University of Birmingham Sport
Top 5 Unwritten Gym Rules
One issue that often gets swept under the carpet is general gym etiquette, or the unwritten rules that
you should generally follow. Every gym has those members that seem to have no sense of gym etiquette. Hopefully I am preaching to the converted, read on to make sure you are not committing any
of the deadly gym sins.
Not putting your weights away
This ranks number one of the most annoying and inconsiderate
habits of some gym members. If you are big and strong enough
to lift the weight then you are big and strong enough to put it
back, not only put it back, but back where it belongs. It keeps
your gym tidy and provides a safe environment for everyone.
Not bringing a Towel
Gyms can be great places, but even the biggest gym lovers will
have to admit they can also be pretty disgusting too. All that sweat
left over equipment is not appealing for the next user and it can
also make it a friendly breeding ground for many nasty germs and
bugs. Simple bring a towel with you to either put on the equipment
or to wipe it down after you have finished.
Hogging the Equipment
We all know a member who likes to stash his own private collection of
dumbbells next to his bench, and then even worse is unwilling to let anyone
else share with them. The equipment is not yours and is there for everyone,
you can only use one set of dumbbells at a time so why take more than this
to your bench. This also stands for those that spend over an hour on the
treadmill at walking pace whilst there is a queue of people waiting to use it.
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Not showing courtesy to other members
Respecting other members is also an overlooked gym rule, disturbing somebody mid-set to push
past them to collect or put equipment away or walking in front of their mirror whilst they are performing their exercise shows a complete lack of respect. We are all in a rush to get things done,
but unless they are doing 100 repetition sets and they are on their first one then you have the time
to wait.
Asking the spotter to lift the weight
This quite often happens in the weights room, a guy
(more often than not) will ask for a spot (usually on the
bench press). The purpose of the spotter is not to help
you lift the weight, but to be there in case you get into
any difficulty towards the end of the set. Too many people
attempt weights or repetitions that they are not capable
of and the spotter ends up having to lift a large portion
of the weight for them, which to put it quite simply is not
good for either the lifter or the spotter. A fingertip on the
bar during the last repetition is fine, but the spotter should
never be straining to lift the weight for you.
I am sure most of you already follow all of these unwritten rules, but if you are guilty of one or
more of these offences then hopefully this article has set you right.
Simon Donovan
University of Birmingham SPORT
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