Yeah, there is part of me that goes "you know, why not stay in a nice double or triple range for safety's sake". But then on the flip side, kids are going to test one rep maxes no matter what you do, so I would rather them do it in safe and structured manner, rather than just sneaking around, and going for them.
Good point but this is the thing for me, most of these kids who do ego lifting don’t have any guidance so assume what they are doing is safe, or at least aren’t thinking about the hazards.
However, considering these kids that are being trained by Joe they have the luxury of an experienced mentor helping them, he should be warning them the dangers of lifting beyond their capabilities.
You seem like a knowledgeable dude. Do you think doing a 500lb box squat is significantly more beneficial towards athletic performance than doing a few controlled ATG squats with 315lbs? Bear in mind we aren’t talking about advanced lifters but inexperienced teens.
I actually get the idea that Coach encourages the heavy lifting more because he enjoys the whole “macho” image that lifting big amounts of weight has rather than seeing any real advantage in it.