Springboard Safety Rules
Specialist facility only: a walk-through of springboard rules – one person on the board, check the water is clear, feet-first unless taught otherwise, swim straight to the side.
- Stages
- Diving – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Diving Safety
- Equipment
- Springboard
- Age
- 9–99 years
- Group size
- 1–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Specialist facility only: designated diving pool of the required depth, pool operator approval and supervision by a suitably qualified diving coach/teacher.
- Do not run springboard activities with general swimming teaching qualifications alone.
What it develops
- Introduction to springboard approach and take-off
- Explain and apply diving safety rules
How to run it
- Only at a pool with a designated diving area and springboard, during a session supervised by a suitably qualified diving coach/teacher.
- Walk to the board area together and explain: one person on the board and ladder at a time; wait for the coach's signal; check the water below is clear.
- Explain the exit route: surface, swim straight to the nearest side or ladder away from the board.
- Swimmers repeat the rules back before anyone climbs the board.
Teaching cues
- One at a time on the board.
- Wait for the signal.
- Clear water, clear exit.
Make it easier
- Use picture cards for each rule.
Make it harder
- Swimmers act as 'water clear' spotters under the coach's supervision.
Common faults
- Queuing on the ladder or board.
- Bouncing on the board without permission.
Corrections
- 'Wait on poolside until the board is clear.'
- 'No bouncing unless the coach asks.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Supervise the poolside queue so swimmers wait well away from the board until the diving coach calls them.