It's hard to make a judgement on an individual based off only one observation of them.

My thoughts personally are that BOSU squats and lunges are a waste of time for most people. The only time, I think unstable surface training is useful, is when I am rehabilitating a sprained ankle, and some knee sprains. I also use it for some shoulder stability training. Mainly I find it only useful for rehab purposes. For general fitness training, there are much better modalities to use.

I have mixed feelings about crossfit in general. Mainly because I feel like some gyms, just throw out these huge workouts. Without regard to an individuals fitness level, experience level, injury history etc. I think crossfit can be great, if coach takes the time to work with the individual and modify workouts accordingly, and build in progressions. Anybody can create a workout that will kick your butt, and make you tired. But it takes knowledge, experience and skill to create an individualized plan for an individual based off their need. Just like everyone here has a paleo diet that varies, there is no one size fits all. The same is with fitness programs.

I would continue to observe him some more and see how much individualized training this guy does, and how much variation there is between types of programs. If you see him doing the same thing over and over with every client. Also if he is routinely throwing out these huge WOD's, without respect to teaching the movements, ensuring they are done correctly, or modifying for individual circumstances; then I would consider finding someone else.

I have been involved with Crossfit since late 07. Despite what coach Glassman says about quality taking care of itself, I have seen many instances of the contrary. Level I certification is a very easy test, a person with any level of basic physical conditioning and ability to take a test can get the certification. During my travels I have visited some 30 different Crossfit facilities, from globo gyms to top end facilities... There are some absolutely HORRIFIC coaches, who have no business even teaching someone to squat around at the moment. Quality control is a major issue, probably the biggest issue with Crossfit going mainstream.

IF YOU ARE STARTING CROSSFIT, PLEASE GO TO AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT CROSSFIT FACILITIES!!! If the facility does not have an on ramp class, just run far away.

As to the original question, if a guy is giving long duration metcon work to "newbs" then yes he is a blithering idiot. Then again that probably should have been given away if someone is doing "1 mile runs" as a warmup.

It is possible that since has has a cert, and the affiliate is not off of the ground yet, he is trying to incorporate some CrossFit into a routine that also uses more traditional gym exercises. Maybe once the pure CrossFit gym is established, it will run parallel to traditional CrossFit. When he was working with his private client, maybe that's what the client was interested in doing? A bosu may not be the greatest training tool, but people are at different fitness levels, and its a training too nonetheless. My guess is that if they wanted a CrossFit trainer, they probably would have gone to a CrossFit gym. I would also consider Stu's suggestion and observe him more.

Well here is my thoughts. I am a level 1 coach and I have a friend who owns an affiliate and I am friendly with a few other Affiliates throughout Louisiana and Houston. I have meet a few people who say they Crossfit and do similar to what you are describing. Now with that being said. This trainer is not legally allowed to train people for money using the Crossfit name or anything that would violate the agreement we sign to become Level 1s. Also some trainers get caught up with making long chipper WODs the majority of the programming because the clientele like to see this because they think they are working harder the longer the workout is. "Spartan" style WODs. Clients don't want to pay for a workout that only last 4 minutes because they don't think it is enough. These people haven't done "Fran". Unfortunately not all Level 1 coaches are good programmers. All this being said I am not judging what this person is doing, for it may just be what the clients want. It could be any of these things I have said. After the affiliate is opened give it a try. If the programming doesn't change then maybe try a different box. Good luck and if you give it a try, welcome to the community!!!

Putting a WOD on the board for people to try is not coaching. That's called marketing. It's also an irresponsible and reckless way to introduce people ANY program, especially something that has the potential for injury without a watchful and experienced eye. You've witnessed him train - that is his skill set, which seems mediocre at best.

Coaches are always learning, trying, testing, compiling data and implementing what works. Not throwing workouts together to see if their clients like them, and going with the ones they do. What you're seeing is testing to see if CF (or whatever they call it) is going to be a viable source of revenue based on popularity...how many people tried what was on the board, how many would like to do that x times a week....etc. That's how Globo works, and why it would be a rarity if they were to make it happen the right way. With solid coaching first, teaching the basic movements and standards, expanding the client's skill sets along with true improvements in strength, conditioning, etc....and looking at intensity/capacity last.

BTW - CF or any other 'coaching-based' training works VERY WELL in a private setting. That's how it started. If he's training privately in a style vastly different but wants to coach a group in a CF class, be very wary. CF is VERY HARD to coach in a group setting for obvious reasons. He's surely capable of doing it, but it's not something you jump into without experience, training (coaches need to be coached too), mentor/shadow training, and then working with 1 then 2, then basic movements....then classes with people that have different abilities, experience, strengths/weaknesses, need for adaptation... See how the class environment can be challenging to coach? It's no joke...this isn't a 'cardio-pump', 'spin', or 'zumba' class.

I would echo a lot of what has already been said.

1) It's hard to judge the trainer based on one observation. However, there are definitely programming biases that exist. If most of the workouts that you have seen on the board are longer time domains, then maybe it wouldn't fit with your overall program, and if you wanted to augment your training with some Crossfit, this new affiliate may not be the best location to do so.

2) If you are going to sign up at a Crossfit facility, DEFINITELY compare multiple locations, and ask questions about how the trainers and/or programs can be customized to the individual. The idea that workouts should be scaled in intensity, and not kind, is definitely up for debate to say the least. Your goals should be the most important part of your decision making process. A great coach and facility won't matter if they don't help you meet your goals.

Good luck with your search.

When a coach doesn't have the realization the warm-up should model after the exercises being performed in the workout/WOD, that's a bad sign. I have a level 1 and, as a previous poster stated, it's easy to get and does not qualify someone as being a good or competent coach. Also, there's absolutely zero quality control from affiliate to affiliate so you may get someone who has a legit background, has taken some anatomy and physiology classes, and stays current on all the training techniques and modalities OR you might get someone who was delivering pizzas last month. With that being said, realize being a PT at a globo gym does not qualify someone but also keep an open mind. You'd need to do further investigation. Oh... And any weighted exercise on a BOSU ball is a bad sign lol.