FOR THE LOVE OF THE BARBELL!!

by Amy Chesley

Yes, my friends. There is such a thing as barbell etiquette!

We are fortunate here at CrossFit Tyler to have mindful and courteous athletes & members, but a little reminding never hurts anyone, hmmm?

So, here are a few friendly reminders regarding barbell use and etiquette in the gym. 

These go a long way toward keeping all our athletes safe and the barbells spinning well (and lasting a long time)!

The Barbells and Empty Plates

Never ever ever drop an empty bar.

​Why? It breaks the bearing/bushing inside the bar. 

When you lift the bar, the bar is not static. It's actually rotating back and forth a little bit. That's the bearing doing its work.

​If the bearing breaks, you'd have to do that spinning. Let's just say that it would be a LOT harder. So, let's leave the torque to those fancy bearings. And play nice with those fancy bars.

Wait ... but why can you drop a loaded bar? The weights act as a shock absorber. That said, you don't want to drop a bar from overhead with just a pair of 10s on it. Even that will eventually bend and break the bearings (and the 10s).

Keep It Clean

Even steel can corrode. Wipe off any blood, skin, or excessive sweat with a disinfectant wipe immediately after barbell use.  If you notice you're bleeding during a workout please tend to it ASAP before continuing the workout.

Get Your Load On and Off  (Correctly)

Always put the collars ("clips") on for your lifts.

Load the heaviest plates on the inside, and use as few plates as possible. 

I know, I know. It's fun to load seven 10s on each side. But it is NOT good for the barbell.

So, please roll out the bigger plates when you take your jumps in weight. 

When unloading the barbell, do not let the end of the barbell "fall" to the floor as you strip your weight from it.  Set it down gently or use another plate to prop the weights up first

​Chill With the Ghost Riding

Don't "Ghost Ride" The Bar. Which mainly means dropping it like it's hot and poisonous from overhead, front or behind with no control or guidance at all. ​Same goes for kettle bells!

I see this classy move more than I'd like. Hey, I know you're tired after doing a million thrusters. But controlling the path of the barbell on its way back down is part of your job as a lifter. That way it doesn't bounce like a hyper Tigger and hit your shins or anything else.

Down In Front!

During a strength session or barbell class,  avoid walking directly in front of someone taking a big lift.  It's mega distracting to the lifter.

While we're at it, avoid walking next to, or directly behind, someone taking a big lift. They're focused on their lift - not watching out for you. Safety, safety, my people!

​In CrossFit WODs with weights, the etiquette is a bit different. Since we often have to quickly transition between different movements, things can move fast. In this case, just be a good neighbor and look out for one another. 

Celebrate The Gainz

High five or fist bump your fellow athletes when they hit a PR or just pull off a gorgeous lift.  Clap. Cheer and shout. Ring the PR Bell! We're getting stronger together and are blessed to be doing it with the best bunch of people in town. Well, in the world, really. We're pretty awesome!

​
Bonus education! Watch this hilarious Ode to 10s...!