JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================q" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?ʄP#JiwIU$3i,*= hGLLjˏP[{Uo%djPr8ʞ݇f˨UoU1ʒD1°cUV0p,HVfho[五Q!UAӚnj ո&D 7ةb3R;GʻpJ62:DI2+T!ťre"qQ)E,#u\4iJo"\\ecj!@I=(iGUKCˁk2\3?0 V3 HF:T2;YV 9|Aw,00>BLuTs8CR4Reeϓ2cK.%qI+6Qݏ@+u~}Zs"{{֊- C {Xq]mͨ<5䶦FȤQ9çҵW:cTr`]rҳ JTQS?P[SB rw_gAďK)sgN2ghTXԈ623V4m]M@F0bF½L/Y_f##<;W1h\!srŹ kB=kKflZ)i+gxU{/zc0K8!y5i-# ɏ\W VHzY$l+$*68[M.")v3\P̚68X/m֔)# h>#3t{nZm=Nwa]UiD\Rj$#c`Aq,+!E.x|<5&NȲf7(ST:HBC(=s\aFF;Uq> 0L%EЈ"$sZ)Q_r*cj-T"=Zdi)RHʜx>,.^I,nNj.0sWG+ɂl+l5[%B;p}+E9r{]ےl+DWwqjE `eS?JqsuRm 9=:Up\eX]#:$=nV) m+[Z&H޻p 3zfW#Y*k H]`;vh(S8{Qq#BFz\ƛúe-WaSOhmpzHּ۟3{sxOfH~ኍ)/Zsdp Cy42\H9M'))l`J2@tHqQ> e?žo'x譤amaqQd*۹ :r}il[,~fLI?LW{xywZO|ƪr:q\\`p z«t],[c"FAֽg̈́$.Und=H3K`GloJp\ҠYTCƲ088H?5 vSBI W7Zn\dD.}I?Һo 1 g -W4L8'>E(`A*cJS " |9dmukIm邐1=j*4J0q؟ʬ 8⢚s3?Zk94$ ޙF15Tn\q+B<#ڐGE4{ʹr#xOTԵ3"l_'wK{dZra#4Zi a'WqmaQ-Hv* 3Ն CSՁaXIpw5Mw sNvl84e#Ry?J.g\ dLiPes9=lՖ%)١=Gq Ҍo"wNBUO#'ޕ# -K8qws', u ~0.xOL>cJK@ݟ1~XQI#ґf ԑ\ HTLlQ4y낿;cj)`(, O⢊i$QHdC֐}Ί)}ڍ(.E1}*HQ ?i;(M2>QT w4QE1 gently pull back.&nbsp; The coach can also physically pull the knees back in helping his athlete get into a perfect low power position.&nbsp; Figure 3 reveals 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;