JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)=================================================={" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?rE=kVd8U-WSm28F1 ¹C,uu][jiNzW_Z3y]t[mdi(Ni OҕYGAR%:WL9"vƯjs p\-Ѧ+/ ޣ*>^SFXQ0s^ŋ vGv~4խ.<109D*C ? T"H4Al>UJǤ /,Mt7vrY.n[p;~n ::~}{FAzvZ(g|w(٩?Ta[ <<_Vz[B>ZitwU||QjoPE`}? uz-P?v7k|cJ6,zu⳹ih+=ơqy|ΑOȪ5"N~?y.m"F2Kʠnwl %Q'=OK+7/"[)d C`tU.-nWVTܞ:{m%YѪ <1q 7ݑ1XRnI(ǡ.u{9. $?^+03;f}Zͻt24eI<`ViXʤ In%dG8T?*u+drO,k*fsЁIn .rM}mmڌ*ՆJk9Rmi)+W汏ɇ@yO-(=s֍gZ=cú!`: $#1֧q?t^%;|/&u#=t=C'Wm9mL;\n29jڷvnLJ/95_R޷ à y& d3bEn mV8'p!,nR6~X0\dQ62t-ew{s  +ZC3ԊjI+idEʣ V_%:zLhb&_c\-WD:ğDM9ӧJ5/ziNԫjQjVW\q*.6-HjH 3]M ϹvA3 Fs+:fW=[/MQ\}9{P[;9YKQhWxj6W:3Ͱ,mֲ5Mg oGA8|QT,V&繗D~nSk]2f`‡ i`OꚼH{-lt-4,kBj/8T\hf]+RƎa;c؏q_H] {h3_8$0e݃V"]:΍S\1[biN&+3fbζ>!jZ4VE$g*kˢBcsMΧĒa Lnlab6NGh)[JfRlP1{췷\Jr[T57Q5 9RYl9wzIoOMV (o\vM;I<W[ a @fAxq]D 1VAI;;jYXᐈ%<^cRKh!'l}##޼H]:]1 ޽6M]t<[̷`cfG$+u*gZ n-߀VR0jl|Bg2YP[@jXjCX[5E . xԦm c&r:%1AlEK.ϳl} KGV7rdf[$4A 4a_oJ<9K^GKR\T,&DZp 5QZ:,*іw!K@[4t13`U}GZkK=y  hĩ{S嶒C#񞙩(@č'RA9qp,iܓNⱣSs{@+10zTľlv\JjM Dv3]߉˫'fWRLx$1V׋#&]n%d7v >E5KmBO?ջ]\F>ҙkHP mۏVxVRE>mL_xU)m:~<׌k۹;Jgī,AϖepF+nOh:K)e0;Zң <br>SPEED COMPONENT #1: STRENGTH<br> <br>There are only three strength lifts needed for improving speed. First, the parallel squat. On a scale of 1 to 10, the parallel squat gets an 11 in importance in getting really fast. Second, the power clean or power snatch gets a 10 on the speed improvement scale. The straight leg deadlift comes in third place. I give this exercise an 8. All other lifts would score less than an 8.<br> <br>THE PARALLEL SQUAT: Look at the sprinter page 44. Focus on the forward leg and the angle of the upper leg as compared to the lower leg. You will see that it is a 90-degree angle. Some coaches argue that you do not need to go parallel when doing squats because they compare the upper leg with the ground. Big mistake. Parallel squats are the most important lift you can do to improve speed.<br> <br>Now look at Figure #1 of the De La Salle running back. Besides having impressively powerful thighs, look at both legs and their angles. Again, the front leg is at a 90-degree angle just as in a parallel squat. The back leg position is that of a power clean or our hip flexor stretch. Next, look at Figure #2 of Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. Parallel Squat! Figure #3 shows a front angle of 100-meter world record holder Tim Montgomery. Again, the front leg shows a parallel squat angle, while the completely extended back leg is the same as in our power clean technique. <br> Women athletes gain the same benefit and can also get really fast with the BFS program. Angela Williams, Figure #4, is considered to have the fastest start in the world. Look at the lead leg. What angle is the upper leg in as compared to the lower leg? Parallel squat. The back leg is exploding to a completely extended position that looks exactly like our BFS power clean position when completely extended.<br> You can work with a 5.9 forty athlete all day, every day, on technique, drills and stride length fundamentals and not make much improvement. Weakness is the fundamental issue. Parallel squats provide the basis for speed improvement. I can take any athlete and make him/her significantly faster by doing perfect parallel squats. The athlete may still have lousy form but will run significantly faster with a big improvement in parallel squat strength. Parallel squats are the single most important thing you can do to improve speed.<br> Early in my career, I was in the Los Angeles area training with track athletes (throwers) during the summers. I was amazed at their size and speed. There were about 30