Hurdle and Throwing

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I'm a High School diver from Michigan and I've been having trouble with my hurdle and throwing. In my hurdle, i tend to take a back step and now it's happened so often that it's in my head whenever i get ready to dive. I also have trouble throwing into my dives which is making me pretty frustrated.

Any answers would be incredibly helpful

also, would you know of any diving clubs in the Lansing-Holt- East Lansing Area

ANSWER: Zack -

From the info you have given me, here is what I think will help you:

It sounds like on your last step before the hurdle that you are going into it landing on the ball of your foot first. This will cause you to push the board forward and makes you hurdle backwards. On your last step, you need to go into it in such a way that your heel contacts the board first and then the ball of your foot. You should walk heel toe on all your steps. On your last step if you push the board down and a little backwards, you will then hurdle higher and more across to get to the tip. Remember in diving that their is the law of physics that states for every action their is an equal, simultaneous and opposite reaction to whatever you do. Practicing your dives with one step before you hurdle is a skill advanced divers do to help solve this problem.

On throwing it could be that you are throwing after you leave the board. Since I do not have a lot of info from your question I have to guess as to what your throwing problem is. In springboard diving you have to push before you throw and the throw has to happen before your feet leave the board. If you throw way after takeoff, your spin will be too slow. If you throw before you push, your spin will be fast but out of control. The problem you have in your hurdle could be the reason you have a hard time throwing - you are most likely way off balance.

To find a club team near you go to these websites:

www.usadiving.org - Click on Clubs and then Find A Club. Enter your state and a list of teams will appear.Also try www.aaudiving.org. Click on Diving Sport Contacts.When the map appears, click on the district numbers closest to you. There will be a name(s) for you to e-mail or call.

Other websites about diving are:

www.flipnrip.com - At the top of the page, click on videos. On the videos page click on 'diving lessons' then click on 'hurdle'.

www.usadiver.com - Site with articles about diving.

www.diving.about.com - Site that explains the sport. You may find an article at this site to help you with your approach.

www.laurawilkinson.com - Site by one our best divers. She has a dvd that may help you.

I hope this helps you. Feel free to ask a follow up question with more specific info on your problems if you want.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for all of your help, however i'm confused about the hurdle part

im confused that when i land on my heel in the hurdle that i stomp the board and i lose any momentum, but when i land on my ball of my foot i don't stomp on the board hardly at all.

Answer
Zack -

I am uncertain why you are confused about the hurdle part - sometimes diving is hard to explain over the Internet when I cannot see what you are doing.

When you land on your heels you create a hard landing that becomes out of time with the board. When you land on the balls of your feet you create a softer landing that allows you to push board down at the right time. When you push the board while it is going down it will then throw you higher. When you stomp it you will leave it sooner so it cannot give you the height you need.

Try some of those websites I suggested in my first answer for a more extensive explanation of the hurdle.