USA Masters Coaching Certification for Olympic Weightlifting

Join us at Westerly Barbell for the launch of the USA Masters (30+) Coaching Certification, led by Coach Michael Cohen.
Michael Cohen is a native of Savannah, Georgia, having made a name for himself in the sport of Olympic weightlifting. Michael has won many National, Junior National, Senior, and Master Championships. Michael is a 3 time Olympian - one of the few in any sport to go as an athlete and a coach.
He made the 1980 Olympic team and went on to be a member of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams as the head coach. ​In 1988, Michael founded Team Savannah and produced numerous National, World, Pan American and Olympic athletes. Michael is also currently the chairman of the USA Masters Weightlifting Federation, which is weightlifting for athletes over the age of 30.

Michael Cohen is the ONLY American coach to have made an Olympic Team as an athlete (1980) AND 2 times as Head Coach (2000, 2004). Michael has produced athletes to medal at all of the following events: Junior Worlds, Senior Worlds, Youth Worlds, Master Worlds, Pan-Am Championships, Pan-Am Games, Junior and Youth Pan American championships, and The Olympics.
Michael has produced 43 Senior National Champions, 82 Jr National Champions, 41 Youth National Champions, 31 Jr World Team Members, 9 Senior World Team members, 4 Youth World Team members, and 3 Olympians!

This is the first coaching certification specifically designed to educate coaches on working with Masters athletes (30+) in the Olympic lifts. As the Masters population continues to grow in both CrossFit and weightlifting communities, understanding how to effectively coach this demographic is essential.

This in-person course will cover:

• Technical instruction of the snatch and clean & jerk with Masters-specific considerations
• Common mobility limitations and movement compensations
• Age-related physiological changes and how they impact training
• Programming strategies for strength, power, and longevity
• Recovery management and workload adjustments
• Corrective exercises and accessory movement selection
• Long-term athlete development for Masters competitors

This course is interactive and hands-on, combining lecture-based education with practical coaching application on the floor.

At the conclusion of the course, participants will complete a certification assessment to demonstrate understanding of the material and coaching application. Upon successful completion, participants will receive official certification through USA Masters.

Whether you coach competitive Masters lifters, CrossFit athletes over 30, or adults looking to learn Olympic weightlifting safely and effectively, this course will give you practical tools you can immediately apply in your gym.

We look forward to building stronger, smarter coaching for the Masters community.

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Host or Publisher USA Masters Weightlifting