SD3 - Competitive Dive Starts (for Trained Competitors)
| Issue Date | Effective Date | Version |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 |
Competitive Dive Starts (for Trained Competitors) (current ref AP12)
Competitive Dive Starts is the practice of diving off the pool edge or start blocks for the purposes of commencing a swimming or lifesaving race event, or training. The dive is typically a shallow dive performed with the intent of travelling as far forward as possible and accelerating the competitor’s start to their swim. Trained competitors are people who have had extensive training and practice at performing competitive dive starts. The risk of injury in a pool with sufficient forward clearance at the appropriate depth is low, however there are heightened risks where pools have submersible booms or where competitors are inexperienced or poorly trained. For these reasons, competitive dive starts for school carnivals or where there are submersible booms should be treated with extra care.
Competitive Dive Starts should only be permitted provided the following is in place:
Risk Assessment
Competition organisers and coaches and instructors supervising training for competition or providing competitive training programs should complete a Competitive Dive Starts Risk Assessment (or incorporate into a broader event, program or aquatic risk assessment).
The risk assessment should consider:
- Whether the facility has the appropriate water depths for the competitive dive starts
- What qualifications, training, professional licensing and experience the coaches, officials and instructors needs to conduct/supervise competitive dive starts safely
- Whether coaches, officials and instructors are medically fit and healthy to supervise and/or instruct competitive dive starts
- The availability of backup supervision and trained personnel in aquatic spinal injury management
- The availability of suitable aquatic spinal injury management rescue equipment
- The availability of appropriate signage during the competition to indicate that ‘competitive dive starts is in progress’.
Water Depths for Competitive Swimming and Training
Competitive dive starts activities should be prohibited if the required water depth or forward clearance is not available.
- Minimum Water Depth for Dive Starts:
- From concourse level: 1.2m. Competitive dive starts may be permitted from concourse level to a maximum height above water of 0.2m (measured from the water line to the plummet).
- 0.2-0.4m above the water: 1.35m (measured from the water line to the plummet).Competitive dive starts may be permitted from concourse level to a maximum height above water of 0.4m. If the start is greater than 0.4m above the water, the start should be commenced in the water.
- From 0.4m-0.75m: 1.5m or greater. Competitive dive starts may be permitted from a maximum height of 0.75m.
- Optimal Water Depth for Dive Starts: 2m.
- Forward Clearance:
- Standard: 7.5m from the edge of the pool, the first 5m of which should be at least the recommended water depth.
Supervision
- Coaches and Officials: Must ensure competence and supervise dive starts. Refer Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations – Training and Qualifications for relevant minimum qualifications, licensing and training.
- Lifeguards: Required for general supervision to enforce rules and signage.
Additional Safety Considerations
- Signage: In addition to the usual permanent pool safety signage, warning signs are required in areas where dive starts are being conducted. Signage should read: “Warning: Dive Entries Permitted by Trained Swimmers Under Supervision Only”, or similar. Note: A temporary sign is not necessary where the entire pool is closed to the public and being used solely for competition swimming/training or learn to swim under supervision.
- Advanced Warning: Prior to participating in swimming events swimmers should be advised and warned of the water depth into which they may be required to dive start into during the course of any competition. Competition entry forms and promotional material should clearly advise competitors of the water depth in which competition(s) will be held and the height above water from which dive starts will occur.
- Starting Blocks: Starting blocks should be inspected prior to each use to ensure they are correctly fitted, sturdy and free of any potential hazards, and should only be available for use by those persons deemed as competent at executing a safe forward dive entry. In pools where non-complementary activities are being conducted, starting blocks should be isolated from use when not used for competition or instruction. In most circumstances, starting blocks should not be available to the recreational user.
REFERENCES
- Blanksby, B., Wearne, F. K., Elliott, B., & Blitvich, J. D. (1997). Aetiology and occurrence of diving injuries: A review of diving safety. Sports Medicine, 23(4), 228-246. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199723040-0000
- Dive depth and water depth in competitive swim starts, J Blitvich et al, 2000
- FINA Facility Rules 2021 - 2025. FINA, Lausanne.
- Safe Diving Practices: Competitive Applications (Keith McElroy), J Blitvich et al, 1999.
- Guide to Ontario Public Pools Regulation, 2nd Edition, 2004, Lifesaving Society, Toronto
- Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools, 3rd Edition, 2003, Sport England Publications, Wetherby.
- GSPO Guideline FD24 Design of Starting Blocks (Starting Platforms)
- GSPO Guideline SU22 Safe Water Entry For Competitions
- GSPO Guideline PR8 Qualifications For Providing Safe Aquatic Programs
PREVIOUS GUIDELINES
- Guideline AP12 – Supervision of Safe Water Entry (Diving) for Competitions, Issue 1,
- Guideline SP8 - Starting Blocks (Starting Platforms), Issue 1,
- Guideline SU22 Safe Water Entry for Competitions – Competitive Dive Starts, Issue 1, Nov 2005
- Guideline SU21 Safe Water Entry for Competitions – Competitive Dive Starts, Issue 1, Nov 2002
- Guideline SU21 Supervision of Competitive Events Issue 1, November 1997
