In CrossFit affiliates worldwide, there’s a goldmine of untapped data generated every day. Think about the times recorded on benchmark workouts, maximum lifts, and whether members scaled or did workouts Rx’d. Often, this information is proudly written on a whiteboard, only to be erased the next day. Occasionally, a member may log their performance into an app, but even if that happens, all too often the data goes unused.
But what if you could harness this data to significantly improve your members’ performance and overall experience? By diving into the numbers, affiliate owners and coaches can uncover critical insights that would otherwise remain hidden. These insights can help refine programming, spot trends, and prevent injuries.
Here are 10 practical tips to help you transform this daily data into a powerful tool to empower your members and boost your affiliate’s success.
Tip 1: Organize the Data – Make It Work for You
Data is only helpful if it’s organized. Start by setting up a centralized system — a spreadsheet, database, or member management platform — where you can track all your members’ data over time. Without this step, valuable information gets lost in the shuffle, and you miss key trends that could enhance your coaching.
Pro tip: Start small. You don’t need an overly complex system to begin with. Even simple spreadsheets can help you track key metrics, such as lift records or times on benchmark workouts. Over time, as you gather more data, you can expand your system to track more variables and offer more insights.
Tip 2: Ask the Right Questions – Get Specific
When working with data, it’s essential to ask the right questions. Broad questions like, “Are my members getting fitter?” won’t give you the specific insights you need. Instead, ask targeted questions that will lead to actionable answers.
For instance, what aspect of “fitter” (an increase in work capacity over time) is interesting? Does that mean increasing max lifts, improving endurance, or achieving more consistent Rx’d performances in workouts? In CrossFit, we want improvement in all domains.
Here are some example questions:
- Has strength improved over the past year for all members, as measured by key lifts like the deadlift and back squat?
- Are both male and female members improving in both the 500-meter and 5K rows?
- Are members progressing in different variations of handstand push-ups — strict versus kipping?
Asking the right questions allows you to pinpoint areas for improvement and make targeted changes to your programming.
Tip 3: Use Visual Tools – Simplify the Data
Numbers on a spreadsheet can be daunting, but visuals like graphs and charts make patterns easy to see. Visualizing data allows coaches and members to quickly understand where they excel and where there’s room for improvement.
Why visuals matter: A line graph showing a member’s max deadlift over 12 months, for example, can quickly reveal whether they are consistently improving or have hit a plateau. Visuals help coaches identify trends and engage members by showing them tangible evidence of their progress, making the data more impactful for both parties.
Example: Deadlift analysis over 12-month period
Athlete 1 (Steady Progression): This athlete has consistently improved their 1RM deadlift throughout the year, with a gradual increase of 15 kg from the start to the end of the year. Their progress is steady, with no significant drops or plateaus, indicating a well-managed and consistent training regimen.
Athlete 2 (Plateau in the Second Half): Athlete 2 experienced a steady increase in strength during the first half of the year, reaching a peak around mid-year. However, their performance plateaued in the second half, showing no further improvement. This could suggest either a need for a change in training stimulus or external factors, such as injury or inconsistency, that may have limited progress.
Athlete 3 (Initial Progress, Then Decline): Athlete 3 showed some early improvement, increasing their 1RM by 5 kg in the first half of the year. However, their performance began to decline in the second half, suggesting overtraining, injury, or reduced training focus leading to a significant drop in strength by the end of the year.
Tip 4: Compare Data – Spot Patterns and Identify Opportunities
A key reason for using data is to compare performance — whether a member’s progress over time or how they stack up against others. By comparing data, coaches can spot trends and identify where members are thriving or where they may need extra support.
For example, by reviewing a member’s performance in benchmark workouts like Fran or Morrison over several months or years, you can determine if they are steadily improving or if they are stuck at the same performance level. Additionally, comparing group performance (e.g., by gender, age, or attendance frequency) can help coaches tailor programming and coaching more effectively for different segments of the gym.
Example: Analysis of 500-meter versus 2,000-meter rowing performance over a six-month period
The six-month 500-meter Percent Increase vs. 2,000-meter Percent Increase graph highlights a noticeable trend: although many athletes saw improvements in their 500-meter and 2,000-meter row times, many made minimal or no progress in their 2000-meter performance. The data suggests a potential training imbalance where athletes focused more on developing sprint capabilities, perhaps at the expense of building endurance. The lack of significant improvement in the 2,000-meter might reflect neglect of the longer-distance, endurance-based training necessary to see gains in both distances. It may be worthwhile to analyze this data further concerning gender, age group, frequency of attendance, etc., to see if any other patterns may give further insights.
Tip 5: Tailor Training – Individualize and Optimize
Every member has different strengths and weaknesses, and data allows you to create more personalized training plans. By tracking each member’s performance across various workouts and lifts, coaches can adjust programs and/or training to suit individual needs, helping members break through plateaus and achieve their goals.
Individualization: For instance, a member might excel in strength but struggle in endurance. By tracking their data, you can adjust their focus in a training session to be more on cardiovascular development, ensuring they get a more balanced approach to fitness. Personalization drives results and member satisfaction. This can be challenging if you only work with them in group classes since everyone is doing the same workout. However, you may notice that the person who struggles with endurance workouts either cherry picks workouts to fit their strengths or just seems to go through the motions when it’s an endurance test. If this is the case, you might consider sharing their data on a graph and discussing it. Your athlete might be perfectly fine with the data and have no interest in increasing their endurance. That’s OK, too. But showing them you are tracking their progress shows an immense amount of care and interest, which in and of itself might prompt them to change their approach.
Tip 6: Spot Red Flags – Prevent Injuries Before They Happen
Data isn’t just about tracking improvements — it’s also a powerful tool for injury prevention. If a member’s numbers suddenly decline or remain stagnant for an extended period, it could be a sign they’re overtraining, feel fatigued, need more skill development, or are even at risk of injury.
Actionable insights: Spotting these trends early can allow coaches to intervene before an injury occurs. By adjusting the member’s workload or recommending additional rest, you can help them avoid setbacks, keeping them healthy and progressing.
Tip 7: Track Long-Term Progress – Stay Ahead of the Curve
Fitness is a long-term game, and long-term tracking of data helps you see the bigger picture. By regularly analyzing data over months and even years, you can assess a member’s overall progress, identify areas of concern, and set more realistic, sustainable goals.
Avoiding plateaus: Without long-term tracking, it’s easy to lose sight of minor improvements or miss signs of stagnation. By monitoring long-term trends, coaches can ensure their members are always moving forward.
Tip 8: Engage Members with Data Transparency – Keep Motivation High
Sharing progress with members provides them with a sense of accomplishment and accountability. When members see their improvements in black and white, they become more invested in their progress, increasing motivation and community engagement.
Building engagement: Don’t only encourage members to log their scores after each workout or lift, but share with them what their data says. Showing them why their data is essential will make it more likely they will actually log it. Also, this sense of transparency fosters a stronger sense of community, as members can share and celebrate their achievements together.
Tip 9: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help – Leverage External Expertise
If you’re not familiar with data analysis, don’t hesitate to seek help. Some of your members may work with data in their daily lives and could be eager to assist in setting up a simple system. Additionally, local schools or colleges may have sports science or statistics programs looking for “real-world” data to analyze.
Leveraging external resources: These partnerships provide valuable insights and strengthen the connection between your affiliate and the local community.
Tip 10: Act on the Data – Make Informed Changes
Once you’ve gathered and analyzed the data, the real work begins: making informed decisions. Based on your insights, you might tweak your programming, refine your coaching approach, or even adjust specific training sessions for individual members.
After implementing these changes, revisit the data regularly to assess whether your interventions are working. This analysis, adjustment, and reassessment cycle ensures continuous improvement for both your members and your affiliate.
Get Started Today
Are you ready to harness the power of data? Don’t let the scores you collect every day go to waste. Start by organizing your members’ data, asking the right questions, and using the insights to drive performance.
Take action today: Pick one lift or movement, gather your members’ data, and start tracking it over the next three months. You’ll be amazed at the valuable insights that emerge, and your members will thank you for it.
about the author
Farran Mackay is a Certified CrossFit Trainer (CF-L3) with over 30 years of experience as a sports instructor. With a master’s in education and communication and over 10 years of experience developing teachers, Mackay brings a unique perspective to coaching development. She is passionate about supporting coaches to become more effective and efficient in helping their members enhance their health and longevity through CrossFit. Additionally, she is dedicated to creating a sustainable CrossFit ecosystem.
Unlock the Power of Data to Elevate Your Members' Experience