Hi, my 7 seven old son is a very good swimmer. I am proud of his achievement at his young age and in many events (see below his times) he is among the top in the country at his age group. One of his weakness is his diving. Actually he is getting better now compare to when he was 6. When he is in “take your mark” his head is looking down and he likes to dive deep into the water and takes time for him to come up. His coach says it takes him 7 sec to come up. His coach tells him many times don’t look down when you dive out but look forward streamline then head down to the water. I see many other kids (at his age or older) dive well in the meet. Do you think diving will come natural when he grows up or is there any drill or technique I can show him. Right now I don’t want to push him too hard on diving at his age.
This is his times in SCY.
Free: 50yd 35 to 36 sec, 100 yd 1:22 sec, 200 yd 2:50
Back (his best stroke): 50yd 40 to 41 sec, 100 yd 1:23.
Fly: 50yd 41sec, 100 yd 1:33
*** (his worst stroke): 50 yd: 52sec
IM: 100yd 1:30, 200 yd 3:08
Parents
Former Member
I am not sure his coach is giving good advice. I think looking ahead is the wrong thing to do.
Watch this video to watch several elite swimmers. In all the starts the head goes down between the arms almost immediately. The angle of entry is relatively steep and the body goes cleanly into the water.
But I would not worry too much with a 7 yr. old. His times are very good and he will naturally improve over time. It is possible that his depth on the start is simply related to a lack of speed off the block. He may not get much power/height so he dives directly into the water.
I am not sure his coach is giving good advice. I think looking ahead is the wrong thing to do.
Watch this video to watch several elite swimmers. In all the starts the head goes down between the arms almost immediately. The angle of entry is relatively steep and the body goes cleanly into the water.
But I would not worry too much with a 7 yr. old. His times are very good and he will naturally improve over time. It is possible that his depth on the start is simply related to a lack of speed off the block. He may not get much power/height so he dives directly into the water.
