Learning and practicing dives, just as in any other learning process, should be based on fundamental building blocks or skills. These building blocks in the sport of diving are vital, but to make effective use of them, these skills should be implemented in a series of progressions – hence the term Skill Progressions. Here are eight reasons why.
- Skill Progressions allow a diver to learn a solid base of fundamentals such as front jumps, line-ups, somersault kick-out, etc.
- Skill Progressions break down dives into smaller more easily managed parts, or aspects of a dive.
- Each broken down skill that is part of a dive is easier to learn, thus increasing the chance that it will be learned correctly.
- Each skill can be practiced independently. If a diver is having problems with a particular part of a dive (entry, kick-out, take-off) they can spend time working on that part without effecting other parts of the dive.
- Progressing from one skill to the next allows a skill to be added that has been perfected.
- Skill Progressions allow the coach to evaluate each skill as it is added to a dive.
- Skill Progressions allow a diver to progress safely from an easier dive to a more difficult dive.
- Learning a dive without proper progression can lead to bad habits that often compromise a divers’ safety.
