This weekend’s CrossFit So. Cal sectionals at Drake Stadium on U.C.L.A campus were amazing. 200 men and 60 women competed in 4 events in perfect 70 degree weather. As Coach B.K and I set out for L.A Friday morning to take part in Judging this event and making sure the “Standards” were upheld we had a feeling this was going to be big. When we arrived that night for a judges meeting I realized the magnitude of this event. 3 T.V stations including TMZ. 150 volunteers, 80 Judges, 260 competitors and a 1000 spectators.
The athletes were made up of 19-57 year olds. Ex NFL linebackers, gymnast, track stars, newbees and firemen. Some with 5+ years in CrossFit some with less than 6 months. Some with tattoos and Mohawk’s others with glasses and comb overs all with one goal in mind. To do more in less time and get one step closer to becoming “The Worlds Fittest man and women” CrossFit Los Angeles hosted the venue and my wife Najla and her branding company Kayyem Marketing which includes Blue Media and Explosion Sportswear sponsored the event.
As an athlete and Gamer I work hard at getting better and practicing my skills. As a Coach I help others to work hard practice these skills and get better at everything. As a Judge I struggled with telling Athletes that they were not correctly following the standards we set before the competition started without Coaching them. I look at all movement through the eyes of a Teacher and when my students or in this case competitors deviate from that standard either by complete exhaustion or lack of knowledge my 1st instinct is to correct and change their movement to improve performance.
After 12 hours of judging on Saturday and having to tell someone no your rep does not count for the 5th time in a row on a chest to bar pull up when they only need one to move on. I decided that judging may not be my forte. I love to see people succeed and unfortunately when judging a CrossFit event my job was to tell people they are not doing it right without telling them how to fix it or if they would just move their hands out and feet in just a little they could efectively improve the problem. I had a great time, the comradery was awesome and it helped me understand what exactly we will need to be successful in our sectionals in San Diego next week but I will leave the judging to a judge not a Coach.
