Diving: legs bend or separate on entry

Knees bend or legs split as the swimmer goes in, causing a big splash.

Activities that help

• Entry Splash Detective – Partners judge the size of the splash on each entry – the smaller the splash, the more streamlined the entry – making 'quality' easy to see.
• Jump, Shape, Straighten – The teacher calls a shape as the swimmer stands ready – star, tuck or pike – and the swimmer must show it and be straight before entering.
• Lunge Dive – From a lunge with one foot forward at the edge, overbalance with arms leading and the back leg lifting, entering through the hands – a step between crouch and standing dives.
• Pencil Jump – A straight feet-first jump out from the edge – arms by the sides, legs together, toes pointed – the basic diving entry shape.
• Poolside Shape Freeze – Dry-land practice on a poolside mat: swimmers freeze in straight, star, tuck and pike shapes on command, building the body awareness needed in the air.
• Star Jump Entry – Jump out, open into a star shape in the air, then close back to a pencil before entering – the first shape that must be finished before entry.