Coach Mike Ricci

Coaching style: Democratic

I prefer a collaborative relationship, which establishes trust and respect between the coach and athlete. A trusting partnership ensures the athlete will follow your recommendations and reach their goals.

Often there are workouts the athlete loves to do, and some variation of those workouts need to stay in the overall training program as they bolster the athlete’s happiness and even confidence. However, we are working together to make new gains and achieve their goals. So it’s necessary that I develop the progression in an athlete’s training and take them out of their comfort zone.

Methodology

Each athlete is unique and each training program must be designed to fit their personal situation. In a 1-to-1 coaching partnership, this is critical to the athlete’s success.

My coaching process starts with an FMS, or Functional Movement Screen, which sets the stage for how we will proceed. This evaluation helps me identify any deficiencies and from there we can work to make improvements before I start the athlete on training at a higher volume or intensity, or attempting heavy loads in the weight room.

As a coach, I do not rely on any single methodology for my athletes—I have a variety of strategies I can pull from my toolbox to help an athlete achieve their goals.

Philosophy

What makes an athlete tick is at the top of the list of “most important things to understand” as a coach. By taking the time to get to know my athletes, on many levels, I can better understand who they are and design training programs to set them up to be successful. Knowing what motivates them, what inspires them, what makes them mad, and what makes them happy can be used to keep an athlete on the journey toward their goals.

What makes an athlete a good fit for your philosophy/methodology?

Honest communication is essential in the partnerships I establish with athletes. If we are able to do that, I know it will be a good fit. We need to be able to trust each other in the conversations, planning, and feedback that we engage in throughout the process. It’s essential that the athlete be honest about their effort, workouts, and communication so I can respond with coaching recommendations accordingly. This is especially important with remote clients. Ability is never an issue for me—an honest commitment to the process ensures I can help an athlete reach their goals.