Recruit Phase
When a member decides to join, he or she becomes a full member to the facility. However, the journey towards elite fitness has only just begun. Albany CrossFit is a performance-based training program – we build athletes. Each level of fitness (Recruit, Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Elite, Animal, and Mutant) has a set of benchmarks to achieve for advancement. The first level – RECRUIT – is achieved when the athlete commits to membership.
Although you are now a member, this “recruit probation” period can be the most difficult on new members. It is at the RECRUIT level that the new member will begin to apply the movements they learning to the Workouts Of the Day – the WOD’s are performed at a much higher intensity (although scaled for each athlete) than their previous workouts. In addition to the added intensity, which for some will be a welcomed change to the much slower, boring workouts at “Globo-gym”, the new recruit member will be expected to train at the facility regularly in order to develop the skills necessary to advance up into the Basic Level of fitness.
The recruit probation period should last at least one month, but no more than two. In fact, it is required to stay at the recruit level for 30 days in order to ease into the WOD’s and get a feel for the training and the team. However, once the recruits 30 day probation is up we encourage our new member to complete all their Basic requirements for advancement. Recruit probation after the first 30 days should be as short as possible. Working towards the Basic Level will not only continue the journey to elite athleticism it is also a clear set of performance goals for the new member to strive for.
Again, the first 30 days for the new member will be the most difficult. As coaches we expect to see all of our members on a regular basis, but this is especially true for athletes new to the team. The recruit probation period is the time for the new member to show his or her dedication to fitness and improving physical performance. The recruit probationary period is when the coaches and other members get to see how dedicated an athlete truly is. We encourage regular visits to the facility – to do the WOD, work on other skills, or even just hang out with the rest of the team.
This is also the time when we will get to know the recruit better. As a Recruit member, the time you have to spend with the coaches and other athletes is not set. In fact, the more we see you the better. If an athlete has made it to the point of recruit probation it is because the coaches have already seen in him or her the ability to become a positive member of the team and as such, we WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU! After you join don’t be a stranger – come in and see us, train with us, regularly.
Be Advised – Although Albany CrossFit has no contracts and operates on a month-to-month membership schedule, we DO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REVOKE ANY MEMBERSHIP FROM ANY ATHLETE AT ANY LEVEL OF FITNESS. This is another reason for the recruit probationary period. If an athlete becomes a member, we expect you to train with us. If a new member goes on vacation, has a month of overtime at work, or some other normal reason to be out of town or too busy to train – we understand and eagerly await our teammates return. However, if a new member (or any member for that matter) never comes in to train although still has the opportunity to do so, we will revoke their membership. Simply put, if you’re not using the membership then you don’t need it or want it.
