Is powerlifting a team sport?
Powerlifting is a great sport for many reasons. You learn discipline. Face down fears. You improve yourself physically and mentally.
When you step on the platform at a competition, its just you up there. The referees are all watching you, the spotters are all watching you, the crowd is all watching you (or instagramming until their friend is on the platform) – no one else. In training, too, no one can lift the weights for you. You either get the work done or you don’t. There are no team mates to cover for you. If you don’t train, consistently, you aren’t going to improve.
In these ways, powerlifting is very much an individual endeavour.
On the flip side, many powerlifters train under a coach or coaches who guide their training, handle them on meet day and are a crucial part of training. Many also train with a group of powerlifters who support and push each other – a team, a crew. These pillars of support can make or break a training cycle – if you don’t feel like coming in and training, but you know that you’re letting down your team and your coach if you don’t you damn well better show up. Likewise, if you’re having a shitty day in the gym, these are the guys and gals that will pick you up and dust you off.
You can train on your own and get real strong, it’s been done many times before and it will continue to work for certain people/personality types. Most lifters however, in my opinion, get a huge boost from the right environment and having the right people around them. Who those people are, and what that environment is might be different for you versus me, but if you put the effort into finding your team, your training home – you won’t regret it.
Looking for a team? Come check us out at Black Flag – 14/44 Carrington Road in Castle Hill. The first week is on us, you’ve got nothing to lose.
#byliftersforlifters