Motor learning theories should be used by coaches to optimally apply their technical knowledge of weightlifting. The OPTIMAL (Optimizing Performance Through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning) theory of motor learning highlights the importance of motivation and attention in the motor learning process, with enhanced expectancies and autonomy underpinning the athlete's motivation and an external focus of attention optimizing the athlete's attention. Better results are obtained by collaborating with athletes in an athlete-centered approach, giving them a sense of control and ownership of their learning process and making them feel able to succeed in the learning process. The success resulting from the right balance between the athlete's confidence and task difficulty leads to an increase in the athlete's self-efficacy, further improving the learning process. When instructing weightlifting, coaches should say as much as necessary, but as little as possible, while using an implicit coaching strategy that focuses on the task goal. Instructions and cues should have an external focus of attention, relative to the athlete's body, or use analogies to provide a clear task goal while using simple language associated with familiar motor skills.

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