<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The spread of the COVID-19 virus significantly impacted the fitness industry with government restrictions including mandated closures. CrossFit, a major player in the global fitness industry, faced a new industry landscape and significant internal division while coping with the crisis. This study contributes to the literature on CrossFit coaches, who are important cultural figures in fitness services. This study investigated CrossFit coaches’ perceptions of COVID-19 restrictions through semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample in Georgia and Florida, U.S. The coaches displayed CrossFit exceptionalism, believing that fitness facilities should have been treated differently, and CrossFit gyms in particular were distinctive enough to merit special consideration. Some coaches approved of the governmental response, but others disapproved, and many expressed gratitude that they were in states with short restriction periods. Their demonstration of uncertainty, however, somewhat conflicted with their exceptionalism. These perceptions may influence coaches’ behaviors and impact CrossFit participants, which makes the topic worthy of additional study.</p>
</abstract>

The spread of the COVID-19 virus significantly impacted the fitness industry with government restrictions including mandated closures. CrossFit, a major player in the global fitness industry, faced a new industry landscape and significant internal division while coping with the crisis. This study contributes to the literature on CrossFit coaches, who are important cultural figures in fitness services. This study investigated CrossFit coaches’ perceptions of COVID-19 restrictions through semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample in Georgia and Florida, U.S. The coaches displayed CrossFit exceptionalism, believing that fitness facilities should have been treated differently, and CrossFit gyms in particular were distinctive enough to merit special consideration. Some coaches approved of the governmental response, but others disapproved, and many expressed gratitude that they were in states with short restriction periods. Their demonstration of uncertainty, however, somewhat conflicted with their exceptionalism. These perceptions may influence coaches’ behaviors and impact CrossFit participants, which makes the topic worthy of additional study.

“We Should Not Have the Same Restrictions as Everybody Else:” Southeastern US CrossFit Coaches’ Perceptions of COVID-19 Restrictions

Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The spread of the COVID-19 virus significantly impacted the fitness industry with government restrictions including mandated closures. CrossFit, a major player...

“We Should Not Have the Same Restrictions as Everybody Else:” Southeastern US CrossFit Coaches’ Perceptions of COVID-19 Restrictions

Published Online: Dec 30, 2022

Page range: 77 - 93

Received: Sep 24, 2022

Accepted: Dec 16, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2022-0025

Keywords
exceptionalism, gratitude, gyms and fitness centers, uncertainty

© 2022 Anne L. DeMartini, et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

“We Should Not Have the Same Restrictions as Everybody Else:” Southeastern US CrossFit Coaches’ Perceptions of COVID-19 Restrictions

Published Online: Dec 30, 2022

Page range: 77 - 93

Received: Sep 24, 2022

Accepted: Dec 16, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2022-0025

Keywordsexceptionalism, gratitude, gyms and fitness centers, uncertainty

© 2022 Anne L. DeMartini, et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
exceptionalism, gratitude, gyms and fitness centers, uncertainty