Crossfit Certification Vs The Rest

Would appreciate others opinions on this....

I've been incorporating some crossfit sessions into my own training recently and am enjoying them, especially the Games workouts. It's something I'm looking at starting up in my gym as a class a few times a week, as well as possibly looking at trying to qualify for the games down the line (sh*ts & giggles mostly)
Now, I'd have no intention of affiliating as a Crossfit gym, as these would just be a small part of what we already do, but was wondering if it would be worth my while doing the Level 1 certification course (if nothing else just to get a deeper insight into the methodologies and threory behind the whole concept), vs doing some others such as olympic lifting etc etc. and just running the sessions as is.

I'm probably already leaning towards the 2nd option, but I suppose the argument of doing the course is that the classes can be advertised as Crossfit, which is a well recognised and known brand!

Opinions?

Hanley

Deleted User wrote: »

Would appreciate others opinions on this....

I've been incorporating some crossfit sessions into my own training recently and am enjoying them, especially the Games workouts. It's something I'm looking at starting up in my gym as a class a few times a week, as well as possibly looking at trying to qualify for the games down the line (sh*ts & giggles mostly)
Now, I'd have no intention of affiliating as a Crossfit gym, as these would just be a small part of what we already do, but was wondering if it would be worth my while doing the Level 1 certification course (if nothing else just to get a deeper insight into the methodologies and threory behind the whole concept), vs doing some others such as olympic lifting etc etc. and just running the sessions as is.

I'm probably already leaning towards the 2nd option, but I suppose the argument of doing the course is that the classes can be advertised as Crossfit, which is a well recognised and known brand!

Opinions?

You absolutely cannot advertise CF classes unless you're an affiliate. Which is totally different and more expensive than just doing their trainer course.

I think the L1 cert is actually worth doing, I wouldn't have said that a few years ago. But you need to go into it skeptical of everytihng they say, and with a decent base of knowledge already to get the most out of it imo.

Here's my write up on the one I attended last year: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056422771

Hanley

Hanley wrote: »

You absolutely cannot advertise CF classes unless you're an affiliate. Which is totally different and more expensive than just doing their trainer course.

I think the L1 cert is actually worth doing, I wouldn't have said that a few years ago. But you need to go into it skeptical of everytihng they say, and with a decent base of knowledge already to get the most out of it imo.

Here's my write up on the one I attended last year: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056422771

Thanks very much - I couldn't find that post, but remember it from a while back.

That rules out advertising the classes as such. X-Fit anybody

What's the affiliation these days - is it in and around the 3k mark?

Zamboni

If you do the Level 1, you would be able to advertise the classes as
metabollic conditioning classes being run by a Crossfit Level 1 qualfied coach...

Zamboni

Zamboni wrote: »

If you do the Level 1, you would be able to advertise the classes as
metabollic conditioning classes being run by a Crossfit Level 1 qualfied coach...

Yeah, that's how it looks alright - I'm not sure I'm willing to pay the cost of the course just for that though.

Hanley

Zamboni wrote: »

If you do the Level 1, you would be able to advertise the classes as
metabollic conditioning classes being run by a Crossfit Level 1 qualfied coach...

Nope.

You can only use it for CV/information purposes, not as a marketing tool in any way. People have tried doing that and got referred to CF's legal department.

Zamboni

Hanley wrote: »

Nope.

You can only use it for CV/information purposes, not as a marketing tool in any way. People have tried doing that and got referred to CF's legal department.

I'd say there is a very fine line between information purposes and marketing though.

If the OP put up a poster or webpage marketing a thai/metaboloic conditioning/whatever fitness class in Midleton and had a 'Meet your instructor' section listing
Thai Kickboxing Cert
Yoga Cert
Crossfit Level 1 Cert
Pole dancing Cert
First Aid

I'd love to see a CFHQ versus random kickboxer from Cork case though

Hanley

Zamboni wrote: »

I'd say there is a very fine line between information purposes and marketing though.

If the OP put up a poster or webpage marketing a thai/metaboloic conditioning/whatever fitness class in Midleton and had a 'Meet your instructor' section listing
Thai Kickboxing Cert
Yoga Cert
Crossfit Level 1 Cert
Pole dancing Cert
First Aid

I'd love to see a CFHQ versus random kickboxer from Cork case though

From the CF web page...

"You can call yourself a CrossFit trainer.
You may list your CrossFit qualification on a business card, resume, or website bio/qualifications type of page... and nothing more.
You cannot use the CrossFit name, slogans, art work, photos, or content from the CrossFit Journal in any other business or promotional way unless you affiliate.
Only affiliation gives you the legal right to use the CrossFit name for business and/or promotional purposes.

"

Zamboni

Zamboni wrote: »

I'd love to see a CFHQ versus random kickboxer from Cork case though

Now that's one way to upset a Thai Boxer.

I am of course joking.

The more I think and read about it, the more I find it harder to justify the cost of it and how doing the course and affiliation will benefit the business.
I'm going to carry on and do some more oly lifting and other courses to improve my own technique/coaching skills and keep going with our metcon sessions.

Zamboni

And if you listen carefully, it sounds just like a Golf.

Barry.Oglesby

Brendan I reckon there's not that many courses out there that will give you bang for your buck like that Level 1 Crossfit cert. That's from a pure economic standpoint. I don't have one or want one but if I wanted to get something that was worth money that would be the qualification since
1) it might be interesting
2) people know about it

All that other stuff like TRX and so on is worth €€€ but not worth a ****e educationally. Then you have stuff like Olympic lifting which is interesting and will improve you but that doesn't matter a damn for the people who you're trying to make your customers.

My 2c!

Barry.Oglesby

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

Brendan I reckon there's not that many courses out there that will give you bang for your buck like that Level 1 Crossfit cert. That's from a pure economic standpoint. I don't have one or want one but if I wanted to get something that was worth money that would be the qualification since
1) it might be interesting
2) people know about it

All that other stuff like TRX and so on is worth €€€ but not worth a ****e educationally. Then you have stuff like Olympic lifting which is interesting and will improve you but that doesn't matter a damn for the people who you're trying to make your customers.

My 2c!

That's quite a good point actually Barry - just looking around, there's an awful lot of courses, but quite a few of those or your typical turn up, pay your money and get your cert type courses and really, besides being a qualified XYZ instructor, you get feck all from them.

As you know, I'm already running these type of sessions from the gym, but like to add to the repetoire the whole time.

Goddamnit, now I've to think some more about it.

KevinH

Hanley wrote: »

Nope.

You can only use it for CV/information purposes, not as a marketing tool in any way. People have tried doing that and got referred to CF's legal department.

And what happened then?
I don't know but I suspect nothing.

You could probably get around it anyway by advertising "crossfit style" workouts or something like that.

Edwardius

KevinH wrote: »

And what happened then?
I don't know but I suspect nothing.

correct, there's a gym running unafilliated in south africa for at least four years and nothing has been done about it. Unless you count red-cheeked bluster. Still though, if you want to use the name you might as well pay for it.

Mellor

Deleted User wrote: »

The more I think and read about it, the more I find it harder to justify the cost of it and how doing the course and affiliation will benefit the business.

It's probably a benefit for you. And the service you offer, which in turn has and worth to your business.
But it terms of marketing. I don't think it offers any difference in the calss you offer.
You can't say crossfit class with out being an affiliate, and anything you can say (x-ft, metconfit etc) you can say without the cert.

Zamboni wrote: »

If the OP put up a poster or webpage marketing a thai/metaboloic conditioning/whatever fitness class in Midleton and had a 'Meet your instructor' section listing
Thai Kickboxing Cert
Yoga Cert
Crossfit Level 1 Cert
Pole dancing Cert
First Aid

I'd assume that's allowed. Similar to other professional organisations.

Black Sheep

The level 1 cert is obviously a 'must have' if you're actually opening an affiliate.

It's worth bearing in mind that you'd have to re-certify every 5 years now in order to say you are a certified CrossFit trainer ($500 fee at the moment).

Affiliates also pay HQ a $3000 affiliate fee on an annual basis.

If you're not planning on opening an affiliate, then a level 1 cert wouldn't appear to make much sense (given that the qualification will lapse in 5 years anyway) unless you believe you are getting $1000 worth of significantly valuable coaching and information over the course of the two days.

Having done the L1 cert plus 2 other speciality certs before I got off the kool-aid my personal opinion is that you'd be better holding onto your money and spending it elsewhere.