Create the Perfect Body for Diving
What is the best body type for diving? The truth be told, there really isn’t a best body type for diving. That may be a bit of hyperbole, but really, it is the truth.
Why is it the truth? Because the type of body that a diver possesses is not what matters, but rather what lies between the ears and in the center of the chest.
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
I’m sure you have heard this saying, but it pretty much speaks volumes and any coach can give examples of those divers that have a great toe point and flexibility, are quick as a cat and jump through the roof, that haven’t had the desire to be a good diver and are now off playing video games.
It takes much more than physical attributes to make a diver; the desire to be good, a great support system, and the ability to listen and make changes to name just a few.
Now I won’t lie and tell you that physical attributes are not a plus, but there has been many an athlete that has taken what appears to be limited physical ability and with hard work and perseverance, have become exceptional divers.
Body Types and Diving
I believe it would ill-advised to describe what the perfect divers’ body should be. Everyone should have the opportunity to participate regardless of their sit and reach score, or their vertical leap. If coaches limited participation in diving based on physical appearance, the sport of diving would disappear rather quickly, being limited to only a chosen few.
So if you are reading this in the hopes becoming the next Laura Wilkinson, Guo Jingjing, Troy Dumais or He Chong, and I stated that your body should have attributes A, B and C to be great, what would you think?
You might become a bit discouraged because there are as many body types as there are personalities, and that fight in the dog might just whimper away. So let’s look at it from a different perspective and concentrate on a few physical attributes that can be developed to suit the sport of diving.
What is a flat back? It essentially means the absence of an arch in an individuals spine. If a diver with a flat back were to lie on the ground facing the ceiling, another individual would not be able to put their hand or any other object between the spine and the ground. If another individual with a more pronounced arch did the same thing, that same person could slide their hand underneath.
A flat back lends itself to great body lines and the proper posture to create a rip entry. Not everyone has a naturally flat back; some have a natural arch that they were born with. But this arch can reduced, if not eliminated by working on proper diving posture.
What is proper diving posture? Well that means you have a flat back!
To create proper diving posture and reduce any arch, a diver should the roll hips forward while squeezing the buttocks and tightening all the muscles that make up the body’s core – hips, stomach, buttocks.
If that seems a bit confusing, think of it this way - try to squeeze your abdominal muscles so that your belly button touches your spine.More »
Ain’t nothin’ better than a great toe point! It’s the last thing everyone - including the judges, will see before a diver enters the water, and it can make even a bad dive seem well, not that bad.
And a great toe point is something that can be developed. It takes one thing: hard work!
Stretching your feet everyday with a variety of exercises will help to create a toe point that will blow the judges away. And if you really want to develop great feet, it needs to happen outside of practice. Unlike doing eight reverse ½’s in tuck, which can really only happen at the pool or at a dryland facility, a diver can work on his toes practically anytime they want. At home, on vacation, at school (I didn’t say that did I?); the options are limitless.
I even know an Olympic medalist who used to roll his toes over an empty coke bottle while doing his homework! Did I mention that he was an Olympic medalist? (Ten bonus points if you can figure that one out – follow the link for a hint)
Plus, every diver needs to look at their feet from the perspective of, “Don’t let it hurt you!” What I mean by that is that a toe point may not win you a meet, but it can definitely lose you one.
Even the greatest diver in the world who does an awesome dive will leave a bad taste in the judges mouth if the last thing they see are flat feet. It’s like having the greatest meal in the world and then following it up with black licorice for desert (my apologies to those who like black licorice – just proving a point).
You will take that taste home with you and never remember how great that meal was. Get the point? A toe point can be developed! More »
I know this is a bit broad, but overall flexibility and range of motion is a key to success in any athletic endeavor, especially diving.
Shoulder flexibility can help a diver spin faster and “press the board” better. Flexibility of the hips and hamstrings will result in a nice tight pike. Wrist flexibility helps to develop the all important flat hand for a great rip. I can go on and on.
As I have said before, not everyone is blessed with the ability to bend over and put their palms on the ground, but everyone can improve their flexibility by stretching on a regular basis.
There are literally thousands of stretching exercises to improve flexibility, and just about as many tools that can be purchased or fashioned from household items to assist in your goal to have the best looking pike at the pool. A simple three-foot rope is invaluable when stretching your hamstrings when a teammate is not around to help.
Just as in the case of developing a great toe point, these exercises are not limited to your time at the pool. At home, on vacation, at school; the options are limitless.
The bottom line is: it takes the desire to get better and the willingness put in that extra effort to improve your chance at becoming a really good, if not great diver. More »
Why is it the truth? Because the type of body that a diver possesses is not what matters, but rather what lies between the ears and in the center of the chest.
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
I’m sure you have heard this saying, but it pretty much speaks volumes and any coach can give examples of those divers that have a great toe point and flexibility, are quick as a cat and jump through the roof, that haven’t had the desire to be a good diver and are now off playing video games.
It takes much more than physical attributes to make a diver; the desire to be good, a great support system, and the ability to listen and make changes to name just a few.
Now I won’t lie and tell you that physical attributes are not a plus, but there has been many an athlete that has taken what appears to be limited physical ability and with hard work and perseverance, have become exceptional divers.
Body Types and Diving
I believe it would ill-advised to describe what the perfect divers’ body should be. Everyone should have the opportunity to participate regardless of their sit and reach score, or their vertical leap. If coaches limited participation in diving based on physical appearance, the sport of diving would disappear rather quickly, being limited to only a chosen few.
So if you are reading this in the hopes becoming the next Laura Wilkinson, Guo Jingjing, Troy Dumais or He Chong, and I stated that your body should have attributes A, B and C to be great, what would you think?
You might become a bit discouraged because there are as many body types as there are personalities, and that fight in the dog might just whimper away. So let’s look at it from a different perspective and concentrate on a few physical attributes that can be developed to suit the sport of diving.
1. Flat Back
What is a flat back? It essentially means the absence of an arch in an individuals spine. If a diver with a flat back were to lie on the ground facing the ceiling, another individual would not be able to put their hand or any other object between the spine and the ground. If another individual with a more pronounced arch did the same thing, that same person could slide their hand underneath.
A flat back lends itself to great body lines and the proper posture to create a rip entry. Not everyone has a naturally flat back; some have a natural arch that they were born with. But this arch can reduced, if not eliminated by working on proper diving posture.
What is proper diving posture? Well that means you have a flat back!
To create proper diving posture and reduce any arch, a diver should the roll hips forward while squeezing the buttocks and tightening all the muscles that make up the body’s core – hips, stomach, buttocks.
If that seems a bit confusing, think of it this way - try to squeeze your abdominal muscles so that your belly button touches your spine.More »
2. Toe Point
Ain’t nothin’ better than a great toe point! It’s the last thing everyone - including the judges, will see before a diver enters the water, and it can make even a bad dive seem well, not that bad.
And a great toe point is something that can be developed. It takes one thing: hard work!
Stretching your feet everyday with a variety of exercises will help to create a toe point that will blow the judges away. And if you really want to develop great feet, it needs to happen outside of practice. Unlike doing eight reverse ½’s in tuck, which can really only happen at the pool or at a dryland facility, a diver can work on his toes practically anytime they want. At home, on vacation, at school (I didn’t say that did I?); the options are limitless.
I even know an Olympic medalist who used to roll his toes over an empty coke bottle while doing his homework! Did I mention that he was an Olympic medalist? (Ten bonus points if you can figure that one out – follow the link for a hint)
Plus, every diver needs to look at their feet from the perspective of, “Don’t let it hurt you!” What I mean by that is that a toe point may not win you a meet, but it can definitely lose you one.
Even the greatest diver in the world who does an awesome dive will leave a bad taste in the judges mouth if the last thing they see are flat feet. It’s like having the greatest meal in the world and then following it up with black licorice for desert (my apologies to those who like black licorice – just proving a point).
You will take that taste home with you and never remember how great that meal was. Get the point? A toe point can be developed! More »
3. Flexibility
I know this is a bit broad, but overall flexibility and range of motion is a key to success in any athletic endeavor, especially diving.
Shoulder flexibility can help a diver spin faster and “press the board” better. Flexibility of the hips and hamstrings will result in a nice tight pike. Wrist flexibility helps to develop the all important flat hand for a great rip. I can go on and on.
As I have said before, not everyone is blessed with the ability to bend over and put their palms on the ground, but everyone can improve their flexibility by stretching on a regular basis.
There are literally thousands of stretching exercises to improve flexibility, and just about as many tools that can be purchased or fashioned from household items to assist in your goal to have the best looking pike at the pool. A simple three-foot rope is invaluable when stretching your hamstrings when a teammate is not around to help.
Just as in the case of developing a great toe point, these exercises are not limited to your time at the pool. At home, on vacation, at school; the options are limitless.
The bottom line is: it takes the desire to get better and the willingness put in that extra effort to improve your chance at becoming a really good, if not great diver. More »
