Keys to a Successful Hurdle, or Springboard Diving Approach

Emma Whitner is an active presence in the University of Florida academic community who is working toward a degree in finance. Also maintaining an impactful athletic career, Emma Whitner excels in Division 1 diving competition. Among the keys to a successful dive is nailing the front approach, or hurdle.

The most common types of diving hurdles are the hop hurdle and the traditional five-step hurdle. Both are forward approaches that involve the diver holding the arms behind the body, as a way of promoting stability and balance. Just as the foot hits the board on the final step, the arms come forward and enter an arm swing that parallels a knee drive. As the knees reach peak position, the arms also reach the top of the swing above the head and the diver readies to launch from the springboard.

As the diver comes down from the hurdle jump, it’s beneficial to focus vision on the end of the board. This makes certain the feet land at the exact target point and avoids an otherwise common situation of the feet being too far from the edge or slipping over the edge.

Finally, there is a brief “wait for board” moment when the diver is at the edge of the springboard. Waiting until the board moves upward after having been depressed enables the diver to channel the momentum of the board and gain maximum height and upward movement as the feet leave the board’s surface.