Coaches, this will help you how not to be an asshole on the day of the show to your fellow coaches and competitors. It’s a stupid move that I’ve seen repeated time and time again.

Your clients look to you for inspiration, knowledge, proper etiquette, and fair play on the day of the show. They’re paying a lot of money for your guidance and they look up to you.

During contest prep, to peak week to the day of the show, there are thoughts swirling in their heads. Your professional conduct may keep your services during the next prep. Or, if you truly fuck it up and act like a dick, or are a major asshole thinking they require you for their success, well, coach, you are sorely mistaken. So, your professional language, your demeanor, and the way you conduct the prep to show day are paramount to their success and your reputation.

On show day, they’re nervous and excited, hungry and cranky. I’ve been there multiple times, both as a competitor and a coach. They don’t need you to act like a douche.

A few years ago, I was expediting at a show and watched drama unfold. This coach who had three competitors that day also had a rival coach there. The other coach had only one client, but te client didn’t like the coach because he continued to creep (mistake # 1) on her, so she left. Creepy coach started spreading rumors about his former client backstage. Long story short, Jersey girls don’t take kindly to bullshit rumors. I knew the girl. She wasn’t anything that creepy coach was talking shit about her. So me being me, I confronted creepy coach and asked him nicely not to talk shit and to behave.

Creepy didn’t like this too much. I asked him again to not embarrass himself with so many clients backstage, but he continued. Then he made the mistake of putting his hands on me. My previous years as a bouncer took over, and I carried him out. I His clients were completely embarrassed that he took it to this level. We called the cops and he could no longer enter the facility or to coach at a show again. The kid lost a lot of money and ruined his reputation.

This isn’t just in the physique world. I am a strength and conditioning coach for MMA fighters. I love the sport and anytime I can see an event, I’m all in. I was in Atlantic City when this occurred. My athlete was doing his best at his fight, but unfortunately, his opponent got the best of him. Watching his ring coach/primary fight coach become a Jekyll to Hyde personality was embarrassing. By the final round, my guy knew he’d lose, but he never gave up. And the final round was bloody.

During the final round, the coach got nasty. He got caught up in the moment, and started ridiculing kid who I consider a son to me. Before I could tell him to cut the shit during the fight, he got up as the kid was fighting. He grabbed his wife and barked that they were leaving, right in the middle of his last round. That coach lost a few athletes from this episode. A rival fight school picked up these guys.

These moments can break your career. I have a friend who runs very popular shows. He was my coach and is my friend, and he’s a quiet guy, who allows his results to speak for itself. He’s GREAT at what he does. His clients speak volumes about how he conducts himself. Take a page from this guy’s book. Be a gentleman, be a coach, be a shrink! You need to hear what the athlete is saying. They are looking to you for answers. They might need a shoulder to cry on, so just listen. Don’t give advice. Not every problem is yours to solve. I like to guide them to the answers they already know.

As a coach, the psychology and mental imagery are by far the most important for me. I need them to come into the show thinking they’ve done this a million times in their heads. During posing sessions, we rehearse the poses. We take away the mirrors 8 weeks out. We close our eyes and “feel” the muscles being flexed.

The day of the show, you're most likely getting paid to be there. But be there because you want to be there. It means a lot to them. It means more to me to be there at their show to cheer them on, to guide them, to be their helper. You’re the guy carrying all their stuff, making the day fun for them. They’ve busted their asses. Now it’s time for both of you to enjoy the day.

Be ready for everything. Have a list of things that they need for the show. Make sure you go over the list a few days before the show. Have a backup copy of their song, a playlist of songs they like, extra pump up gear, water, food, extra towels, anything that you might consider little details, have it with you even if you don’t use it.

After the show is over, have your client(s) go to the judges and ask what needs to be improved on. Before the athlete goes to the judge, have them prepare a set of questions. As a judge, I welcome all athletes who take the time to wait for the show to be over and approach me for advice. Have your athlete take the helm, with you taking notes. Don’t ask the questions you might have until all the athletes’ questions are finished being answered. Just shut up and take notes. And don’t butt in when a judge is speaking. The judge will remember you being a pain in the ass and that can mark the athlete. Be a gentleman/lady.

After the show is over, go have dinner or some food that the athlete has been dreaming about. Depending on whether or not they are happy, take the lead and cheer for them, that they kicked ass even if they came in last. If they don’t want to talk about their placing, find something else to talk about. Eventually, they’re going to come around.

Watch their personalities a few days after the show. If they are usually cheerful people, they may become depressed, withdrawn, or sad. This is post competition blues. It’s an actual thing. I’ve read studies on Olympic athletes that have prepped for three years (or more) and after the event, they fall apart mentally because they think they have nothing to do. This is not a time to become a fat pig and eat everything in sight. A day after the show, have some fun eats, but keep a lid on the amount.

This is where good coaching comes in. They’ve ravaged their bodies for this one event, and now it’s time to get their bodies and minds used to eating more calories. They need to reset their hormones that have been out of whack for quite a few months because of extreme dieting. This is a time to heal, to recover, and to get back to normal. Force them not to take those few extra reps, but to complete the sets as prescribed. This can take anywhere from eight to twelve weeks. If they used drugs, it can be even longer.

The purpose for post contest training is to get back to normal. They need a purpose. Their purpose now is to restore and recover. After a few weeks, if they want to enter another show, talk about what the judges said that needs improvement.

Be an excellent coach and give honest answers. If they need to add size, then the obvious answer is to take a year and make some discernible differences in their physiques. A few months won’t do much. If it’s working on posing skills or stage presence, then do another show with a few weeks in between. Or, get a posing coach who specializes in posing. Know their limits and know yours. I’ve built up an extensive network of people who I refer to all the time. I believe in what they offer, and if I am not as sharp with the issue at hand, I will give the referral to that person.

Finally, remember what you do at the show can be a good advertisement for an excellent coach or can be an ending to your career as an asshole coach. If your inner voice says don’t do it, don’t. Think about how your actions will reflect on your athlete, on you, and how the others may perceive you. Even though they may not be training with you doesn’t mean they might not be scouting you.

The OCB has a set of guidelines that you can use to set the pace. I’m listing it here, but there’s also a bunch of great information that you can use for your athletes.

The OCB Coach Code of Conduct

1. Coaches are to refrain from using threatening or foul language while at OCB events.

2. Coaches are not permitted to sit in the row of seats located directly behind the judging table.

3. Coaches cannot approach the judging table at any point before or during prejudging.

4. Coaches and their clients may only approach the judging table to request feedback after placements have been announced and if time allows.

5. Coaches are responsible for reading and understanding OCB’s Guidelines before registering a client in an OCB show.

6. Coaches are not to poach or solicit the clients of other coaches while attending OCB events.

7. The marketing of other organizations’ events is strictly prohibited.

8. Coaches who are caught doing this will be escorted out of the venue without a refund.

9. Coaches are to model professionalism and sportsmanship.