I don’t like to judge people, but i will. I will judge them on their squat.

The squat is touted as the most fundamental movement on earth and about as functional as it gets. So why is it that people A) don’t know how to do it, and B) don’t place the emphasis that it deserves.

Now, don’t worry i am judging everyone when i watch them squat. I can tell how advanced an athlete is by their squat depth and mechanics as well as their potential. I can judge a coaches understanding of the squat by watching them teach it, and i can judge the knowledge the coach by watching how his clients or athletes squat. If you peak into a CF gym and see people making an effort to fix their squat with both hands on training from the coach and feedback from others in a class then you know that gym is legit. I like it when responsibility is placed in the hands of others for their progress.
Conversely i can tell a poor coach by the unwillingness to work on fundamentals on a daily basis till they are perfect. The consistently poor movement patterns will not only decrease athletic potential but also lead to more serious injuries.
Its worth it to work the squat. If you are a good coach, you should be able to convince your clients that its worth it as well. Everything else gets better as the squat improves.

To answer the questions above, A) In my opinion, ignorance. I am not saying this to be mean as i know you don’t mean to be ignorant and you sometimes feel that you might get bored with the squat, but take it as encouragement to gain a better understanding of it. Show people that it is important to you and work diligently to make yours perfect. Like i said, everything else will get better as your squat mechanics improve. If you read alot about powerlifting you will know that they place a huge focus on technique as any slight deviation from perfect will affect the weight you can lift. I would say that it is up to you which type of squat you want to use but i believe for a Crossfitter the upright torso, deep squat is best for the development of an athlete. Thats just my opinion and i don’t want to argue that. I have my reasons, if you want to know them come to a seminar.

B)In Crossfit, there is so much that we have to practice and get better at that it is maddening to think about spending 6-8 weeks focused on something as simple as the squat. Don’t be stupid! Its time well spent. Do it and you will see the results immediately.