Have you ever wondered how the first affiliate got started? There are currently over 1000 CF Affiliates around the globe.
Maybe you just opened your own CF Affiliate this last year…or maybe you’re considering starting one in the near future. The very first affiliates came online in late 2002, beginning with CrossFit North, founded by Dave Werner, Nick Nibler and Robb Wolf. Check out the story of how it all came about!
The First CF Affiliate from CrossFit NorCal on Vimeo.
I also want to touch on Trey’s comment regarding the benefits of having a leveled class structure. It was actually Dave Werner who first brought forth the levels. We implemented them when we reintroduced group classes in October of 2007 and it has been great for our clients and great for our business.
Here’s why:
Leveled classes allow you to give the clients what they need most. You can work on basic skills and general strength development with your newer folks and you can work on more advanced skills with your more advanced folks.
Now, I know it’s easy enough to modify…if you’re working muscle ups for example and you had a mixed class, you could scale the muscle up or have the less experienced folks work on dips and pullups. That works fine up to a point and there is definitely a place for all-level classes, but as a coach you are able to give your clients more attention and better develop them as athletes if you are working with a crew of people with a given skill set.
Fundamentally there are progressions to performing movements. Dave has his levels designed such that in the lower levels you work the preceding progressions/skills for the next, more complex, movements. It clearly makes sense that one should have several pullups and rings dips before expecting to have a muscle up. This isn’t obvious to everyone. And yes, you can work an assisted muscle up without the pullup and ring dip, but you’ll never get a true muscle up without first developing the more elementary skills/strength base.
As a coach the levels are especially helpful when your classes grow to be at the 12+ athlete mark. If your classes are always all-level they will typically look more like a bootcamp with minimal work on the more advanced skills. Bootcamps are fun, but they are by necessity (large groups of all-leveled folks) lower skill.
There is also something to be said for the human desire to move up in rank. All of our Elements athletes want to be Level 1. Our Level 1 athletes want to be Level 2, etc.
Oh, one more thing…If you implement Dave’s levels give him some props and attribution! This community has been built on the open source model and there are many folks who have been contributing hours and hours of work and years of experience to help make it better. Implement what you find…and always give credit to the original developer.
Hi Nicki–
Another great post. If you don’t mind, I have a few questions about using Dave’s chart as a template for level classes…
1. How many levels do you offer?
2. Is a new athlete allowed into the Level 1 class only when they can do 50 squats, 10 push-ups, a 30 sec. static hang, etc., or are those achievements the “test” they have to pass to be allowed into Level 2 classes?
3. How do you keep people from getting frustrated and quitting if their friends progress more quickly, and thus move into other classes? How do you resolve it when, say, a husband and wife who might otherwise attend together, now find they have to attend separate classes?
4. The “Elite” level standards are pretty astounding…especially if (as I think I read once) you’re supposed to be able to do it all within one month (no specializing, retraining, etc). How many athletes have you guys seen actually achieve that level?
5. If you as a coach are not at that level, does that detract from your credibility? We all know you don’t have to be an elite athlete to be an excellent trainer (in fact, sometimes mediocre athletes make better coaches, because nothing came easily to them). It seems to me that basically assigning a belt-ranking system could almost be harmful. Thoughts?
Thanks! And thanks again for the excellent blog.
S
Thanks Sean!
Here’s what we have going on:
1. Currently we have Elements/Level 1/Level2 (with Level 2 being our competition team…folks prepping for the games, etc. and it’s invite only)
2. Folks are Elements until they can complete the skills listed under Level 1 (with the primary test being 7 rounds of Cindy in 20 minutes…not hard, but demonstrates they can do a semi-reasonable number of pullups in a WOD…we use this in place of Dave’s “Christine”) We don’t have folks body rowing and using bands for pullups in our leveled classes.
3. Our more advanced athletes can always train in lower leveled classes, just not the other way around. If someone isn’t progressing it’s usually a sign of shitty nutrition…that gives us some leverage to get them to change their food and make more progress. We haven’t had anyone get pissy over not being able to train in a higher level class. Instead, folks want to make sure they’re strong enough to hang.
4. The elite level is just that…elite. Very few people will ever be able to meet all of those standards. The vertical jump in particular.
5. Your success and credibility as a coach lies in your ability to get results with your athletes, not just be a stud yourself. I haven’t really seen this to be an issue…as long as you can coach all of the movements. The skill sets and strength levels of the athletes you develop will speak more to your coaching abilities than your own athletic abilities. The levels are a tool to help you structure your program such that you can give the coaching that your athletes need.
Hope that helps!
Thanks for touching on that Nicki. I definately see the benefits of the different class levels. I guess my main concern is scheduling. We don’t currently have the space to run more than one class at a time and the majority of our athletes come at the same times. I don’t want to run anybody off b/c of scheduling. What would you think about a transition from our current “all inclusive” class to classes (open to any member) but your workout is modified by level (rather than individually as we currently do it). That would allow all level 1′s to do the same thing and all level 2′s to do the same thing, etc. We could also vary warmups based on level. All of this would be under the assumption that we’d eventually fully implement a true leveled schedule.
Thanks for any input.
Trey,
I think the best way to go about it would be a gradual implementation. Don’t change what you’re already doing and don’t tell anyone they can’t come to their normal time slot…yet. Instead start a higher level class after one of your existing classes and let the folks who are eligible for that class know they are invited to attend. You can also let everyone know about that class and what the requirements are to get in it. You could even start by adding just one of these classes a week, say Thursdays at 7pm…and test it out. It really depends on how many athletes you have at the higher levels. You will likely always have a much greater population of your clientele who are elements/level 1 than level 2 and up.
The majority of our athletes are what we call Elements athletes. They have completed our On Ramp class and are still working to develop their strength levels to be Level 1 athletes. We have 7 rounds of Cindy (in 20 mins) as our primary work capacity diagnostic to be in our Level 1….so it’s usually the need to develop their pullups (and dial in their nutrition) that keeps folks in Elements.
Our higher level folks can always come to a lower level class…just not the other way around.
I don’t really like the idea of having a class with some people doing a completely different workout than the others…takes away from the community feel. However, you could have a workout A and a workout B, where the difference between A and B is just reps or loading. That way the workout is essentially the same, just scaled.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for the video. We just declared “all in” and gutted our garage. We’re half way through the build-out process and I’m documenting it as we go – http://www.tonguechewer.com.
Thanks for the great posts Nicki – from a duo on our way to affiliation we find your blog invaluable.
Awesome Nicole! Best of luck!
Sweet video – hearing firsthand of the initial expansion of the CrossFit galaxy!
My first visit.
Can’t wait to pour over some of this stuff.
Gotta go, 4 o’clock class is starting!
I love that video, and we are in almost exactly the same situation with space! It was a lot of work building the d*mn floor but so very worth it, we are so proud and determined to be following in the footsteps of you guys. Thanks for putting together this blog, we will be moving our box into some big space soon and as we try to take this thing to the next level the information here will be invaluable.
Hello Nicki,
I am getting certified next weekend and plan on incorporating and growing my current clients (physically/mentally and amount), with the goal of one day owning an affiliate. I have been saving up to buy more equipment and incorporate. I currently train people in their driveways or at public schools. I am not sure, since I am not insured (yet), if this is even legal. I plan, for at least a while until I save up enough to buy a box, to train people out of the back of my truck. I was wondering if you knew of any places that typically allow fitness training to be held (parking lots? parks?). I want to avoid conflict with other people over the use of space, maybe by somehow reserving the area for certain times during the week. Any input you could give me would be very appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Jason,
I’m pretty sure it depends on the city and the park…some have strict no business use policies and some don’t seem to care at all. I guess you could always employ the adage “it’s better to beg for forgiveness than ask permission.” You could also check in with Pierre Auge up at CrossFit Ottawa…he had a mobile affiliate for awhile and likely has much more input on the topic.
Hi Nicki,
In the next few months my wife and I are planning on opening up a new box! We both are super excited!! However, my question is in regards to leveled classes.
I was initially thinking of going with the “all inclusive” route but like the idea of having clients move into an elements class after the on-ramp. Do you recommend this for a brand new affiliate with zero clients? Your thoughts/ideas would be much appreciated.
Hi Andrew!
I would grow your levels and your class offerings as there is demand. If you are brand new with zero clients I would offer an On Ramp class and get the buzz going about it….then I would have maybe 2 time slots for group training: say MWF at 6am and MWF at 6pm…one evening option and one morning option. I wouldn’t open any more time slots until you have the clientele to demand it (meaning more than 10 folks in each of those classes). The rest of your time should be spent working on your business…getting clients, offering private training (higher dollar per hour and in the beginning you NEED this)….
I wouldn’t open a Level 1 class until you have a good 5-6 athletes that are at that level. Same thing when thinking of opening a Level 2, etc. You will always have more Elements clients than L1 and L2 and will therefore need more class times devoted to elements.
Hope this helps!
Nicki