SSLP: Light squats...yes or no?

Coaches, Thanks for all you do.

For my son.

14
6’3" 215

Running SSLP since the end of Feb.

Press - 70 lbs
Bench - 97.5 lbs

Press stalled two weeks ago and bench was very close. Added the BBM upper body plug-in which restarted progress on both lifts. Thanks, by the way.

Deadlift - 255 lbs

Still moving quickly.

Squat - 215 lbs today.

Has noticeably slowed over the last three training sessions. His squat mechanics are pretty solid. We lift with an SSC once a week. As I expected he recommended a 20% light day drop for his next lift.

The recent discussions about the SRA cycle got me thinking about the best way to proceed.

Am I correct that the light day is a form of peaking?

Do you recommend the SSLP light day?

Looking through the BBM templates I see the pattern of imposing stress with variations at lighter weights. He is definitely at the point where he can’t continue to impose more stress with more weight. Would a tempo or paused squat be a better choice to impose more stress or would more volume at a lighter weight of the lift he already knows be a better choice?

Thanks for the help!

I don’t really have a big problem with using the light day to be honest.

What we do take issue with is reducing training volume in a novice in an effort to continue increasing weight on the bar.