How to Make Your Board Last Longer
Have you ever been to diving meet and seen 3 kids on one board, and 30 on the other? Despite the fact that all competitive diving boards are made from the same type of aluminum, some seem to loose their bounce faster than others. Why that is and what can you do to prevent one board from loosing its "stuff" before another?
Hop Drill - Great for Gymnasts
Are you making the transition from gymnastics to diving? Here is a drill that will help teach even the most impatient gymnast turned diver, to wait on the board - The Hop Drill.
Gymnasts are quick. They always want to get their arms above their head like they are performing a floor exercise. Problem is, that never works in diving because unlike a gym floor, a diving board moves and the armswing needs to be timed in rhythm with board. This little drill will help a diver be patient with their armswing and learn to use the arms in conjunction with the springboard.
Need Some Tips on Diving?
Every coach has his own philosophy, one that fits with their unique personality. Since it is difficult to travel the country to train with every successful coach, here is the next best thing - a series of tips that will be brought to you! The first installment:
Athletic Spending Threatening College Sports
What's Wrong With This Picture?
Well, for starters the boards aren't on the stands. But that is not the real issue. It has to do with taking care of your expensive springboards!
Kenny Armstrong Named Texas A&M Diving Coach
Three-time Olympian and U.S. Olympic Diving Team Coach Kenny Armstrong has been named the interim diving coach at Texas A&M. Armstrong currently oversees the Woodlands Diving Academy in The Woodlands, Texas, but will travel the 90 miles to College Station to coach the Aggies.
Armstrong comes to a program with that appears to be loaded. With three returning divers who were 2009 NCAA qualifiers, each of whom achieved All American in at least one event, Texas A&M should continue the success that has placed them as one of the elite schools for diving in division I. He replaces Kevin Wright who was "who was relieved of his duties on Oct. 2." I'm sure there is an interesting story there but as to what it is, who knows?
Six Tips For Balance and Height During a Hurdle
Photo: Sean Garnsworthy /Allsport
Track Your Progress as a Diver
All the hard work you put in during practice should pay off with a big win at the end of the year, right? Well of course it does, but during the year how do you know if you are progressing toward your goals? Here is one way to track your progress.
Increase in High School Athletic Participation
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NHFS), participation in high school athletics increased 0.4% in 2008-2009, marking the 20th straight year that an increase has occurred. On further examination, the NHFS found that the sport with the biggest increase was swimming and diving, adding an additional 29,967 competitors over the past year. Of concern for diving coaches, athletes and enthusiasts, is what part of that increase (if any) can be attributed to diving?
The unfortunate aspect of this statistic is that swimming and diving are not separated. But when concerned about the health and growth of the sport, what would be an interesting stat is if high school diving participation increased/decreased, and in what states? You would have to assume there is a strong correlation with participation rates and the availability of facilities. Hmmm....do you think that this kind of information would be of interest to the AAU or USA Diving? It should be.
Dumais Named Diver of the Year
Troy Dumais was deservingly named USA Diving's Diver of the Year for the third time in his career this past weekend at the United States Aquatic Sports Convention in Chicago. The award, sponsored by the USA Diving Board of Directors, is given to the outstanding diving athlete of the year who has demonstrated excellence in their performances in national and international diving competition.
Dumais finished the 2009 diving season by earning world championship silver medals in three-meter springboard, and synchronized springboard (with teammate Kristian Ipsen), as well as adding three national titles and two golds at the FINA AT&T USA Diving Grand Prix. The 29 year-old member of three Olympic teams previously received the award in 1997 and 2006.
Photo: Nick Laham/Getty Images