Preparation for H.S. Diving Team

Question
Hi Tom. My 10 yr old daughter will attend Kamiak in about 4 years. What can I do to prepare her for your diving team program? She did competitive gymnastics for 2 years when she was 7 and 8. She switched to competitive swimming at 8. So far, she is doing great in swimming. She medaled 6 events at the past long-course PNS Champ. However, I am concerned for her and her swimming career because of her petite frame. I don't know when she will be maxed out and started to gain time. I signed her up for the Summer diving league at Yost and occasionally drop-in at Northshore pool. If she decided to take diving more seriously in the future, I would like to make the transition easier for her. What else should I do for her?

Answer
What you have done so far in going to diving practices is about all you can do in Snohomish county.The problem with diving in this area for kids your daughters age is that there is a limited number of pools with boards that are available for use. The only time non high school age kids can dive is in the summer. The rest of the year, pools are dominated by high schools and club swim teams. I have tried several times to be able to use Kamiak for non high schools age kids but the cost and regular availability are prohibitive. The other problem is that if you are a high school diving coach, there are very strict rules on who you can coach and when. For example, I cannot coach 7th and 8th graders who might attend Kamiak and go out for the diving team!

The best thing you can do right now I think is to put her back in gymnastics. This does not have to be a competitive program, but rather a conditioning one. If you have her go 2 or 3 days a week to develop her flexibility, abdominal strength and acrobatic/tumbling ability, that will help her when she comes to high school. Knowing how to use a trampoline would also help her a lot.

Continuing to do competitive swimming will not do anything for diving as they are very opposite. Swimming is horizontal and diving is vertical. I always say that the only similarities between the two besides water are that swimmers dive off blocks and divers swim to the side of the pool. Swimming won't hurt her diving, it just won't add to her acrobatic ability.

The only real place you can learn how to dive the right way is with the team at the King County Aquatic Center is Federal Way. They have a great program there but for a family that lives in the Mukilteo area the trip is very difficult. If you are interested in going there, send a follow up question and I will fill you in on the details. It is run by some good friends of mine and I have coached for them there in the past.