How Justin Medeiros’s Coach Adam Neiffer and CrossFit Fort Vancouver Prepare For Quarterfinals
Adam Neiffer is two-time CrossFit Games Champion, Justin Medeiros’s, coach.
- He also owns and runs CrossFit Fort Vancouver, a thriving affiliate that registered 244 athletes for the 2024 Open. Of those athletes, 78 qualified for Quarterfinals (8th most in the world).
These facts could create a burdensome balancing act for the second stage of the 2024 Games season, but Neiffer sees it as an opportunity to strengthen his already solid community in Vancouver, WA.
There is no question that year four of Quarterfinals is different from the previous three. With so many athletes expected to participate, it could be challenging for affiliates trying to make it a fulfilling experience for their members.
It seems as if CrossFit HQ had the foresight to plan for this.
Adrian Bozman has expressed that affiliates will be able to program the workouts in a class setting, making them more accessible to larger groups.
This is exactly what Neiffer plans to do.
With 12 CrossFit classes per day, it would be difficult to create more time outside of class for Quarterfinals. The workouts get released at 12:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, April 17th. So the anxious athletes who want to get one done that day can take advantage of the ample Open Gym time that’s offered.
- “In classes, athletes that are either not registered or that did not qualify for Quarterfinals will still get to do the workouts, with the typical guidance from their coaches on how to best scale/modify,” Neiffer tells Morning Chalk Up.
Not every affiliate has such a large number of athletes to prepare for, but it may be relative to gym size and scope. Making a plan with your team will help set you up for success.
- “For us, building a plan for how to prepare for and run Quarterfinals for a larger group starts with the question: ‘What best serves our community?’ Starting with this question helps guide all of the decisions we make in our affiliate,” Neiffer explains.
To answer that question, Neiffer knows he must consider the needs of many different athletes.
He recognizes that most of the people participating are not avid competitors in the sport. They are the daily CrossFitters striving to maximize their health and well-being.
For the Open, everyone at CrossFit Fort Vancouver is encouraged to register.
For Quarterfinals, he leaves it up to the individuals to decide how to participate. He expects more than half of the qualifiers to register and get what he calls the full experience:
- “The nervous anticipation, hours of over-strategizing about rep schemes and pacing, having workouts judged and videoed, laying awake at night contemplating a redo, and ultimately really enjoying and reaping the rewards of the experience that only comes through competition in our sport.”
- “Some of these athletes are stoked to sign up for Quarterfinals, while others prefer to simply work out and aren’t interested in having their workouts judged or submitting any scores. Either way, they’ll find lots of support and encouragement from the coaches and community in our gym,” Neiffer says.
Every gym caters to athletes with a variety of fitness levels, but Neiffer has a range unlike many. He coaches one of the best in the history of the sport in Medeiros, Semifinals athletes like Trista Smith and Adam (Mac) McAdams, to athletes that barely squeaked in.
They are all in the top 25%.
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And they all get treated with the same level of respect.
- “Whether that’s Justin Medeiros or “10 a.m. Terry,” our job as coaches is to make our athletes’ lives better outside the gym as a result of the time and effort we invest together inside it.”
- “Of course there’s a huge variety of goals and abilities between athletes in our gyms, but our role as CrossFit coaches is relational. We get to meet people wherever they’re at and help them improve.”
- “Whether athletes are registered for Quarterfinals and have already visualized every rep in advance or don’t even know the workout until they walk in and see it on the whiteboard, I feel pretty confident that everyone will get some great exercise!” Neiffer says.
After only a few minutes in his presence, it is apparent that Neiffer loves what he does, and is beloved by his community.
He humbly gives credit to his team.
- “Our coaches are awesome. They’re some of the most talented, generous, and caring people in the world,” Neiffer boasts.
Advice from a pro: Neiffer gives some last-minute tips for affiliate owners running Quarterfinals for a larger group than in years past.
- “Quarterfinals are an opportunity for us as affiliate owners and coaches to show up for our athletes and serve them in unique ways that don’t come along every day. This includes all of our athletes: the 25% that qualified for Quarterfinals and the 75% that didn’t, the athletes that are registered and submitting scores, and the athletes that aren’t.”
- “My advice for owners and coaches is to put in the effort, invest in your athletes, and make the most of the opportunity in front of us! Oh yeah and also… be sure that coaches, athletes, and judges all fully read and understand the workout descriptions before starting the workouts and strive to uphold the standards to the best of their abilities. Good luck and have fun out there everyone!”
Featured image: @justinmedeiros34 / Instagram