Dive Right in with Your FIRST Dives!
Hi Sigma Swim and Stroke Schoolers!
We've really come along our beginner journey thus far! Last week, we discussed the importance of
roll breathing, and how it can help your beginner learn to swim further and further with good technique. This week, we embark on a side quest to learn the preliminary steps of diving! This can be both a fun and dubious time for swimmers, so it's important to be patient with them as they navigate this new skill. Using the side of the pool as the initial platform, we can work on a stepwise plan to get your swimmer on the road to diving off the blocks like their
favorite olympians!
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Diving can be somewhat a scary process for some children because they may be afraid of getting hurt or belly flopping into the water. Fortunately, though, most children live with some level of reckless abandon that facilitates the process. Let's face it, young swimmers are typically pretty fearless once they get their bearings! A good way to ease in, as documented on the first half of the video, is the seated dive. Using this method, we can mediate the basic skills needed: a tight streamline, following the hands into the water, etc. You will see around the 0:26 mark of the video that our swimmer keeps her
streamline very tight (make sure to go back and look at previous posts if you need a recap!). After the beginners master the seated dive, they can move onto kneeling, which has a similar yet more athletic feel to its predecessor. After that, it's time to move our way up to standing dives and
block starts!
Fact of the week
: Diving does not necessarily provide the same survival benefits as roll breathing or
back floating. Yet, they sure are fun! Fun aside, they also are the fastest point of any given swimming race. A swimmer's speed off the blocks or wall will not be replicated within the lap because it's the only time you can push off of something solid! Not to mention, starts are the only time you're only moving through the air. Learning to perfect dives from an early age - and
safely - can create a huge benefit for a swimming future. We want to make sure to educate all beginning swimmers on safe conditions for dives, as well as provide a fast means to enter the water and move along with their swimming experience!
How does my child move up? Come to every swim class, bring your progress report, earn those stickers, and ask your child's instructor or location's deck manager if you have questions.
Dive right into your progress and learn those new diving techniques! Glad your swimmer is learning to swim with us!
The Sigma Team
Other Sigma Swim School and Stroke School important links:
- BAND - Never miss a notification about your swim/stroke classes or other important and urgent information. Register and find your Sigma location.
- Equipment: Youth Swim and Stroke School
- Questions? [email protected]
