In the movie The Waterboy, Adam Sandler plays a socially inept, stuttering, simpleton 31-year-old involved with the University of Louisiana's football program.

His sole job?

Schlepping water to keep the athletes hydrated in practice and games.

Lots of "water boys" among athletic performance trainers as well.

I call them smoothie boy strength coaches.

Here's what I mean:

A few years back, a strength coach I respect - who now trains a West Coast NHL team - told me about this guy who marketed himself as an NHL strength coach.

And yes, he did work for an NHL club back then. But he didn't train any of their players.

Apparently, his job involved working a blender in the team kitchen, ​making post-workout smoothies for the players.

Yet, he'd go around telling people he was this NHL team's strength coach.

What a joke.

Moral of the story?

Anytime you hear a trainer claim how they have coached this or that NHL player (or any other college player or pro leaguer), take it with a grain of salt.

Especially when you've never heard of the guy before, and a quick Google search can't produce any proof to back up his claims.

Chances are, he may be embellishing his success.

Or flat out lying.

Lots of fitness trainers and strength coaches grandstand on the Internet.

Very easy for someone to spin a convincing story of how they turned Patrick Kane or Auston Matthews into an NHL'er. When in reality, they worked with this future All-Star for one season while he was 9 years of age, the size of a fire hydrant, still a decade removed from his first pro game.

Even worse - the professionally inept, simpleton, self-professed "NHL strength coach" whipping out fruity smoothies back in the kitchen, not even permitted in the weight room while "his athletes" lift.

But who could know that? And would anyone call this guy out if they found out?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

So do your due diligence upfront. Don't fall for anyone's ​ridiculous posturing online.

Not saying every coach is full of shit, though.

But how do you prove ​they're the real deal?

How do you know you've found a legit strength coach to learn from?

​And not some silly smoothie boy full of delicious hyperbole?

A few telltale signs:

1. His athletes achieve success in their sport (winning individual and team awards, college scholarships, signing pro contracts, etc.)

2. Athletes give the coach props for their improved physical performance (a.k.a. testimonials)

3. Athletes ​make quantifiable progress under said coach's training system (easily ​verifiable via training videos on YouTube/Instagram/the coach's website)

How many of those will a smoothie boy strength coach have?

None.

But you'll find all of them (and then some) here:

http://www.NextLevelHockeyTraining.com

Yunus Barisik