JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================q" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?#r:,c#} H֜"C"\·4ly3lIC*KIH襊7;U#+gNtKu(cJc[k }]x3׭r>h;pc·-:s@U֭v>#qʚ̶BHP.U?M+4LxUryƪ%'Y|&wJ[gfd(R0ku¤qQ\Z͙> }iҬ5(pAx u>sR1GH<xj9 n8< SHcZ`@ zFO<3Ma8qTzޘW<~tWu=Z*R294S&m气pj7L+䊥m5˯Bp0*P xSU'Z#E`u,S2A۷8\?%nعfnhI+&u{+;/WQ[ܮٛ ⼛sg)1Iٮկo;[Bo}YlMWBykip?OM@ÚvIap>Y?0jmNU|] @?ra@9ɯN]VF7:b{=8alUnJׂNp?”sV.治{{r!)qc94t#N+֠7@ϡU^8"}QT(" :JSNUfZvB@'*-gYYCiU|JK&8yJڥ9c]XN58e?}V!˷c'sf4!8.vk6:k=ũЏtϞFI"E*#ץן#9+zi=ΚxJӍN+ C1ȧKkWwZȉ4±0FL ?\SbV70P}?u5dx6N?z]m35Y4+=f vl|g_U.+Rr3?λnCI iz\<<3hȱǷ$#Blqi]q^gBA'_g֬ĥ 7Z8 '#Ӓ♵pAL;{"\rM֚KE}yb)q&͸{pV!V9v1EUk984KޣD3VT` #K" )YdS<ڜYA\b1m{9=y'Y6g&sEֱX2G\5M[[h#!MCc_h1a)_\t Hс=? kV?>ʒd_AqZMt M9g;cجhvda&E#ITS!Gn%hvV&5j&x=ʑHLGC+ŋZĒNNH[SԯPIn ꢟ0ؚvj`t\̛g|e}iM堓cJ o!UZ=_,QY΢KVi rQI'Rv p1]D6X#:VVGb$3z IJ)QR(jz|QkM!v]Ʋz?Ͻz?CvèLV;r.be;z}CEc"ێ!%=iB$˜scg=yVh9ΪhV+by,9oj梮\- 2a'½4]?OHU@QXگSKG(btrv(:@2q79gźvқ?$PPޙMz_je ;X\rG[sILMBp8GsF!4#l)cɦ#o M8AǠIDC: `kErt%(_S8G\VE w6: diʮ|JSסLL)@|@䚧 &K`}8*C&c-Y:s<..Ft*Q8剜bƥ5ӶvȻTt^{WjZV2\dRW HHka.7"OK{H\d9 ҩYEZmo.rw2\pҷ- 6V7pB,5x#A`V[<'eMQ.űvX5 "Wۼ3IpZW5~e\rI%ڸ(+QG^+2 *zJQvćL61jzzӫOTM9 'KI8ȲT`dcoTҠs0#nSP](UW=l`?zB:(GJ_Ms>(':i|?4uWOUE?뤟_ S)jev$4Q]T68 /_h%)( EEo_}ƙ%Wi(!EPThe 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; Sometimes athletes will have a problem in keepin