I'm new at competing and just went to my second meet where the entire pool was only 4ft deep. I didn't know how to dive properly. I came within inches of the bottom each time, and then when I tried to sdk for power and momentum I kicked the bottom with my feet and lost efficiency trying to get up and out on top. Plus, when trying to do the kick out, on breaststroke, at turns, I didn't have the room to use my strength and power to do it properly, I felt constrained.
What do the rest of you do?
A few years ago, then Towson University had starting blocks at the shallow end of their pool. I believe its ~4 ft at that end; probably 11 or 12 at the deep end. During a masters meet, someone held onto the blocks, but continued to roll forward after the field was asked to stand. They went in head first and hit their head on the bottom, splitting it open. No spinal damage to my knowledge. I'm not sure how long it took to make the change, but at the same meet the next year, starting blocks were in the deep end. Elon University is set up the same way, but blocks are still in the shallow end. UMBC's indoor pool is 4 or 4.5 feet on both ends, dipping 6" down in the middle.
One of our local summer pools has a 4.5-5' depth in their shallow end of the 25M competition course. The other end is 11 feet. They start almost all events in the shallow end, except for the 25s - "this way, the timers don't have to move." I tried to get them to change the year I coached there, but they wouldn't have it. Certainly more than enough depth, but why take a chance?
My whole thing with this is especially if you've got a college program and have a deep end on the other side, why would you not start in the deep end? The wake generated off the dive for older folks is enormous! Why wouldn't you want to try to minimize the effects - and the risk??? 5' and up I can live with, but anything less... I just dont understand.
A few years ago, then Towson University had starting blocks at the shallow end of their pool. I believe its ~4 ft at that end; probably 11 or 12 at the deep end. During a masters meet, someone held onto the blocks, but continued to roll forward after the field was asked to stand. They went in head first and hit their head on the bottom, splitting it open. No spinal damage to my knowledge. I'm not sure how long it took to make the change, but at the same meet the next year, starting blocks were in the deep end. Elon University is set up the same way, but blocks are still in the shallow end. UMBC's indoor pool is 4 or 4.5 feet on both ends, dipping 6" down in the middle.
One of our local summer pools has a 4.5-5' depth in their shallow end of the 25M competition course. The other end is 11 feet. They start almost all events in the shallow end, except for the 25s - "this way, the timers don't have to move." I tried to get them to change the year I coached there, but they wouldn't have it. Certainly more than enough depth, but why take a chance?
My whole thing with this is especially if you've got a college program and have a deep end on the other side, why would you not start in the deep end? The wake generated off the dive for older folks is enormous! Why wouldn't you want to try to minimize the effects - and the risk??? 5' and up I can live with, but anything less... I just dont understand.
