Diving – Stage 10 swimming activities

Introductory diving with control: standing dives with a good entry, jumps with clear shapes and turns, rotation progressions in the water, short linked sequences, and an introduction to springboard approach and take-off only where a specialist diving facility and qualified diving supervision are available. Outcomes are SwimShare focus areas.

Diving · 28 activities.

Outcomes

Standing dives with control and good entry
Jumps with clear shapes and turns
Rotation progressions in the water
Introduction to springboard approach and take-off
Link entries, shapes and surfacing in a short sequence
Explain and apply diving safety rules

Activities

Arm Swing Take-Off – Use a controlled arm swing to lift a feet-first jump – arms swing back, then forward and up as the legs push – learning to take off up and out, not just out.
Backward Roll in the Water – A tucked backward somersault in the water from a back float, introducing backward rotation safely and calmly.
Clear Water Check – A routine swimmers perform before every jump or dive: check depth, look left, right and ahead for swimmers, wait for the signal – until it becomes automatic.
Depth Check Detective – Swimmers find and explain the pool's depth markings, 'No diving' signs and the areas where jumping and diving are allowed – safety knowledge before any entry.
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.
Diving Cool-Down and Reflect – Finish with an easy swim and back float, then each swimmer names their best entry today and the safety rule they used most.
Diving Mini-Routine – Swimmers plan and perform three entries in order – e.g. pencil jump, tuck jump, and their current dive progression – with safe surfacing between each.
Diving Rules Huddle – A quick poolside huddle to agree the session's entry rules: one at a time, check the water is clear, swim away after surfacing, stop on the whistle.
Diving Warm-Up Mobility – A gentle poolside warm-up before entries: shoulder circles, arm reaches into the grab, calf rises and tension holds – preparing the body for jumps and dives.
Entry Shapes Judge Panel – Swimmers take turns as a three-person judging panel scoring jumps on shape, control and entry – learning what good looks like.
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.
Half-Turn Jump – Jump out and turn half a circle in the air to land feet-first facing the wall – with a clear, safe distance from the edge.
Jump Sequence Relay – Teams perform a sequence of different feet-first jumps one at a time – pencil, star, tuck, turn – scoring for control and safe exits, not speed.
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.
Over the Noodle Dive – A noodle floats a short distance out; swimmers dive over it – encourages pushing out to a shallow, safe entry angle.
Over the Top Entry – Refines the standing dive so the body travels up and over into a steep entry rather than out and flat – aiming the hands at a soft floating target.
Pike Reach Jump – Jump up, lift straight legs and reach the hands towards the toes in a pike, then straighten fully before a feet-first entry.
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.
Roll and Stretch – Link a forward or backward roll in the water straight into a long, streamlined stretch – rotation that finishes in a tight, straight shape, as a dive should.
Springboard Approach Walk – Specialist facility only: practise a calm, controlled walk to the end of the board and a balanced stance – first on poolside, then on the board – before any take-off.
Springboard Feet-First Jump – Specialist facility only: from a still stance at the end of a low springboard, a controlled feet-first pencil jump out from the board.
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.
Standing Dive – A streamlined standing dive from the side: bend, swing or reach, push out and enter through one hole.
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.
Surface, Turn and Swim Away – After every entry, swimmers steer up, turn to face the side and swim out of the entry area – so the next swimmer has clear water.
Toes Over the Edge Stance – Set up a stable diving stance at the edge – toes curled over, feet hip-width, knees soft, arms in the grab above the head – and hold it before any entry.
Tuck Jump Entry – Jump out, bring the knees to the chest in a tuck, then straighten before entering feet-first.
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.