A trainer is preparing a client for a barbell back squat.

Before spotting a barbell back squat, NASM guidelines recommend that the trainer confirm how many repetitions the client plans to perform. This ensures the spotter is prepared for the effort duration, can assist effectively if fatigue sets in, and helps prevent injury. While knowing sets, tempo, or 1RM may be useful for programming, for spotting technique specifically, repetition count is the key pre-lift communication point.