Squat and foot position

[Jailhouse Hopkins]

The concept of having the feet pointing out at a 30 degree angle during the squat seems counterintuitive to the direction of travel in athletics. In SS it is mentioned that having your feet pointing too forward limits your ability to squat full depth. But if you are training for sport, would you not want to engage/orientate your muscles in the direction in which you intend to use them?

[Mark Rippetoe]

You are training for strength, not "sport" when you squat. Strength then applies to "sport" as a general adaptation. So, you squat the best way to squat, so that the squat can make you a stronger "sportman".

[Jailhouse Hopkins]

Undestood, but I'll provide this for thought. Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks (since 2010, two Olympic Gold medals, two Stanley Cup Championships and twice awarded best defenseman) has been instructed by his trainer to squat with his feet pointed forward. Should there be no noticeable difference in athletic performance based on foot angulation during the squat?

[Boomka]

The concept of having the feet pointing out at a 30 degree angle during the squat seems counterintuitive to the direction of travel in athletics. In SS it is mentioned that having your feet pointing too forward limits your ability to squat full depth. But if you are training for sport, would you not want to engage/orientate your muscles in the direction in which you intend to use them?

Do your feet point straight forward? Mine don't.

[FlossOrDie]

The concept of having the feet pointing out at a 30 degree angle during the squat seems counterintuitive to the direction of travel in athletics. In SS it is mentioned that having your feet pointing too forward limits your ability to squat full depth. But if you are training for sport, would you not want to engage/orientate your muscles in the direction in which you intend to use them?

Nice try, Kelly Starrett.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Undestood, but I'll provide this for thought. Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks (since 2010, two Olympic Gold medals, two Stanley Cup Championships and twice awarded best defenseman) has been instructed by his trainer to squat with his feet pointed forward. Should there be no noticeable difference in athletic performance based on foot angulation during the squat?

Duncan Keith has been instructed incorrectly. This happens frequently, especially when the guy doing the instructing is a D1 or pro-level S&C coach, who will look like he knows what he's doing no matter what methods he uses.

[Jailhouse Hopkins]

Nice try, Kelly Starrett.

Who the fuck is Kelly Starrett?

Do your feet point straight forward? Mine don't.

Yes

[elVarouza]

Undestood, but I'll provide this for thought. Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks (since 2010, two Olympic Gold medals, two Stanley Cup Championships and twice awarded best defenseman) has been instructed by his trainer to squat with his feet pointed forward. Should there be no noticeable difference in athletic performance based on foot angulation during the squat?

Even if the argument for squatting with your feet forward was correct this still wouldn't make sense for a hockey player. You skate by angling your feet out and pushing off the ice. If you tried to skate with your feet perfectly forwards you'd fall over instantly.

[Jailhouse Hopkins]

Even if the argument for squatting with your feet forward was correct this still wouldn't make sense for a hockey player. You skate by angling your feet out and pushing off the ice. If you tried to skate with your feet perfectly forwards you'd fall over instantly.

I'm well aware of that, but every video I've seen of an elite player has them squatting with toes forward. Thus the confusion.

[Mark Rippetoe]

So, here's your task. Read our analysis of the squat, read their analysis of the squat, and decide whose argument makes better sense to you. I submit that the fact that every elite player has a S&C coach without an analysis but several videos is not a compelling argument.