Mental block for reverse dive

Question
Hi, Tom,
My daughter is doing a great job with high-school diving, except she has a severe mental block for the entire reverse series. She is a sophomore and is doing a forward double, full-twisting 1 1/2, back half twist, forward 1 1/2 pike, inward pike, etc. She attended Indiana University diving camp this summer and did the reverse on the trampoline and in the water using the training belt. She did it once without the coaches doing a thing to the lines. And then they made her do it on her own--and she never did. I wish they would have had her do it a few times with the belt and no assistance to get rid of her block.

She has never hit the board. She has slapped her back. She has good height, and starts the dive, but then just won't look back or kick back. She does not baulk. She is really frustrated. I ask her what she is afraid of--she isn't worried about hitting the board. She doesn't care about slapping. One time when I asked her what she was afraid of, she replied: "Actually doing it!" She couldn't really explain what that meant.

I'm helping her this week, since her coach is out of town. Is there any advice you can provide? Thanks much!!

Answer
Hi Robin -

I am sorry for taking so long to answer your question but I just received it today. Sometimes this service is inconsistent on when they send me questions as I have already answered two this week that were dated after yours.

The problem your daughter is going through is common in this sport as the reverse group, as well as the inward, can be intimidating to many divers. Even the best girls in this country have fear difficulties with this group from time to time.

I think I can help you better if you give me a little more information. You mentioned some of the dives she currently does but you did not include dives from the back group. Please tell me what her back dive and position is as well as her back optionals. The reason for this is that you have to be proficient is this group before you learn the reverse group. Ask her how she feels about the back group and if she likes it and is good at it.

Has she done this skill on a dry board with the training belt? You mentioned the trampoline and what we call a 'waterbelt' that she used at the camp but not if she has done it on a dry board.

Before you do any new dive, you have to be able to do it in your head. Can she see herself doing this dive through visualization? Ask her if she has a clear mental vision of how to this dive.

If you will ask a follow up question with this information,I will answer as soon as I receive it which I hope is sooner than this time.If you will also send me the city and state you live in I can help you find a program that has a dry board, trampoline or belt over the water so she can learn it there.