Coach Edna on Weightlifting Bar Fundamentals

Coach Edna Fletcher is aware of concerning the energy of sport firsthand from her days taking part in basketball. As a black feminine athlete, she has additionally felt the sting of exclusion. For instance, when she requested that extra assets, like weight coaching, be added to her basketball workforce’s practices, she was laughed off the court docket.

Now, Coach Edna is a frontrunner within the inclusion motion utilizing her experiences, expertise and pursuits as a Particular Olympics New York (SONY) coach. Whichever sport her son Daniel participates in, Coach Edna coaches—that’s eight sports activities to date! She at present coaches the American Muscle powerlifting workforce that consists of three feminine athletes and 6 male ranging in age from 16 to 35. In some sports activities, basketball and powerlifting, she has continued her coaching to change into a referee or official.

As a mum or dad, coach or fan, all of it comes again to the athletes as rivals and people in accordance Coach Edna.

For Coach Edna, which means starting with the fundamentals. As a SONY powerlifting coach, she helps every new workforce member discover ways to strategy the bar. For the grip, she has them follow putting the bar in the midst of their palms earlier than greedy it tight. “The bar is central to the three powerlifting disciplines I coach: the squat, deadlift and bench press.” She feels that utilizing the 45-pound bar with out extra weights is an effective way to construct method and power.

For the standing lifts like squats and deadlifts, she coaches athletes to face with their legs shoulder-width aside. “This offers them a robust base for stability.” However for bench presses, she has them tuck their ft underneath the bench a bit as a result of “the intuition is to push up by way of your ft even if you’re laying down. That’s a superb factor.” Elbow and extension angles are additionally very important.

Coach Edna says there’s one other ability that has nothing to do with muscular tissues. “Listening to and following the judges’ instructions takes follow. It will be important as a result of the Head Choose has a frontal view of the athlete and ensures that the correct weights have been loaded onto the bar accurately. Then they provide the command to raise.”

Coach Edna says anybody all in favour of changing into a Particular Olympics coach ought to know that the athletes are desperate to be taught. “Meet them the place they’re and ensure they go away with a smile.” Robyn Armando, Vice President Advertising and marketing & Group Engagement, says Coach Edna’s strategy is way appreciated. “She is a staple within the SONY group. She makes use of powerful love, however she adores each one among her athletes and has the most important coronary heart.”

*Statistics from the Special Olympics 2021 Global Reach Report