Ask a Coach: How Do You Handle People Who Intentionally Miscount Reps or Do Not Do the Full Range of Motion?

I get asked this question often at the Level 2 Certificate Courses I teach, and these situations can be challenging to address. I want to emphasize there is no one-size-fits-all answer that works well for every athlete. How you approach it will depend on the individual, but it’s important to be respectful and approach the situation with the athlete’s best interest in mind. With that said, here are my thoughts.

Range of Motion

Regarding range of motion, I address this through the general education we provide to our members. We frequently talk about standards and the importance of a full range of motion. It seems simple, but education on this concept may help solve some of the problems we see from even occurring. 

For instance, full range of motion will allow us to assess our performance improvements more accurately. In a workout like Fran, I need to be sure I’m getting my chin over the bar on every pull-up, and I’ve got to squat below parallel and fully lock out the bar on each thruster. When I repeat the workout and uphold that same standard, I do the same amount of work. If I go faster than before, this tells me my power went up, and I’m getting more fit. In comparison, if every time I do Fran, I sometimes squat above parallel, and sometimes don’t get my chin over the bar, I do not have a solid number or metric to compare.

Another important point we like to emphasize is that maintaining a full range of motion is for functionality. We want to be able to bend over and pick things up. We want to be able to get in a low chair and stand up. We want to be able to maintain the ability to put our arms over our heads. This maintains a quality of life throughout our later years — arguably more important than the competitive aspect. For the functionality and health of our joints, we want full range of motion for all movements.

I maintain a rigid standard on full range of motion unless someone has an anatomical restriction that makes a movement painful or a severe lack of capacity makes achieving the range of motion too difficult at that time. We will do the best we can, look for a pain-free range of motion, and strive for minor incremental improvements over a long period. I hope educating athletes on the importance of range of motion sets a culture in our gym where all athletes continuously strive to achieve it. 

If we have an athlete who is not meeting the range of motion because they’re trying to go fast, there are a few ways I address this. First, we cue them while they continue to exercise. If we are unsuccessful after multiple attempts, I will stop them and slowly get them to the range of motion I want while ensuring they feel the correct position. I might place a box or medicine ball behind them for a depth target or have them do a step from the progression to reinforce good positioning. After several successful reps have been achieved, I can coach them to start moving faster. In reality, the relentless but reasonable coaching of upholding standards needs to be consistent across a long period of time to a point where everyone simply understands the expectation. 

Miscounting Reps

In terms of the “cheating reps,” it’s important to note that some people do this accidentally while others think they are being sneaky and no one knows. However, it’s been my experience that others in the class start to figure out when other members are doing something incorrectly. It becomes obvious. Something I’ve done when it becomes apparent somebody is miscounting is catch them in the act. When they finish one movement and start to move to the next, I may say something like, “Hey, that was only 17 reps, let’s get 4 more …” and just not make a big deal out of the interaction. I don’t make a habit of counting reps for my athletes, but for those we feel might be miscounting regularly, I’ll keep track occasionally. I think catching them off guard in this manner is a minimally confrontational way to approach it initially. 

I’ve also had instances where I pull an athlete aside and have a quiet conversation where I say something along the lines of, “I’ve noticed on several workouts that it seems like you’re missing some reps,” then go on to ask if they are simply trying to scale, if they need tips to help them keep track of things, or if they are nervous about finishing last. I won’t have this discussion in front of the class or call them a cheater. There’s a whole host of reasons why people might intentionally short-change their reps.  It could be to protect their ego, to look more competitive, or maybe they’re just afraid to be the last one done and have people clapping for them. A friendly conversation could go a long way toward discovering why it’s happening and getting them to stop.

I’ve also had instances where I just let it go. It’s the old axiom of, “They’re only hurting themselves.” There have been times when I know the score they give me is not accurate, and it’s also not worth the fight or the struggle with them/ 

These are just a couple of scenarios  I’ve found helpful, but my approach will largely depend on the individual. 

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About the Author

Gene Williams (CF-L3) is based in Palm Springs, California. He is the owner and head coach of Foundry CrossFit, which he started in his garage in 2009 with no prior experience in exercise or training. Over the past 15 years, Williams has gained extensive knowledge and enjoys sharing it with others. In addition to leading classes and private sessions at his affiliate, he’s a member of the CrossFit Seminar Staff, teaching Level 1 and 2 Certificate Courses.