I feel i have a unique insight on this for a couple reasons.  First, i have done it before and saw marginal success (see 2008 CF games).  Second, i program and coach a multitude of other athletes and have seen the benefits of them getting out of their heads. Third, i have had many coaches in many different sports and know the importance of having someone to keep you accountable.

#1

Motivation:  Self programming can mean that only you know what you are supposed to do.  You know you need to do certain stuff but usually procrastinate long enough to not be able to put the proper amount of effort into it.  If you miss something or don’t put up the weights you originally planned to, you can simply modify the program or come up with an excuse for yourself.

#2

Accountability:  This piggybacks motivation pretty well in the sense that when you write your own program, you are less likely to do everything you expected of yourself.  For example if i were to program a set of back squats at 82% for 5×4 and only got 3 sets then i felt tired, i would likely move on.  For some the internal motivation may carry them through, but almost guaranteed they will not prescribe that again.

#3

No outside perspective:  Alot of the time we get really wrapped up in what we need to improve on and can’t really see the big picture.  This is a HUGE problem if you expect to improve yourself through programming.  I think when we analyze our own performance, we tend to see what we want, however when someone else looks at you and your performance, you can’t really mask anything.

#4

Outside Expectations:  When someone else believes in you and knows you can accomplish something, you will try like hell to make it happen!  I had an interesting conversation with Ursula Garza at a recent Coach B cert in Dallas.  She is a senior International USAW coach and a pretty accomplished lifter herself so i listen when she talks… Well most of the time she talks.  She mentioned to me that she thinks i could snatch 120 and clean and jerk 150 within a year.  I looked at her and made sure she knew what my current lifts were (105 unofficial, 130) and that she knew i still had a broken collar bone.  She confirmed these little bits of knowledge and in doing so lit a fire under my ass!

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