Gym Ettiquite
by Grace Lin
Etiquette – the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.
Throughout our lives, we have been taught proper etiquette in different situations by our parents, friends, relatives, teachers, etc. Most of these rules are unwritten. For example, you stand up and sing during the national anthem as a sign of respect for our country. The rules for proper etiquette differ in different environments or groups. And the gym is no exception to etiquette.
At CFCH, we have House Rules that we expect all members to respect and follow. On top of those House Rules, there are also general unwritten rules that help make everyone’s experience more enjoyable at any gym.
Respect the “zone” – This mainly refers to Olympic lifting. Did you catch any weightlifting events during the Olympics? Well, for those who didn’t get a chance to watch, there is a platform on the stage where all the lifts are performed. Every time a lifter came on the platform and set up to the bar, the crowd went silent. This is common practice for any weightlifting competition, local or Olympics. It’s a sign of respect. A similar protocol is called for at the gym. If someone is setting up for a big lift, please do not walk in front of their line of vision or make a loud/distracting noise. Please be courteous and wait 5-10 seconds for them to perform their lift before crossing their path.
Spatial awareness – As our classes grow, space becomes a bit less for each member in class. Please be aware of your surroundings, especially in large classes! This is crucial for safety purposes. Please make sure you give athletes enough space during class so each person can move freely. We move a lot of heavy weight, and sometimes a movement doesn’t go our way. You don’t want to be in the line of action if a kettlebell, dumbbell, or barbell is accidentally dropped.
When in doubt, leave the chalk – I don’t know about you guys, but I love chalk. It’s a great tool to keep the hands dry for high volume bar work. But, please, leave the chalk where it belongs – in the bucket. Don’t take chunks out on the floor to use during the workout. I have seen these chunks lying around after class, or even worse, CRUSHED! What a waste! Believe it or not, chalk ain’t cheap. So please, leave the chalk in the buckets, and, for the love of God, leave the buckets inside the gym.
Clean up correctly – This is an addition to House Rule #11 (clean up when EVERYONE is finished with the workout). Cleaning up includes wiping up sweat, blood, tears, spit, etc. off ALL of the equipment. Let’s be sanitary, guys. Cleaning up also includes putting the equipment back WHERE IT BELONGS. This means organizing it! So many times I have seen abmats just thrown on the shelves, towels laying on the floor, 25# plates in the 15# plate pile, dumbbells piled incorrectly, and kettlebells lazily placed near the shelf instead of underneath. It takes an extra 2 seconds to properly put the equipment back and doing so helps the other classes find equipment more fluidly. And if you happen to find a rogue piece of equipment out that isn’t yours, please pick it up. Think of it as your good deed of the day ☺
Give your undivided attention – It doesn’t matter if you’ve been doing CrossFit for 1 week or 5 years, please pay attention when the coach is giving instruction. It’s disrespectful to have your own private conversation or do your own thing when the coach is trying to inform the class about the workout. Maybe you know how to perform the movement already, but not everyone else does. So, please be patient and quiet to let everyone absorb the coaches’ knowledge. And who knows, you might learn something new that may have gone missed.
Class takes priority – Extra skill or strength work is great! But remember, class takes priority. So if the class needs space or equipment, always yield to the class’s needs.