Pat Sherwood explains the difference between being a judge and being a coach.

While knocking out some squats in a recent workout in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I noticed I was being filmed on someone’s phone, so I made damn sure to bury my hip in the bottom of each rep.

The next day I got a Facebook notification that I had been tagged in a video. It had been quite some time since I’d seen myself squat, and what I saw was rather disappointing: three back squats captured from a perfect side angle, and not a single one of them was below parallel. I’m extremely thankful for that video because I learned I need to reset the depth meter in my head.

Hypothetically, if you had witnessed these squats and then walked over to me and said, “Hey, those squats are a no-rep,” I likely would have told you that your mother is a no-rep. I’m not in the CrossFit Games, Regionals, Open or any other competition. I’m in a gym lifting weights. I don’t need a judge; I need a coach. Judges say “No rep,” and coaches don’t. This is a huge pet peeve of mine.

If you are a trainer running a class, be a coach. If you see someone not moving with proper technique or range of motion, go coach that athlete. Make him or her better. But don’t just hand out a no-rep. Get involved in finding a solution. Be a coach.