behavior certainly contributes to the concerns regarding CrossFit and injury.
In fact, we love competition. It’s a part of our culture. We regularly hold fun, competitive events, such as:
Our annual Halloween Partner Costume Workout
Winter Holiday Athletes’ Cup
Memorial Day Murph
Throwdowns that attract CrossFit athletes from all over the Bay Area
CrossFit Open Friday Night Lights
Of course, we also “compete” daily with ourselves, and with one another. Our community challenges itself to grow and improve with each training session. We write our accomplishments on the whiteboard for extra motivation and accountability.
All that said, we actively avoid the “toxic” aspects of competition in the following ways:
Emphasize Personal Growth: Competition can be a great motivator. But, we value external competition far less than internal progress and personal growth. We encourage participants to set individual goals through things like our “challenge of the month”. Coaches know our athletes as individuals. We celebrate their achievements, and focus on improving “own” performance rather than constantly comparing yourself to others.
Promote An Inclusive Community: We cultivate a supportive and inclusive community where participants feel valued and encouraged regardless of their athletic abilities or competitive aspirations. We emphasize teamwork, camaraderie, and mutual support. The last athlete to finish a workout gets the loudest cheers.
Diversify Programming: We offer a variety of workouts and training formats that cater to different preferences and goals, including those athletes who may not be interested in competitive events. CrossFit workouts are constantly varied. We incorporate elements of fun, variety, and skill development to keep ALL athletes engaged and motivated. For example, we offer a CrossFit Lite class on Saturday mornings, where you can experience the rush and camaraderie of CrossFit without the complex barbell movements.
Educate on Healthy Competition: Provide education on the positive aspects of healthy competition, such as motivation, accountability, and goal setting, while also highlighting the importance of balance and perspective. Encourage participants to approach competition as a means of personal challenge and growth rather than a measure of self-worth.
Celebrate Effort and Improvement: Recognize and celebrate athletes' efforts, progress, and improvements regardless of their performance relative to others. For example, we encourage athletes to log their workouts. This helps reinforce the a sense of accomplishment and accountability, but it also allows you to refer back to previous efforts and measure improvement over time.
Coach Empathy and Sportsmanship: We coach and model empathy, sportsmanship, and respect for fellow athletes. We encourage positive reinforcement, encouragement, and support among our athletes, emphasizing the importance of lifting each other up rather than tearing each other down.
Provide Perspective: We offer perspective on the role of competition within the broader context of health, fitness, and overall well-being. While competition can be a motivating factor, it should not overshadow the primary goals of fitness, enjoyment, and long-term health.