Most athletes assume that elite powerlifters always have the best coaches. They train harder, recover better, or simply have superior genetics. But one of the biggest differences between every day athletes and elite lifters is something much simpler.
Before we dive into what these Athletes do exactly to get the best coaching, you have to understand that..
..Coaching Is a Complicated System.
Training, nutrition, recovery, sleep, and stress management all play a role in your performance.
Your coach designs your program based on the information and facts they have about you and how you respond to the programs you are given. If the information is incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate, the training plan will be misaligned with your real-life situation.
Elite athletes understand this.
..Your Coach Can’t Read your Mind.
Even the best coach in the world cannot read your mind. They can’t predict when you slept poorly. They can’t guess that you’re stressed from work. They can’t magically sense that you tweaked your shoulder three days ago.
If they don’t know, they cannot adjust. So what happens coaches are missing information?
✓ They might push you too hard on days you can't.
✓ Small pains turn into bigger issues.
✓ Stress builds up without their program adjusting.
✓ RPE becomes inaccurate.
✓ Progress slows or disappears.
✓ Injury risk increases.
Setbacks don’t come from “one bad rep.” They usually come from weeks of missing information.
..Hiding Details is never a good Idea!
Many athletes underestimate how much harm this creates. They think that by hiding details like:
- Not telling your coach about joint pain
- Hiding irritations or small tweaks
- Entering lower RPEs just to lift heavier
- Avoiding difficult conversations
- Pretending to feel “fine” when you’re exhausted
They can keep training heavy but this creates inaccurate data. Inaccurate data leads to poor coaching decisions. Poor decisions limit progress or cause setbacks.
Elite athletes don’t hide these things. They know transparency creates better progress, even if they have to pull back for a short period when needed.
Elite athletes developed this easy skill that boosts coaching efficiency to insane levels!
Elite Athletes don’t guess. They don’t hide information. They don’t wait for problems to get worse. They share the right details at the right time, which allows their coach to make better, faster, more accurate decisions.
They communicate with their coaches exceptionally well!
Elite athletes aren’t just telling their coach how the workout felt. They’re sharing deeper insights when needed, such as:
- Sleep quality
- Stress levels
- Workload outside training
- Early signs of pain
- Energy levels
- Confidence with certain movements
- Changes in schedule
- Emotional or mental fatigue
This isn’t “over-sharing.”
This is data and the more data the coach has, the better the training decisions become.
This is why elite athletes get faster adjustments, fewer injuries, and more consistent progress.
Life Gets in the Way and That’s Normal.
Elite athletes have the same problems as you do:
- Bad sleep
- Stressful weeks
- Unexpected travel
- Personal life issues
- Busy schedules
- Sickness
- Fatigue
The difference?
They tell their coach immediately.
If you know you’re heading into a chaotic week, your coach can adjust:
- Volume
- Intensity
- Frequency
- Exercise selection
- Recovery expectations
Training isn’t about perfection, it’s about intelligent adaptation.
And the best part?
You don’t need elite genetics to become a great Powerlifter. You need better communication.
Here’s are some tips on how to communicate like an Elite Athlete:
Here’s a simple things you can implement today:
1. Share your weekly schedule changes.
If life gets busy, tell your coach before it becomes a problem.
2. Be honest with RPE.
RPE only works when you report it accurately.
3. Communicate pain or discomfort immediately.
Small issues are easier to adjust than large ones.
4. Track sleep, stress, and energy.
These impact training more than most athletes realize.
5. Ask questions instead of guessing.
Guessing leads to mistakes. Questions lead to progress.
6. Treat your coach like a partner, they are not your Babysitter.
You’re working toward the same goal.
Elite athletes don’t get better results just because they train harder.
They succeed because they communicate more effectively.
They treat communication as part of the training plan. You can do the same.
When in Doubt: Communicate
You should never feel uncertain about contacting your coach.
Elite athletes ask questions all the time, not because they’re unsure, but because they want to understand the why behind their training.
If you’re wondering about:
- Technique
- Programming choices
- RPE accuracy
- Pain vs. normal discomfort
- How a movement should feel
- Whether you need a deload
- How to manage stress or fatigue
- Training adjustments for a busy week
Ask.
You and your coach are a team.
Teams perform better when they share information openly.
If you want the best Coaching you can get, fewer setbacks, and better progress, the solution is simple:
Talk to your coach, Share the details, Work as a team. If you want to become an elite athlete, start acting like one!
Are you "Stuck" in training? Your genetics are fine, you just need a better Program!