I tried to find this topic unsuccessfully, forgive me if it has already been discussed. I recently finally started working on my dive starts, literally from a standpoint of never having done them before. I learned a lot watching my kids' coaches and videos, though. I have been diving into about 6 feet of water and find myself ending up about 5 inches from the bottom before dolphin kicking my way forward and up. When I watch videos of starts in the olympics, etc. these guys are diving into 13 feet of water or more, and seem to dive at least 5 feet (see this link of Phelps, around 45 second mark: YouTube - Michael Phelps freestyle multi angle camera ).
In summer league, though, I see the older kids are diving into 5 feet with no problems. Do you guys start different ways depending on the water depth? Are your Masters meets in deep water usually? Am I going too deep when I dive, not so much from a safety standpoint but from a speed aspect? Last question, I remember my son's coach once telling the team to make the under water phase of their relay dives very brief. I couldn't tell if he was making a general statement on starts, or was that specific to relays. Any comments greatly appreciated.
Parents
Former Member
When I see a deep dive on the start, more than likely it is because the dominant first motion off the start is to push off with the legs rather than throw the hands straight forward. By pushing with the legs first, that tends to drive the body upward slightly lending to a elliptical path in the air, creating a steeper entry angle and a deeper path in the water.
By focusing on throwing the hands forward, that helps to flatten out the path in the air and keep the body low. It also maximizes the forward push of the legs as they straighten, gives a flatter entry angle into the water and should take you no more than 2.5-3 feet deep off the start.
From a track start you should be driving from your legs first...
Take a look at Lochte in the center of the image. The arms and legs drive back then he recovers the hands in the air.
www.gettyimages.com/.../Sports-Illustrated
Even the swimmers with the arms up are almost in complete leg extension and have the rear leg up and off the block.
When I see a deep dive on the start, more than likely it is because the dominant first motion off the start is to push off with the legs rather than throw the hands straight forward. By pushing with the legs first, that tends to drive the body upward slightly lending to a elliptical path in the air, creating a steeper entry angle and a deeper path in the water.
By focusing on throwing the hands forward, that helps to flatten out the path in the air and keep the body low. It also maximizes the forward push of the legs as they straighten, gives a flatter entry angle into the water and should take you no more than 2.5-3 feet deep off the start.
From a track start you should be driving from your legs first...
Take a look at Lochte in the center of the image. The arms and legs drive back then he recovers the hands in the air.
www.gettyimages.com/.../Sports-Illustrated
Even the swimmers with the arms up are almost in complete leg extension and have the rear leg up and off the block.
