CrossFit: Let’s Do Better

CrossFit, we can do a lot better.

Recently I went through the process of preparing for and passing the Certified CrossFit Trainer (CCFT) test. Also referred to as the Level 3 test by many. I went through this process for many reasons. The main one being to make me a better coach, which I believe it did.

It is a very thorough test. While I do not agree with all of the content, there is still a ton of great information that can be beneficial to coaches and athletes.

Now the last year has taught me many things. One is that the fitness industry has a lot of work to do to be more inclusive and diverse.

This includes CrossFit.

From CrossFit's website:

"The Certified CrossFit Trainer (CCFT) credential is for an experienced individual who wants to demonstrate a higher level of CrossFit coaching knowledge and ability. The purpose of the CCFT is to ensure that an individual possesses the knowledge and competency required to train clients safely and effectively.

To attain this credential individuals must meet all eligibility requirements, pass the CCFT examination, and commit to a long-term standard of professional accountability"

This is the overview of the CCFT. As such, I believe CrossFit should also be held to very high standards of professional accountability.

In my studying of the content on the suggested reading materials list (I read or listened to everything except for the CrossFit Kids and Masters Training Guides), I noticed some items that I believe to be harmful. This includes misogyny and stigmatization of mental illness.

These are images of two articles included in the study material.

• "Benchmark Workouts" - CrossFit Journal Issue 13 - September 2003 - Greg Glassman. Page 5

• "Fooling around with Fran" - CrossFit Journal Issue 31 - March 2005 - Greg Glassman. Page 4

These are screenshots of the articles themselves. They are not edited as I have seen done by some web pages.

Now it's possible that you aren't sure of why I may have some objections to that content.

• That logic for naming those workouts does not read well to me. That logic for naming storms doesn't read well either. It doesn't say to me "I see you, and I see you as an equal". It has a strong tone of misogyny.

• Anorexia is an eating disorder and mental illness. What is the purpose of associating an eating disorder with scaling a workout? To me as a coach (and human), that sort of association is disrespectful and stigmatizes both individuals who scale workouts and individuals who have eating disorders.

This content and the CCFT test itself brought up a lot of questions for me. So I asked CrossFit's new DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Council about that content specifically. I also inquired about the complete lack of diversity (in race and body types) represented in videos shown on the CCFT test. Some responses included:

• "I will ensure these concerns are expressed internally."

• "We agree that these articles are not inclusive and do not reflect the views of the new leadership team. From our team to our content, we are focused on ensuring that CrossFit is inclusive going forward."

• "As you might imagine, it will take some time to review the wealth of content we currently have and make updates or total replacements where needed. And, yet, we are committed to this work and will build addressing dated materials into our project plans. "

I think it's great that CrossFit now has a DEI team. And I can imagine they are busy and have multiple projects on the go.

However, at this time the next group of coaches preparing to take the CCFT exam are currently studying this material. That problematic content has been out since 2010. And I know I am not the first person to bring up concerns.

I have seen new "Girls" workouts be added instead of addressing the logic of those names being used in the first place. Amongst the wealth of content in the reference material, there is not one article about a coach’s role in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion, aside from a statement that the "aim of CrossFit has been to forge a broad, general, and inclusive fitness".

I hope they do have some great project plans. I want CrossFit to be successful because I believe in the community and the results people have achieved through CrossFit. I am very grateful for CrossFit and the opportunities I have within it. With my gratefulness comes criticism because I want it to succeed and for it to succeed I believe the fitness industry needs to be better.

Actions lead to progress. For progress to happen we need to address the future but also the past. If we continue to study problematic and harmful information we will continue to contribute towards the same problems.