JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================K" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?u S\.qeo vKr^xBIrZ/ ʯtq0kWTN=h/ _W_G_ZGa}nV06ېO8 :ߥw,!3&eXdc\<A{MX@JK`H#G ڛmNku8k"xSIrA=* &gZrKpcn)k׈;tm0*ݰ$W:7Ռ(Zkhͻ#;0}t3+Z)W4AO]k>\ncl _CCO}.oۄx?ҭi->I &RY1=s@^ 壒A#\÷AUݬe?eĖ̀*Jv? ]k(ؐ:4oh$i&bb4_ h4Dhw 26 VYXq '6x\X :~`;Y׈|3mZĪ\Ef?VbNr{jί M_H{}cMxbg3 w4c#^Jc ixn{WtrxVx8<޳[/5IY= A Ρ{[dgߨnq#8jx߇Q<@!F T0<"/Ajׅjnd!~vSܜMuӿ/Po'7DboCcZZ=ލid 2lFAB$Ju~j4 e[]E@2~cԚ{M6\][*(vy$pvVLVC1<Ӹ#V۾1,rH23͗{;^5Uǯz;].qZխNhT|Qu ǃɲemӰqޯhǴZI~& A Z\,1+&>wpEhkF[m-܄}UuFN,D@ TzU g۞aʮa 8_h>ki q 35j{$gk+C`eU\f#Y> Dಂ9VCt*G i~ ݤ2wnUČ9{ ֶ=xD[i$eTd^O.huS@tsYu{Ď0p O8?g2<sM4?בb`rqڵt5mq/DgxIőDY  ͟9溍@:{Gk8)VNt?EsOg-+9n[p5t[?_EsZ΁vAwDx]kL[gx +CZ[ET4iZtVp:cG |Vc?i"D_銢T+l0a~t]v]REXA&6袀4A^dTVSm&?[0ޓtQ@-3zue-3-8sO6Zm`2c8go the point of tension not pain. <br><br>Don t you just love the athletes who do the three second count stretch? How long should the athletes hold a stretch? Actually your muscle does not start to react to a stretch for at least six seconds. Start out by holding a stretch for at least ten seconds after that ten seconds than take the stretch a little farther, after six to ten more seconds take it a little farther. You should work up to at least thirty seconds. If you try this you will notice after every six to ten seconds your muscles become more relaxed allowing you to go even farther which in return enables you to get a more beneficial stretch. Pictures shown are a few stretches from the BFS flexibility program that emphasize stretching the speed muscles. By speed muscles I mean, quads, hip flexors, hamstrings, glutes, etc. <br><br>When teaching athletes the proper way to stretch I first stress the importance of always keeping the back straight (picture 1) verses bent as shown in picture 2. Take as much pressure off the low back whenever possible. If it is a stretch where the athlete grabs their foot, have them place their hand at the top of the shoe near the ankle to take pressure off the ankle joint. As far as the weight room goes, my philosophy has always been: If you are not lifting or spotting someone, you should continue your stretching program.<br><br>If you or your program have not enforced a flexibility program or made it part of your daily practice then you have not come close to reaching your top potential as an athlete or team. It s just another way of helping yourself or your teams become Bigger/Better Faster Stronger.<br> Absolutes of technique and coaching. To get the previous articles on the Six Absolutes, log on to our web site at BiggerFasterStronger.com. There, as a BFS Team Member, you will have access to these articles plus every BFS article written in the last fve years. Untilthen, keep those Toes Aligned!<br><br>The BFS Six Absolutes <br> <br>1. Use an Athletic or Jump Stance<br>2. Be Tall <br>3. Spread the Chest<br>4. Toes Aligned<br>5. Knees Aligne