Age for Platform Diving

Question
What age do you recommend having kids start diving off the 5m platform?  I have a 12 year old daughter who competes on 1m and 3m springboard and wants to move up to 5m platform.  Is it safe for someone so young?  Thanks.

Answer
Joe -

In all the years I have been coaching, I have based having divers start platform based on 4 categories: ability, age, attitude and attendance. Since you ask about age, 12 was the youngest I would start having a diver learn a list off the five meter. It is actually an ideal age to start. Anyone younger I would let play off it in the form of jumps. It is the going head first part of starting to dive platform that is the most important when deciding when someone should pursue this event.

When you start going headfirst from that height the impact is not that much different than 3 meter springboard. On springboard the diver needs to show me that they can handle entries well by having strong stomach muscles so they do not hurt their back. Lower back injuries are common in platform diving and they are usually due to not doing abdominal excercises combined with entering the water too arched.The other physical factors involve having good tricep muscles, shoulder flexibility and good wrist strength. These upper body strengths are crucial on platform to avoid overuse injuries.

The diver also needs to demonstrate a good attitude on handling adversity because platform is full problems like poor entries. If they do not have good attitude about 3 meter adversities, I do not introduce the platform events.

The other factor is attendance. Is the diver practicing on a regular basis? If not, platform will be more difficult. You have to commit yourself to practicing it at least two days per week on alternating days.Depending on the time of year, up to 3 days per week but rarely 4.

When divers could comply with all four categories, I would introduce platform but only if they liked it. You have to like being up high and thrill at the excitement it produces. There are many accomplished divers on springboard who have no desire to dive platform, which is fine. There are also divers who gravitate toward platform and become better at it than on springboard. It just depends on the diver.The thing most people do not realize is that platform is actually easier than springboard because it does not bend. The platform is way easier to take off from than a board - you just have to like to be up there.

I would suggest going to www.divemeets.com and look up past meets that have had platform events and look up the results of your divers age group. Click on past meets and then the following recent meets: Region 4,5,7,8, & 10. Look up girls 12-13 platform and then click on the score of any given diver. This will then take you to a score sheet that lists the dives the athlete used. Have your diver look at these dives and see if she is motivated to do them. This will give you and her an idea if platform is right for your family.

Good luck in her pursuit of platform. She may like it better than springboard.