JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?ų޵݁γt%΋e\EkĽ:W<~Gb ޿^zg=jCqҮN^A/"t;UnNJF=)D4<tSUlSq+d[(A1"8֐JwOcAN:[@BR ֒?ʊ4yLz-A\v'"8Ċ֌}+(jX*GU;t S.F~::cTVǥJH aNJǧJiuERoTs Ļ`]BэF#j6 FHpON3ӼcBe5_ĞX}1]L.-AQ" gָ#HM2Zqkb1N)u#~J銙򨟧@Yׯҡe-*")\0Ҭ 6}*}J6{S JvR~'`}ELPmn4VzOr3R+U+A q\؝GҤSڢSӥ<UX OU}) }S:U`Jv+ ,nt T^j-B,-Zg#5i [|HW>ԆdI8' v=ERFk/xʹ?%.\yA v،*-8>S]1F26tHj'ۥAk[ڤqU8 }+FJO-A*}J>*FҸ KY^H~ z vGqHTTV2=2NH;gcF)J4iJ)RLtQN#~p*+Hg-NaJ֢玕 LV1ՒҞҢ{S% JQgROP&iKpFqP:Qͮ}u/# 'cu&*X2aA8ެgҐ@V"0Gp*)I+HsDnH$(kE|m% ~U?*JJڣ_~nj5asWbWvc1; FAkXBz |dgIyJxld 姺+ϭi_/%Sg9>º$M捕Lfn8? ,0=46A ]F/&G+"$ ƣ7 ݯ3̿wp>diȏK ) Oμ7Ɯ%GMBhL9ITWC3aO+h3Vem<[1W09\ՖZD7Wȫ ?wgR҃XpξzEDE[i84RYJ*ִZ_O+*軚3Ufz]C} _O>V+kL:vvgVomK:ws>dW*)8Pi6&UCRm/t?ZKAnخ>d܉#S!5G]^J{KkX¸?{bTQK{U[i'2 {bTj18f5˶؜<(#Wv ;+Ԓ٤9JUޠAVS= ]}ZFh] +-xmK!"s]85,$f+X8_ΰ:)+D~]qKvsGHipy tA dZAFlH YC"}*qkcHFyѬ$0@#D 4wm&e]!5*$g;s/tGö] lʫʇwPnINʌ6&ݿ2+vUC]Ʃ$Zly2)thʒР+ҘE @:`-N(jgu.59?tWn$LC$'i-']ԞkB[5`3F2#7BO_X[ɏ>akS\ 2> 8)_Z bw(~Y[404u, 7:STl6Ԟ(Ȏ^A&XEۜ5K\FH]8$/9ޏgU|Avg;VSNv)sGJr8K{  )Qiةus8t):˩%J3j[QlB <6faUGR<`5mCjzYڙJ={gjȤ+!2sWztYA;($jѬVdNi\Y=v:2y"MMBhv)たki$;C.k"WXqpI)Y&`3?E~! 8h'lhAK-S# T)x(FjCQSs]B>)`(JL}j n7Nhwf^{bPk9ɬոѮ^g -^c2jEꌛy1붘uҀL.Rvʌ1*xAmxjF:L0$G,o0c5HR, A17˫#Ҋŕϖ60؉=Onbsp; 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 keeping the bar on the shoulders.&nbsp; Sometimes the bar will actually slip off the shoulders and slip down the back.&nbsp; The bar seems to be more secure with the thumbs in back; but if an athlete, after trying both styles, rea