Visualise the Dive
Before trying an entry, swimmers close their eyes on poolside (back from the edge) and picture every step – stance, take-off, shape, entry, surfacing – building calm confidence.
- Stages
- Diving – Stage 8, Diving – Stage 9, Diving – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Diving Safety
- Equipment
- Poolside Mat
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 1–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 3 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Eyes closed only on the mat well away from the edge.
What it develops
- Confident, controlled entries and exits
- Explain and apply diving safety rules
How to run it
- Swimmers sit or stand on a mat well back from the edge.
- With eyes closed, the teacher talks them through the entry slowly: stance, signal, take-off, shape, entry, steer up, swim away.
- Swimmers open their eyes and describe one detail they 'saw'.
- Then perform the entry for real.
Teaching cues
- See every step.
- Calm breathing.
- Same picture, then do it.
Make it easier
- Teacher describes; swimmers nod at each step.
Make it harder
- Swimmers talk themselves through it silently.
Common faults
- Skipping the surfacing step.
Corrections
- 'What happens after you go in?'
Assistant / L1 role
- Stay with the visualising group on the mat while the teacher supervises any swimmers already in the water.