What Are Starting Blocks in Diving?

In swim meets, swimmers launch themselves into the pool from elevated stands, called starting blocks. In addition to swimming strokes and turns, competitive swimmers learn to dive from the starting blocks to establish their advantage.

  1. Structure

    • Starting blocks are raised platforms at the edge of the pool, usually marking the swim lanes. The starting block has a slightly angled top and a rubber surface to prevent slipping. A bar installed at mid-level and extends slightly beyond the edge of the pool.

    Function

    • The starting block serves as a platform for racing dives. Swimmers are positioned to dive from the top of the block (called a start) or for backstroke, to dive in backward.

    Significance

    • The use of starting blocks and effective diving techniques provide competitive swimmers with time and efficiency advantages because distance and momentum are established in the water when the swimmer launches from the raised platform.

    Starts

    • Three types of starts are used competitively from the starting block: track start (swimmer positioned with one foot forward); butterfly start (both feet are curled over the edge of the block); backstroke starting grip (swimmer is positioned in the water).

    Special Considerations

    • Swimmers who are proficient in strokes, turns and diving from poolside learn competitive swim starts using the diving blocks. The starting block is a raised platform usually at the deep end, in order to prevent serious injuries and accidents from diving into shallow water.