Gym Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules of a Gym
1. Respect the Barbell:
This is probably one of the things that can make the hair on the back of most gym owners necks stick up the most. You wouldn’t drop a baby to the ground would you? So if there are no bumper plates on the barbell, be gentle as you set it back to the ground. Especially when you are unloading weight, don’t just pull a plate off and let the bar slam to the ground. Please and thank you.
2. Read #1 Again:
Though Brad Pitt and Ed Norton are not gym members, this is actually like Fight Club…please follow Rule #1 and don’t drop the barbell…EVER!
3. Respect the Chalk Bucket:
When using Chalk, keep it on your hands and in the bucket. The best time to add chalk is when your hands are still dry, adding chalk to wet hands will not dry your hands. It just makes a chalky paste like concoction that doesn’t do anything for you. You are also not Lebron James…so until he drop-in’s for a WOD, don’t clap your hands and raise them over your head before that Snatch PR attempt.
4. Respect the Order of Things:
If you take it out and use it, take a quick second when you’re done, and just put it back where you go it from, preferably clean. I know Mom probably use to tell you to pick up your Legos or Ninja Turtles, this is basically the same thing, don’t make us have to be your Mom.
5. Respect the Cleanliness of Everything:
If you are a heavy sweater and you leave a sweat pond on the floor, cover a bench, coat a foam roller or drip sweat all over a med ball, please clean it up before you put it away. No one likes to grab a med ball unknowingly covered in sweat or lay down in someone else’s puddle.
6. Respect the Equipment:
See #1, but also, don’t drag, drop, slam or throw the equipment in the gym. If you can pick it up and carry it, then do that. And when you arrive where you are going to be using said equipment, place it on the ground, don’t drop it. This also means no “Ghost Riding” the equipment. Picture someone doing a KB Swing and just letting it go flying on their last rep or finishing a Jerk and just walking away from the bar to fall from 7 feet up in the air. Control the KB or barbell back to the ground. (This does not apply to Slam Balls…they actually are meant to be thrown, dropped and slammed, so go nuts!)
7. Respect the Big Plates:
Don’t be the guy that keeps adding 10’s to their bar. A rule I was taught many years ago was, “If you can put a bigger plate on the bar, do it. Two 10’s + One 5 = 25…same holds true for having two 2.5#’s or two 5#’s on one side of the bar. If you can add the weights up on one side and it equals a bigger plate, put it on. Not only does it free up more weights for everyone else, it looks a lot cooler having a couple 45# plates on there than a million 10# plates. Also don’t “Dirty Load” the bar. As in, if you have a 10# plate on each side, don’t slide on a 45# over each. Take a second and swap them out. Keep it classy! If you still don’t get it go look at the picture at the top…
8. Respect the Olympic Weightlifter:
When someone is getting set-up for a lift (Olympic Weightlifting especially) there are certain things that should never happen, not only for safety reasons, but for common courtesy. Always try to go around, and take a wide path. In a perfect world no one would ever miss a lift, but shit happens, and someone could lose a Snatch behind himself or herself. And if you’re there…well, just don’t be there. Also, don’t walk directly in front of someone who is about to attempt a lift. Give them some space. Concentration is a key component to being successful, so respect that and stand still and wait for them to complete their lift. Treat it like a NO WALK sign flashing on the street. Be sure to look both ways!
9. Respect the Training Space:
Get the lay of the land before you start socializing. Take a second and figure out who is doing what. Soon you’ll know who is working out, who is done, and who is early. If someone is in the middle of his or her workout, try your best to not distract them. It can be tough to mentally get back into a work out once your focus is broken. If people have to dodge around you, you’re probably the one that is in the way. If you’re wondering where a good spot to foam roller or stretch would be just ask the coach, they can point you in the right direction.
10. HAVE Fun:
Yup, have FUN! Pretty simple, life is way to short.
A couple final quickies:
Be Early, if not you’re late
Write down your workouts
Check your ego at the door
Have a good attitude
Introduce yourself to newcomers
Don’t cheat your reps
Don’t sacrifice form for more weight
If you have an injury let us know
PS: We now offer our Programming Online for $20/month on TrainHeroic. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Geoffrey Steinbacher is a former Strength & Conditioning Coach within the THOR3 (Tactical Human Optimization Rapid Rehabilitation & Reconditioning) Program at Ft. Bragg. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. As well as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) from the National Athletic Trainers Association. On top of being an Advanced Sports Performance Coach (USAW-L2) and Head Club Coach with USA-Weightlifting. He also is a Catalyst Athletics Certified Weightlifting Coach (CACWC-L1) and a CrossFit Level 1 (CF-L1) Trainer. Furthermore, Geoff has a BS in Athletic Training from SUNY Cortland and a MS in Exercise Science from Syracuse University.