How are strong diver built?
By MASTERING THE BASICS!!!
Remember...
KISS! -> Keep it simple, silly
Start with the basics -> progressions
Coach from bottom up or start to finish of the dive
Coach the cause not the effect (ie if a diver went over on an entry, figure out WHY and coach that, instead of telling them that they went over.)
Start tall at the end of the board with your head in a neutral position. Press through your toes, keeping your weight slightly forward. As the board rises, swing your arms up and lift your hips to start the dive. Keep your head still, eyes forward, and see your suit or knees as you rotate. Finish tall with a clean line for the entry.
Think of your kick-out like a candlestick in gymnastics. From a tight tuck, press into a hollow position with your eyes on your feet. Then look overhead and reach your arms up, keeping your eyes on your hands until you hit the water. Smooth, controlled, and timed just before vertical, that’s the key to a clean entry.
Backs and reverses can be tricky, especially during takeoff. This video is an in-depth breakdown by experts in the diving community on how to improve them.
This video emphasizes mastering the essential "magical position" for balance and rotation in reverse dives. Coach Corey walks athletes through opposition rhythm, balance points, and takeoff mechanics specific to reverse dives, highlighting key alignment cues like shoulder placement over mid-thighs and loading through the heels. These dryland fundamentals are crucial for developing power, safety, and consistency in reverse dive takeoffs.
In this in-depth video, one of the most challenging dives in the sport= the reverse dive- is broken down. With a focus on helping divers of all levels refine their technique, this guide walks through six of the most common mistakes, ranging from cutting off the jump with the knees, poor arm circle timing, arched takeoffs, and rushed kickouts, to improper head positioning and misaligned entries. Through clear explanations and real case studies, viewers learn how to cue the hips, engage the core, stay hollow and extended, and hit a clean entry every time. Whether you're just learning the reverse dive or trying to perfect your 2½, this video is full of tips to help.
This video walks you through the progression of the inward dive in pike position (401B), from the most common beginner mistakes to elite-level execution. Using six real diver examples, you'll learn what changes as athletes grow in skill: how arm timing, press patience, head position, jump angle, Pike depth, and entry technique evolve. The breakdown highlights essential concepts like Pike saves, how to get more height by driving up instead of back, and the critical underwater techniques that minimize splash.
Michelle Davidson, 2000 U.S. Olympian and 3-meter springboard finalist at the Sydney Games, shares her expert advice on perfecting the inward action. Emphasizing a strong, unified takeoff, Michelle explains the importance of holding the top of the board, executing a quick arm swing, and delivering a “one-unit throw”, from shoulder blades to fingertips directly over the diving board. Finish it off with a powerful ankle push to drive the dive upward and away.
... Wait. FUN stuff???
Lots of divers get nervous about learning twisters, and for good reason. Moving in two directions at once (spinning and flipping) can feel disorienting at first. It takes time for the body to figure out how to rotate and twist without losing control.
What not to do:
Don’t throw your head or shoulders to start the twist: that creates chaos and kills balance.
Don’t square out too early or too late (it ruins your line and timing.)
Don’t open both arms at once: twist doesn’t stop cleanly.
Don’t rush the takeoff: twisting starts after you're in the air, not on the board.
Instead, focus on a clean line, controlled reach, and smooth square-out. Stay patient, stay tall, and let the twist build, not explode.
Twisting CAN, in fact, be fun- once it's taught right!
Once you've learned the basics, it's time to RIP!
(Watch this video with the volume on to hear the unique sound a rip entry makes).
Performing a rip entry requires:
Correct body alignment
Tight core and legs
Strong arm position with hands together
Head in line, eyes on hands
Correct timing on the kick-out
While many of the references and tips given in this video are mentioned in other places throughout this site, here is a summarized and localized resource that gives an overview with suggestions, resources, and important advice.
Walk through slow motion analysis of dives with Coach Doug Beavers from Montgomery Dive Club
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