Episode 5 Recap: Exercise Effectiveness Framework– How to Choose the Right Movements (Not Just the Flashy Ones)
Frameworks with Carl Hardwick | CoachRx Podcast Network
We’ve all seen it—and maybe done it:
Writing programs filled with exercises that look cool, feel hard, or follow the latest trend... but lack real purpose.
In Episode 5 of Frameworks, Carl Hardwick gets straight to the point: Great coaching isn’t about being impressive. It’s about being effective.
And it starts with choosing the right movements for the right reasons.
Programming Starts with Exercise Selection
Forget sets and reps for a second. The foundation of a good program?
Exercises that teach long-lasting patterns
Movements your clients can perform safely and consistently
Intentional selections, not ego-driven guesswork
“Cool doesn’t mean effective. And variety doesn’t mean value.”
Introducing the Exercise Effectiveness Framework
Carl shares the 3-part scoring system he uses to evaluate every exercise—built to help coaches program with clarity, not guesswork.
Each movement gets rated (1–5) in these 3 areas:
1. Pattern Purity
Does the movement clearly reinforce the intended pattern?
Coaches aren’t just training muscles—they’re teaching movement literacy.
Think goblet squat vs. flashy alternatives.
A “5” here means the movement grooves proper motor patterns that will carry over for life.
2. Muscle Engagement
Does it effectively load the target muscles?
Example: Dumbbell RDLs might not load as heavily as barbells, but they keep tension on the hamstrings and glutes—consistently.
Cables and bands often score high here due to constant resistance.
3. Accessibility
Can the average client perform it well, safely, and repeatedly?
This is the most overlooked factor in most programming.
A bent-over barbell row might look legit—but if your client’s low back is shot by week 3, it’s not helping.
A prone dumbbell row or chest-supported row often scores better here for general population clients.
Total Score: Up to 15
Lower scores = higher risk of confusion, inconsistency, or injury.
High scores = movements that teach, train, and scale.
Why This Framework Matters
Carl shares how his love of programming led him to build a system that could:
Create consistency across coaching teams
Scale quality for every client, not just high performers
Remove bias and emotion from the selection process
“The exercise library should reflect principles, not preferences.”
Even Carl admits early mentors pushed back on some of his go-to movements (like the goblet squat). But over time, his scoring system gave him the clarity—and confidence—to stand by what worked.
Try This: Score Your Program
Pull up the last client program you wrote. For every exercise, ask:
Does it teach the movement pattern clearly?
Does it hit the target muscle group effectively?
Can the client perform it safely and consistently?
If not, reconsider. Because your role as a coach isn’t to show off. It’s to build movement that lasts.
🎧 Listen to Episode 5 Now
▶️ Watch on YouTube
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📖 Catch up on past episodes + blog recaps
Have questions? DM Carl on Instagram @hardwickcarl
Frameworks is part of the CoachRx Podcast Network — your hub for principled, purpose-driven coaching conversations.
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