Diving Confidence Ladder
Swimmers choose their own rung – sitting, kneeling, crouching, lunging – and move up only when they've done three controlled entries, so nervous divers progress at their own pace.
- Stages
- Diving – Stage 8, Diving – Stage 9, Diving – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Starts, Diving Entry
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 1–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 7 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Head-first entries only into water deep enough under your pool's diving policy; never shallow water; one at a time with the area checked clear.
- The teacher decides when a swimmer moves to a higher rung.
What it develops
- Early head-first entries where depth allows
- Progress towards a standing dive where depth allows
- Confident, controlled entries and exits
How to run it
- Explain the ladder: sitting dive → kneeling dive → crouch dive → lunge dive.
- Each swimmer starts on the rung they feel comfortable with.
- After three controlled entries (hands locked, head between arms, straight legs), they may move up a rung.
- Swimmers can stay or move back down at any time – no pressure.
Teaching cues
- Your rung, your choice.
- Three good ones, then move up.
- Hands lead every time.
Make it easier
- Add a 'push and glide from the wall' rung at the bottom.
Make it harder
- Top rung: a standing dive, only where depth allows and the teacher agrees.
Common faults
- Moving up before entries are controlled.
- Peer pressure to move up.
Corrections
- 'Show me three good ones first.'
- 'It's not a race up the ladder.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Keep a record of each swimmer's rung and count of controlled entries on a poolside board for the teacher.