Quote:
Originally Posted by CDEI
I dig the CrossFit program and basic ideas, and thought it might be decent to get their certification as an extra credential -- considering lots of their workouts are similar to my own. When I checked the cost to register, it was $1,000!!! That's practically what I'll be paying for my ACSM AND CSCS, combined.
I'm going to pass on it, but just wanted to get everyone's take on it. How and why would they charge such a high amount AND be sold-out at nearly every event? Any info? Does anyone here have one? Etc...
Thanks, all!!!
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Hi all,
First post here and I chanced on this forum last night when I searched for CrossFit. I like to say that it has been a wonderful experience digesting other professional trainer's insight and opinions about CrossFit. Non-CrossFit certified trainers tend to be more objective of the CrossFit business model and philosophy. That objectivity is something I value greatly. I am CrossFit certified, CrossFit Oly certified through a weekend seminar with Mike Burgner, CSCS, and have my BS in Kinesiology. I will try to answer the questions in this post about the certification.
I became involved in training and fitness back in 96 through HS football. Studied Kinesiology in college and got my degree in 2001. Did not professionally pursue an exercise science related profession until now. Since 2001 have been connected to fitness training through journal literature, coaching collegiate Ultimate Frisbee, training and competing myself. Summary, it's always been an interest of mine. I started CrossFit in March of 2007 and it rejuvenated my interest in training as a profession again. I attended the September CrossFit certifacation and also took my CSCS exam around that time as well.
All the info about the CrossFit certifications are listed on the main site, left menu bar, under Certs and Seminars. After attending one, the description is pretty true to form. In format(not in content), it is very much like attending a weekend seminar with some famous trainer in the industry (i.e. Mike Boyle perhaps. I've only seen the DVD series). During the Lecture, Glassman and his trainers talk about the philosophy and specifics of the basic movements in the CrossFit movement pool. Glassman is very clear that CrossFit didn't invent these movements(i.e. Muscle Up). How do you invent the squat??? After about 10-20 minutes of lecture and questions, everyone breaks up into smaller groups of 10 and a certification trainer works with everyone on the lectured movement and makes sure attendees get the key ideas and is doing the movement as well as phyiscally possible considering their physical condition. Repeat this lecture/hands on format throughout the weekend. During the certification, every attendee will also do one WOD over the weekend. The WODs are different at certs and is an exciting and community building aspect of the certifications. If you believe CrossFit is a cult, then this would be considered a time of "worship".
There is no exam currently but I bet it is heading towards that direction. At the end of the Cert, an attendee has learned the basics of a fairly large selection of movements and learned some good cues to teach the movements. More importantly, and this is what continues to drive CrossFit IMO, is that attendees are now deeper into the CrossFit community. You are now CrossFit Level 1 certified which means you can train people in CrossFit and can start an affiliate(which lets you use the CrossFit name to promote your business). Oh, you also get every CrossFit journal/newsletter as well.
What you don't get for $1000:
1) No exam to test your knowledge but like I said, that probably will change.
2) No certification that has been accredited by a formal outside institution.
3) 99% sure, still can't use the "CrossFit" name in promoting yourself. For that, you need to affiliate. As of 1/01/2008 that is now $1000/year. It was $500 before.
There are postives and negatives with every certification. For instance, my BS degree did not necessarily train me on the movements that I would be teaching clients. My NSCA CSCS cert didn't do that either. Sure, it's in text book but no hands on training. What I did receive was a much better understanding of anatomy and biomechanics through the academic study involved with both. My CrossFit cert experience gave me that hands on experience and gave me actual cues and pointers I could use and look for in my clients. I value that. On the other hand, there was no requirement to be more knowledge about the body and how it would respond to a program like CrossFit.
The CrossFit cert is more expensive than the CSCS exam. But the CSCS cert and experience didn't have any hands on time and it was just an exam in some community college classroom. It's like the difference between paying for a monthly gym membership vs. personal training IMO. Thousands of others were taking the exam around the country and it concerns me that there are "trainers" out there who's only credential is that they passed an exam. It also troubles me that some CrossFit "trainers" have limited knowledge of exercise science.
All the info about the level 1 certification is online at CrossFit. They have videos of Glassman lecturing the philosophy of CrossFit, in depth cert notes taken by attendees and now freely available for download and review. You can basically attend the informational part of the cert online for free.
Okay, this post is getting way long and I wanted to respond about teaching O-Lifting as well. When can someone teach somebody else O Lifting? Is knowledge and teaching ability based on credentials or method and end client results?
I don't agree that you can't teach someone a complicated movement after a weekend seminar. I probably can't coach someone to be an Olympian after a weekend BUT, depending on my abilities as an instructor, I could teach someone the very basics of the movement with very low weight without injuring them. An in no way does Burgener have us leave the O-Lift cert with our heads pumped up thinking we can teach the lifts like a pro. I left the cert with much more hands on experience with the lifts and hands on experience about what to look for in the movements then I would have ever received from reading and watching videos of the lift on *insert accredited certifcation here* or from the CrossFit site itself.
More than happy to answer any questions about the CrossFit certs I attended.
xx