Why we use a scaling system at Wildcard (and why it matters more than you think)

When you join Wildcard you will see our scaling system on the board for the first time. You will notice weights/movements in red, blue or green marker pen during the whiteboard brief. For some it will be familiar terriotiry but for others, it is completely new.

Our scaling is designed to give clear guidance on weights, skills, scores and times depending on if you are a beginner, intermediat or RX athlete.

(Fun fact - "RX" stands for "as prescribed". An RX athlete will perform a workout as written with no scaling of weights or movements)

And yet… we often see two common issues:

• People underestimate a workout and go RX before they’re ready.
• People stay in the Green scale too long because they assume it means “easy.”

I’ve been there myself. Even after nearly five years of CrossFit, I’ve misjudged RX workouts plenty of times. So why does this confusion happen?

A big part of it is misunderstanding why the scales exist in the first place.

What the Scales Are Not There To Do

The scaling options are not written on the board to:

• Single people out for “not being that good.”
• Put RX athletes on a pedestal.
• Make you feel bad for missing certain scores or time caps.
• Intimidate new members.

None of that is the point.

The Real Purpose of the Scaling System

The scale exists to show you the path upward.

Not to pressure you into reaching the top, and certainly not to judge you if you never do. RX’ing a workout isn’t the trophy—the pursuit is.

Sometimes, stepping into the Red scale for the first time means you don’t finish inside the time cap. That’s absolutely fine. That effort, the attempt itself, is far more valuable than the result.

Going from Green to RX isn’t simple. For many people, it’s a long journey.

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Good.

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That’s where the magic happens.

The Work You Don’t See

We all know that one person who walks into Wildcard and RX’s everything from day one.
But that doesn’t mean they’re some freak of nature who came out of the womb with a sub-2:00 FRAN (21-15-9 thrusters/pull-ups).

It means they’ve done the work somewhere else, whether they realise it or not.

Along the way, they developed more than strength, fitness and skill. They built:

• Grit
• Determination
• Discipline
• Resilience
• and above all, commitment to long-term effort

These qualities matter far more in life than a handstand or a heavy snatch ever will. And you build them not by staying comfortable, but by moving up the scales, even if that’s just Green to Blue.

Adversity Matters

Life is becoming more and more comfortable. Everything is designed to make things easier.
But growth doesn’t come from easy.

The beauty is in the struggle.
You develop by facing adversity.
Training gives you a controlled environment to practice overcoming it.

That’s why the scaling system exists.

What the Scales Are There To Do

• Provide guidelines for movements that help you work toward RX standards.
• Keep your effort honest, especially in time-based workouts.
• Give you a clear progression to aim for.
• Challenge you.
• Ensure the appropriate intensity even when you modify a workout.
• Introduce small, consistent doses of adversity: on purpose.

In Summary

The scaling system isn’t a ranking chart.
It’s a map, a pathway, and a training tool.

It’s there to help you grow, not just as an athlete, but as a person.

And whether you get to RX or not, the journey up the board is where all the good stuff happens.

Let’s enjoy that journey together.

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