CrossFit L2 exam-day guide
CrossFit L2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the same ID you used to register, with a name matching your registration exactly. If your name differs (nickname, married name), confirm with the provider in advance how to handle it.
Your registration confirmation and course details
Have the confirmation email or booking reference accessible on your phone and, to be safe, printed. It carries the venue address, start time, and any pre-course instructions. Confirm with the provider whether any pre-course modules or reading must be completed before day one.
Training clothes for multiple practical sessions
The L2 is a hands-on course with repeated movement practice, coaching drills, and workouts across the weekend. Pack enough changes for two or more sessions per day and layers for a cold or warm gym.
Training shoes plus a spare pair
You will lift, squat, and condition. Bring shoes suited to lifting and a second pair so wet or chalky shoes do not carry into the next session.
Water bottle and electrolytes
Long days with physical work. Bring a large bottle and refill between blocks; dehydration shows up as sloppy technique and poor coaching cues.
Food and snacks for the full day
Do not assume nearby food or a long enough lunch break. Pack easy protein, carbs, and fruit. Confirm with the provider whether lunch is provided.
Notebook and pen
You will take notes on cueing, class structure, and feedback. A small notebook that fits in a pocket beats a phone you cannot touch mid-session.
Tape, wrist wraps, and any personal supports you normally use
Bring what you train with. Sharing tape and wraps across a large group is unreliable. Label your gear.
A plan for the written test component
The course includes knowledge assessment; confirm with the provider the format, timing, and whether it is open- or closed-book, and whether resits are available, rather than assuming.
Travel and accommodation confirmed
Book lodging close to the venue and arrive the night before. Late arrivals and long commutes cost you focus on the practical days. Confirm the exact venue entrance and parking with the provider.
Injury or medical disclosure prepared
If you have an injury or condition that limits movement, tell the instructor at the start. Confirm with the provider what documentation, if any, they require.
Arrival buffer
Plan to arrive well before the stated start time to check in, change, and settle. Exact check-in cutoffs vary; confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read your registration confirmation and any pre-course material. Confirm venue, start time, parking, and what to bring with the provider if anything is unclear. Check the weather and plan clothing layers. Sleep on a normal schedule rather than cramming.
Do light technique review only: practice the air squat, front squat, overhead squat, press, push press, jerk, deadlift, clean, and snatch positions in front of a mirror or film yourself. Focus on positions and cueing language, not max loads. Stop if anything hurts.
Pack your bag: clothes per session, shoes, tape, notebook, water, food, ID, confirmation. Lay it out so the morning is automatic. Charge your phone and any watch.
Confirm travel and lodging. Eat normal, familiar meals; avoid trying new supplements or a heavy late training session. Do not train to soreness. Set two alarms and go to bed early.
Skim your notes on coaching mechanics: setup, execution, and correction for each lift, plus how to scale and how to run a group through a warm-up. Keep it light; the course teaches this.
Eat a real breakfast with protein and carbs, hydrate, and arrive early with ID and confirmation in hand. Change into training clothes before check-in if changing space is limited.
Introduce yourself to the instructor and mention any injury or limitation up front. Ask where to leave bags and water.
Listen for the specific standard being assessed before you move. When asked to demonstrate, show the position slowly and clearly, then perform at a controlled pace. When asked to coach, give one clear cue at a time and check the athlete's response.
Take notes after each block, not during demonstrations. Ask clarifying questions during Q&A rather than guessing at a standard. Use breaks to eat, drink, and reset.
Review what was assessed, note anything you were unsure about, and ask the instructor the next morning. Sleep and eat rather than over-training at night.
Rules to check
Bring and carry your photo ID as instructed. Name mismatches between ID and registration can delay or block check-in; confirm with the provider how to resolve them before you travel.
Arrive on time and attend every session. The course is cumulative and assessment is continuous across the days. Confirm with the provider the policy on lateness, absence, and making up missed blocks.
Follow the instructor's safety directions and the gym's rules at all times. Load barbells only as directed, use collars where required, and never add weight to demonstrate strength during a technique assessment.
Disclose injuries or medical conditions to the instructor at the start of the course, and modify movements as directed. Do not push through pain to look capable.
Keep phones silent and out of the training area unless the instructor permits use. Filming or photographing other participants requires their consent and the instructor's approval.
Treat feedback as coaching, not judgment. Ask questions during designated Q&A and approach the instructor privately about scoring or a disputed standard rather than debating it mid-session.
Do not coach other participants in ways that contradict the instructor's cues during assessed blocks. Practice the cueing you were taught.
Confirm with the provider the assessment criteria, pass requirements, resit policy, and how results are reported. Do not rely on secondhand claims about scoring from other candidates.