JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================j" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?@qHƌ HkJsRƈY95aUvE!zcbC͒ntɨ]NޘQ9H"l һ Fj3bRKJ( T=ItP׃ox 4| КnQ涒4m 9Ҽ OH>&;d+)n~95Ӻ{#q܂M..?'lǷPڦVc Z r8>ic`1<Ó= ?D#֤ewuλs]Wn-nūr11\U''8ɥXC cN*9ڹdyY0M RЁ֘bO9=OL/u -~=*KRΟΡso57mU#ŧL Nq " S|yc:^,TrwXyl] LI޺=\6k!_-v /2P7-?qZ!I=e[ooR>`nTҹ&oidxXPV WcXu!W#ݱn?4ٜc1^0i\_?֊4FEO5M6_ޔjPEp3^p!$9v$rΔ Tdc|w}))o/L1ko.'$(iX$jY@j` FpuIR9c9P1H|l}bq3]]NpeOr*]mr{igo][L6֟#RK5Ŀ2.WAYZ kdޠmtƞZl)$s7fxv ,R2v?I{>»ŘmZKwqT$lx.P9FO֓hJyyH`@?:l~]=]bX;O6>`}+X#t+)]lEps_06I673)d.fP%Ugkrȹ\d{g趆)P EC+=[- rƓޘ1$ov 4MC^ѧ됻\y@ w׎+оYA%͕9b:ΰԙׇpOsN针Kh$mQ3NW+fL1\$~bm'qV}ڤC-0ViQxNvG'<;e%$A-rǹ䁑cʵ-Vow%i8o¹K;<@Wm`G[6:ݭӤQ<`61$s?fzåtr6Up)#9kjv]N%R?UKss+ <^!}wO]-L_ ؝qԓhMK^Ү-md$d 3W94ns\ޕwwuiBG9?.=y>OnXjREr !`@:M+8<8$q1$j.kҴ^PIK(Yv\1X+FأwX\+ P>`8.mFmo&V}G2}umʄ䫮jmq:&{h"g`۲3^AxSduVbIm=r4E?,.3$l99íkȷZh%~f1`p 8j~9e˖wSjkX. ?)iJVlfU[Xϰ:/m.dyU+a4 W!xh#"5=ŵMjT0m-7-2RQW dm=HɶQ]'(QE!CM %4R7S@^ӒE'ZL֩7^B)"YW`Asէw{ҩeagmOKI%gҢ'o '<֭%-LљF:\Lq?ΣA iKs+ #S׭n2>!~5^Pa7Kwǥ%U QUm}tlV;݇bEi#5gvM&tDGeMmm H1 +c'HcD3Ҋ‰ the same problems except now the athlete's feet are flat and the heels are firmly planted on the floor.&nbsp; The knees are better but this athlete doesn't need to squat quite that low.&nbsp; In figure 4, we find the feet are close to the squatting stand and the knees are back which is good but this athlete has three major problems: First, squatting too low, second the lower back is not locked-in; and third, the upper body has too much forward lean.</P> <P>Figure 6 shows the perfect low power position.&nbsp; The athlete has his feet&nbsp;close to the Squatting Stand. His feet and heels are firmly planted on the floor.&nbsp; His knees are back and not extended past the toes.&nbsp; The athlete is at a perfect parallel position.&nbsp; His eyes are focused on a point which helps the lower back and upper body position.&nbsp; If you said one of the major problems in figure 2 and 3 was the head position, I wouldn't argue.&nbsp; Notice the difference in the chin position of figure 2 and figure 6.&nbsp; The athlete pictured is my son, Matt, while he was in the 8th grade.&nbsp; At this time, he weighed 125 and Parallel Squatted 225 pounds. </P> <P align=center><STRONG>PRE-SQUAT TECHNIQUE</STRONG></P> <P align=left><STRONG>A. Grip:</STRONG> There are two technique guidelines to consider when establishing a proper grip on the squat.&nbsp; First is thumb position.&nbsp; Should you have your thumb around the bar or in back of the bar as illustrated in figure 7?&nbsp; About 60% of power lifters have the thumb in back while 40% of power-lifters prefer their thumbs around the bar.&nbsp; Both styles are acceptable, but I prefer to coach my athletes with their thumbs in back of the bar.&nbsp; I feel this style is superior as it tends to prevent slippage of the bar.&nbsp; Sometimes athletes will have a problem in keeping the bar on the shoulders.&nbsp; Sometimes the bar will actually slip off the shoulders and slip down the back.&nbsp; The bar seems to be more secure with the thumbs in back; but if an athlete, after trying both styles, really prefers to have his thumbs around, I don