[quote author="Matt Norquist (WashedupDec)" date="1289546633"][quote author="Jay Turner" date="1289515832"]I have my daughter attempt to do body weight squats whenever we do certain circuits, yet she can’t go parallel. I thought this was her being lazy so I told her to start from parallel position and try to lift from there, and she fell to the ground. Why is this? What kind of deficiency does she have? How can this be improved?
How old is she? Can she get into a full squat position (butt to heels)?
Calf and hip flexibility make the biggest difference IMHO.
I’d work on things like hurdle mobility and duck walks to open up pelvis.[/quote]She’s 14 years old. She cannot get into full squat position. She falls backwards to the ground when trying to do a full squat.[/quote]Referencing some of the comments above, the center of mass does need to stay centered around the mid-foot, but the center of mass changes greatly as you start loading a bar. Without weight, for some long levered types it requires a substantial lean forward to maintain balance. As you start loading weight, especially up on the shoulders, only a slight lean may be required, as even a slight lean can dramatically shift the center of mass. As I mentioned before, with no weight on the back, a long levered lifter, especially one that may lack posterior chain and core strength, may find it very difficult to squat without losing balance without folding at the waist. Allow her to use a small counter balance that she can hold out as far in front of her as she needs. Let her adjust her feet wider if she wants. Don’t go to parallel. In very short order, you will be able to move her feet in, adjust the depth, and may be able to dispense with the counter weight. Then you can progress her as you like.