Are you setting yourself up for disaster by not taking the following safety precautions when training athletes in the gym?
The weight room in a gym can be a very dangerous place for those more novice athletes entering the weight room for the first time. Often the ego will prevent the young athlete from asking for help and this is not the place you want to learn from experience.
It is up to the coach, trainer or gym staff to promote gym safety and teach athletes how to properly use the equipment.
The best thing to do is to book a one hour session with the gym staff and all of your athletes in the gym and have them go over all the safety issues, common mistakes and how every piece of equipment is used. It will benefit the gym staff and make their job easier in the future.
Rules of the gym should be posted at the entrance of the gym and should be clear for all to read. A photo copy of the rules should placed in the membership packet for people to read on their own.
General rules include:
Replace weights after use
Use a spotter
No food in the gym
No chewing gum
Must wear proper shoes, no sandals allowed!
Bring a towel to wipe down your own sweat
No "horse play"
Drinks must be in a plastic bottle, no cups.
Wear proper attire-no jeans as they can tear the vinyl on the benches
Floor Design:
Designing the outlay of the gym floor requires a lot of knowledge, experience and foresight. There are companies who have consultants that assist and advise new gyms when it comes to what equipment and where to place it in the gym. Restricting factors such as space and financial capital will also affect the way your gym is set-up. The floor space is extremely important as the floor will take a beating when the weights are thrown on the floor. There are several shock-absorbing rubberized materials on the market today.
Free weights will be located in a separate area to the universal machines. This area should contain the bench presses.
Another key point is to have the machines together with regards to the muscle/body parts worked. People will often do leg extensions followed by leg curls or calf raises so group these machines together.
Technique:
All athletes should complete a short course on lifting technique. A 30-60 minute session early on will prevent a lot of injuries and problems in the future. I have seen many mishaps in gyms, which nearly all were preventable.
One such occasion was when I was a teenager and working out in the gym with a friend and his brother. My friend was using the leg press machine and was pushing out the last few reps when he took his legs off the platform prior to turning in the safety handles to prevent the press from coming down on the athlete.
Well, the machine and a lot of weight came down pinning his legs. With neither of us there to spot him during that particular exercise he was trapped. Luckily we were able to push the press back up and there was no damage to his legs. My friend went on to be ranked number one in the world for tennis and he had a great career, however, this may not have happened due to this weight room mishap.
Another common mistake is when athletes are loading and unloading the bar on the bench press. Some unload one side of the bar not realising that the bar will flip up if it becomes unbalanced due to excessive weight on one side.
The key is to have the athletes perform several exercises with only the bar and no weight. Then once good technique has been established, move on to adding some lighter weights. Having the correct technique is of the utmost importance.
I recommend demonstrating and having the athlete perform the following exercises. These are often the most common exercises performed as well as where a lot of the injuries occur.
Bench press
Squat
Dumbbell flyes
Leg press
Military shoulder press
These exercises can also teach the athlete how to spot. The more advanced power lifting exercises can be taught at a later date but require the most supervision and training (eg. Power cleans)
Shoes:
Shoes need to have good traction so as you don't slip. They need to be comfortable with laces tied up. They also need to support the foot and prevent lateral movement of the foot in the shoe.
Gloves:
Are recommended to prevent blisters and skin damage. They are also beneficial for keeping the hands dry and allowing for a better grip of bars. They also provide extra support.
Clothing:
Non-restrictive
No jewellery
Clanging items
No belts or jeans
Tie shoe laces
No sandals or open-toed shoes
No scarves as they get caught in machines
Remove pens from pockets, phones and other small items
Safety tips:
Use mirrors to assist with technique
The gym should provide for proper ventilation and air conditioning
Must have access to water
Provide small towels
Check machine cables weekly to prevent un-expected breaks
Conduct weekly maintenance checks of all equipment
Keep floor mats clean
No overhead hanging signs
Cover all power outlets
Have a safe distance between equipment
Always have gym staff on duty
Good lighting in all areas of the gym
Lookout for water on the floor around the water fountain
This list could go on indefinitely. As mentioned earlier, the gym is not the place you want to learn from experience. So foresee potential problems and devote a good hour to walking around the gym and looking for these potential problems before they occur.
Some of the dangerous things that I have seen over the years include:
Athletes tripping over the machine cords that were not properly covered
Improper unloading of plates on bars for the bench press causing the bar to tip over.
Athletes slipping on the wet floor near the water fountain
Nuts on the dumbbell not being tight enough and the plates sliding off landing on the lifter
Athletes not using a spotter on the bench press and squat exercises
Athletes falling off the back of the treadmill
Cables snapping during a lift causing injury
Improper technique
Spotters not paying attention or being distracted
Dropping of weights on feet
Any one of these mishaps could bring about serious injury and end an athlete's career. Some have made these mistakes and have become world famous athletes, some have suffered career ending injuries. Don't be a casualty!
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
I keep getting adrenal surges (that's the best way ...
By: floydian1987 | 25-07-2008
I keep getting adrenal surges (that's the best way I can describe how they feel) that go to my chest and cause me to have chest pain, what could this be
and the other night I felt this shock-like pain go straight to my heart
could this be neck or back pain related?
I can't stop eating, help!
By: Tanya Mancini | 24-07-2008
I can't stop eating, help!
Shin Splints =[[
By: KWtennis4 | 23-07-2008
Hi! I am a very atletic person. Not only am i good at sports, but i lluv them. however, i have very bad shin splints that make it hard to play sports. what are shin splints an how can i prevent/cure them? thx!
Alicia
By: By his angel light | 23-07-2008
willyDo you find Alicia Simmons PRETTY?!
ALICIA
How can I clear my arteries?
By: dcha12 | 22-07-2008
how can I clear my arteries?
I want larger, thicker, fuller and longer ejaculations
By: Wise Ali | 22-07-2008
How would I be able to produce a larg(er) amounts of semen during an orgasm. Is there a food or drink or exercise that I can intake or perform that increases the amount of cum I have to give?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Sports and Fitness Articles
Bingo Café - Cutting Edge Technology With Lots of Games
By: Nick Madison | 25/07/2008
Bingo Café is considered one of the United Kingdom's leading online bingo rooms. The site uses cutting edge technology and one of the widest varieties of online bingo games to bring players a truly superb bingo experience from the comfort of their own home.
Using Leapfrog Software, Bingo Café takes players...
Motocross Apparel and MX Gear Review For Leatt and No Fear
By: Mike McGrath | 25/07/2008
If you love offroad racing then you obviously want to look stylish too! If you want to make heads turn then try out No Fear's amazing new range of stylish Offroad Apparel, Motocross Boots as well as a whole lot of other options to choose from!
Motocross Boots for men and...
Insider Tips For Used Golf Carts
By: Chris Jensen | 25/07/2008
Golf cart is definitely an essential equipment when you play a game of golf.
How To Cook Catfish
By: Daniel Eggertsen | 25/07/2008
Catfish is considered an irresistible treat for many people as it is said to be some of the best tasting fish around.
Beijing Cleans Up for the Olympics
By: Mariam Ma | 25/07/2008
Read the unique challenges that the developing city of Beijing faces as it prepares itself for the Olympic Games.
Perch Fishing Secrets - A Favorite Of Avid Anglers
By: Daniel Eggertsen | 25/07/2008
When it comes to fishing, there are many types of fish out there to keep the angler happy and busy. One favorite of avid anglers is the perch.
Making Fitness or Martial Arts Part of Your Life
By: Calasanz Martinez | 24/07/2008
Fitness and/or martial arts needs to become a steady part of your life if you want to reach your goals. Believing what ads and the media feed you on how quick this or that can give you the body of their model on TV is driving people away from exercise. People are not seeing results quick enough, so they give up. A successful exercise or martial arts regiment must be continued with patients.
How Does Pro Evolution Stack Up For All Three Game Consoles
By: Daniel Millions | 24/07/2008
Konami, within the Pro Evolution Soccer series, has a video game of association football by the name of PES 2008 short for Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 has been released for Wii, Windows, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable, as well as PlayStation 2, and the...
Sports and Fitness 
