How to Spot the Squat

The purpose of spotting through a squat is to allow the participant to challenge themselves with more weight or greater range of motion without compromising their safety.
1. Ensure that you as the “spotter” maintain your own personal safety by:
Bending your knees as the person squats (squat with them)
Avoiding using your back
2. Communicate how you will be spotting so that both you and the person squatting are aware of what will occur (i.e. spotting with hands under the bar, or hands on the hips)
3. Know in advance what the goal is (how many reps) so that you as the spotter can encourage more reps if you think that the person is capable and so that you know when the person is going to rack the bar
4. If possible, ensure that the bar is travelling in a straight line through the full range of the squat movement
5. Spotters should use a widened split stance to create a larger base of stability to be prepared for anything. If he or she fails or begins to fail and you cannot spot any further, you must remove yourself from the spot as your #1 priority is maintaining your safety as well as the person squatting