Spotting 101

[gymtime]

Since I lift alone, I rely on some of the regulars at my gym to spot me on the heavier, last set kinda stuff. I look for guys who know what they're doing, for there's more to it than most people think.

GT's Ten Commandments of Spotting

1. Let the lifter lift and only help when absolutely necessary.

2. Always ask if they need a bump.

3. Encourage vocally.

4. Sometimes simply placing your hands on the bar or touching the lifter's elbows/wrists is mentally sufficient enough for him or her to complete the lift.

5. Do not try to keep a rythm unless asked.

6. Do not help on the weight at the first sign of slowdown.

7. Listen/pay attention to the lifter.

8. Think less about helping the lifter raise the bar or db, but more about making sure they don't lower.

9. The lifter's fatigue and agony on those last couple reps equate to growth. Do not rob them of that by providing unnecessary help. (See #4)

10. At the end of the set, always help re-rack the bar. On other lifts, take the bar/db from the lifter if asked.

 

[DrBones]

Amen

 

[Thaibox]

Since I alone,
I look for guys
there's more to it than most people think.

GT's Ten Commandments

1. help when absolutely necessary.

3. Encourage vocally.

4. Sometimes simply placing your hands on or touching is sufficient enough for him or her to complete.

5. keep a rythm unless asked.

6. Do not slowdown.

7. pay the lifter.

Fucking pervert

 

[Tiervexx]

GT's Ten Commandments of Spotting

1. Let the lifter lift and only help when absolutely necessary.

2. Always ask if they need a bump.

3. Encourage vocally.

4. Sometimes simply placing your hands on the bar or touching the lifter's elbows/wrists is mentally sufficient enough for him or her to complete the lift.

5. Do not try to keep a rythm unless asked.

6. Do not help on the weight at the first sign of slowdown.

7. Listen/pay attention to the lifter.

8. Think less about helping the lifter raise the bar or db, but more about making sure they don't lower.

9. The lifter's fatigue and agony on those last couple reps equate to growth. Do not rob them of that by providing unnecessary help. (See #4)

10. At the end of the set, always help re-rack the bar. On other lifts, take the bar/db from the lifter if asked.

these should be engraved into the walls of every gym.

i fucking hate it when dumb shits assume that any struggling means that you need help, and i can't help but notice that the once that assume that are always horribly weak

 

[b fold the truth]

I would always tell them not to touch the bar till I yelled "HELP"...then take it.

B True

 

[gymtime]

Re: Re: Spotting 101

Fucking pervert

How dare you poop on my Ten Commandments thread!!

 

[needsize]

DONT TOUCH THE BLOODY BAR UNLESS I CALL FOR IT.....
It's amazing how much you can stress that and yet the dumb bastard grabs the bar at the first sign of exertion

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

11. no farting or dripping sweat in my eyes

 

[mrzap]

12. When noticing lifter is at muscular failure feel free to place your nuts on his forehead

 

[spatts]

Here's one from my last comp...

Do not jerk the bar away from a failing lifter. The muscles are compromised, under great stress, and often in a static position. The sudden jerking motion of having the bar pulled up and back (ie, bench press) can leave the muscles traumatized, and even injure supporting tissue. There's no rush...take it back to where it's supposed to be in a controlled manner. If you can't move the weight in a controlled manner, you shouldn't be spotting.

 

[bignate73]

one rule i always follow with someone regardless....

keep the bar moving. even if its at a snails pace. the amount of trauma you cause to the cross bridges under failure at isometric failure or even eccentric is pretty great. not that i care really, but the main reason i keep the bar moving is psychological. someone sees the bar stop, their head is gone. same with if someone hits the pins on the way up.

i dont care what someone tells me. i keep my hands ready at all times. most of the knuckle heads i have to spot dont have the reserve to yell for help, cant tell where their threshold is or wont recover from the bar stopping.

ive always been told that how i spot was perfect. (humble bowing of head) i just give barely enough to keep the rep going. and i can keep them going for forced reps if thats what we are working for. but usually...thats it! hehe.

 

[rjl296]

I would always tell them not to touch the bar till I yelled "HELP"...then take it.

i say this verbatim to everyone that spots - most people do tag team benches its sick...