A kid just missed a lift. Don't guess. Walk the read: why it broke, what to do right now, and how to load the next session.
A kid missed a lift. Read the miss, respond in-session, load the next one right. · Scott Leech Training
TECHNICAL — form broke before muscle failed (back rounds, hips shoot, misgroove).
LOAD — just too heavy. Dangerous grinders, can't brace.
FATIGUE — last week's easy weight is slow today. RPE too high for the %.
PSYCH — focus and intent missing. Not attacking the bar.
Technical: 5-point checklist. 5/5 progress, 4/5 HOLD the weight. Pure glitch + strength there = reset setup, retry.
Load: rest and retry one cue. Bar speed dead = cut the set (3 quality reps beat a grinding 4th). Or strip 10 lb, finish at max speed.
Fatigue: RPE 8 became 10 = movement is over. Drop 5% (medium day) or 10% (high-fatigue day).
Psych: reset intent before you touch load. Not a programming problem.
RELOAD: first time he misses the 15-rep goal (5,5,4). 2-3 days rest, repeat the SAME weight, no jump.
RESET: failed the reload with under 13 total reps. Back off 3 weeks of progression (adding 10 lb/wk on squat/DL = minus 30 lb). Rebuild with max bar speed on the lighter weight.
90% RECALC: stalling across multiple weeks. New training max = current 1RM × 0.90. Restart the cycle. Three steps forward, one back.
DELOAD: missing across MULTIPLE lifts in the same week = mandatory deload week (volume and intensity down), then run the 90% recalc.
One miss is data, not a crisis. Fix the cause in the room. Only touch the program when it keeps happening: reload the novice, recalc the veteran, deload when it's everywhere at once.
Scott Leech Training · Gridiron Warrior · Keep the Fire Burning · scottleechtraining.com/insiders