JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================h" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?댋9ׅW/y#"jcQxYм7O9SM]wHx3@APiQ5$8Jel~P 9>, TDI*4cMZP֚g6=۳#5ms3/4ETs*={P?1,C+ ,^ c+E|Az$ٜ` V[#ʹy2ݎs[Q 2цOs K5UW Q⼇1IｒL [wMi4%-ͩh+u0.XmXFO<*0נ=iNnPǁ:=vrI%!*z>RV%lO)hu H3gϡ_YV+%}r@Qg<۵d9[]ˍ;Ȣ)B鋫OS ":H+&̫\w?ր5nn5GgZN<MO#䐌|ay#b*Oԋ}}@lw%|U?h?%d{.10GkV,ϧ5Gn) nf#3瑸W]>lf),Q(xހ;=6[X|'m@+ u23]p9yU5MjM]2Wy=W=k|o5+{*m"@1ɎIa ,/.ln⹎C(="K)W-nFA[~{~c+]͌p9W#xVv) GZҮ,kE-P-'':&a-bn?_ڽ9cR9 ?^>/{Og!6]4haps!|1q{uYm7F/]m-fT"=N1Tq>x6KI$d}.-zV少9H/p[:Tmg=TKh6dL@?ʨ{K\-,O^b=ib1<=?_z˚%1 !Y89j=^I{E,>V9PbṏH_fR֢6}tP7)^%onTkśT), cf&=*dHO.X2#7XRJA^/ya'ny3?Aנ!9nHFy`+i>YiW 4Q$d<@5/@_ŭ3Fc>޻\FqtϪ^K{y|G 8ym?5nXz&xeO)r ѵ9$T!Aݸ8j迶u/|͍i.d` N;u >xar_SakHm+d_5Ҁ?d+b͜u&73V7(ԯ՚x̤g ފ f)UY\{J(Яk€ =z?mqQ+87Rn'S^M%Ye X}hpv-,X}%ahĴAj8,o/4gѣ4 Zxf(eM .IOz퉮7;ãqg&"rJ#CõM,K P1V Qn$rv%p~T}n5ƸFK@n\lIA+A_sL )g11/ 0˨kb'rq ϴ ߴg`sZΓ\tsMԱeL(Z}njo)p= |Hҭ'kǁK3@{iz6S_c>fAel1(}:T*|G SjǼ'4U'u퇁Qx'$:u]H> ) cW0TFv?<%[ƭUWDdy} (zG?d;wb~xM wѶ7 qvqIC<*۶һW"F腌`#Ox֮jm.wJbx xBÖΛ^ $'-XͧZm2I8K4)J\и @ &'w<9O3ҪPW*G`͆d4b 8;7h5y`iUN1O]P\Q0OrO>!@$xE;vrƲC?`W wPH/8#b(KiT`s~LV?Š( )G/8QE0x|* EZi-9ɏNC%6p9(PϯFFɓx;1%PSbՖMany coaches and parents may be confused as to what to do with their athletes that show an interest in athletics. Should my athlete weight train? What should he/she do? Is 7th grade too early? It it really safe? The questions are real. It is important, we feel that they get answered. <br><br>IS 7TH GRADE <br>TOO EARLY?<br><br> Absolutely not! Not if you do it right. Consider that about 75% of all junior boys have been given a weight set for Christmas or a birthday with no clue on how to use it. I believe junior high and middle schools have a responsibility to teach all aspects of strength and conditioning correctly. <br>Certainly teaching agility, speed and jumping techniques should not be open for debate. These are important aspects of a total strength and conditioning program. <br>Athletes or general physical education students in the 7th Grade may begin this program. We realize that some orthopedic surgeons may say this is too early to start any kind of weight training. They might say that because the bones have not completely hardened, a problem might occur. However, after careful study, thought and observation of young athletes who do weight train, we feel the benefits far outweigh any possible risks.<br>First of all, we are in the business of helping athletes and people reach their potential and without weight training this is virtually impossible. A study on 7th graders weight training has drawn preliminary conclusions that no interference of bone growth resulted from weight training. Dr. Mel Hayashi, a noted orthopedic surgeon from Thousand Oaks, California, states  The BFS Readiness Program should provide great benefits to the junior high athlete. I have no concerns as long as the athlete has good technique. Dr. Hayashi has been a chief orthopedic surgeon at the past Olympic Games and has been a chief resident at the Mayo Clinic. Many strength coaches of major universities throughout the nation have been asked when an athlete should start weight training. The vast majority responded:  In Junior High. The Eastern Bloc countries start their athletes' weight training at the age of 12. In addition, we know weight training is one of the greatest ways to build self-confidence and self esteem. A seventh grader can receive just as much satisfaction going from 85 pounds to 100 pounds on his bench as can a 12th grader going from 285 to 300 pounds. However, we also believe