Diving - the Big Finish!

Last year's dive season was not as fantastic as Connor's first year on the team. The coach's wife died, the team was competing in very difficult meets, there seemed to be more stress than the prior year. It is probably most telling that I didn't write about the dive team at all last year (although I also didn't post much in July and August last year).

This year, when it came time to sign up for the time, Connor said he wanted to do it again because it's really fun! Well, OK then, we'll sign up.

As a recap, Connor's first year on the dive team he had three dives - hurdle and front dive; back dive; forward flip. The flip was never fantastic, but it was good enough. Last year, Connor lost his flip. He just couldn't do it any longer, and by the end of the year, there was a lot of negative energy around that dive. It was almost painful to watch. This year, he started the season by losing his back dive. So, in two year's time, he had gone from having 3 regulation dives to 1. This is not good.

So we went to the pool, and while I can't help him on his flip, I can help him on his back dive. We went to the diving board, and I made Connor practice the dive. I was giving him pointers, the lifeguard was helping him out, he was standing on the end of the board scared to try. Finally, I told Connor we'd leave the pool after he did 5 or 10 (I can't remember which) quick back dives. He would need to go to the end of the board and not pause - because it was clear to everyone watching that Connor was just psyching himself out.

Whatever the number was seemed reasonable to Connor, and he actually completed them. They weren't necessarily pretty, but they did allow him to get over his fear. We repeated this exercise a few times, until Connor was happy and excited to do the dive again. I even showed Connor videos of him performing the dive last year, hoping that if he saw himself do it, he'd be more comfortable.

He took two sessions of morning dive lessons, and during lessons, he worked on the dive some more. Connor's coach rarely hands out a compliment that isn't deserved, but even he was telling me the dive looked great.

The final meet of the season was with four Arlington swim clubs. Because there were so many divers, each diver would only do two dives, rather than three. There was a delay in the meet for an electric storm, it was so hot that as I stood at the score recording table, I was literally slipping off my chair from the sweat. And even though I advocate not being jealous of anyone, I have never been so jealous of every single diver as they plunged into the water. Did I mention it was hot?

Connor's first dive was good. His unadjusted score was second or third. His second dive was a jumping back dive. And he nailed it! All of the table workers looked at me and expressed how impressed they were with him.

The dive was good enough to catapult him into first place among 7 year old boys. And it was so wonderful to be able to tell Connor that all his work paid off. That he had taught himself that back dive again, and it looked fantastic. His coach was so proud of him - the team cheered for him - it was such a fantastic way to end the season.

Now...hopefully he won't lose that dive again in the off-season and he'll get that flip back next year! He has expressed interest in moving to the "A" team, but he definitely needs all his dives to do that.

Bravo, Connor! You really do deserve that medal!

The AFC Boys Waiting to Dive

Elaine

The Number of Children I Have Who Can Go Off the Diving Board Independently Now Equals Two!

Saturday night is float night at our pool. Failure to check the timing of the event (plus later than expected delivery of a dog we are watching for the next couple of weeks) meant that rather than being at the pool from 5 - 7 when floats were allowed in the pool, we were there from 6 - 8. This turned out to be amazingly lucky.

When float night ended, the kids set their enormous T-Rex float on the side of the pool, and I decided to swim a few laps. For whatever reason, this inspired the kids to swim laps with me. I don't tend to worry about Connor in the pool, but the idea that Helen would swim the length of the pool was almost unfathomable. Although I had thought she'd be swimming a year ago, she pretty much stalled out and hasn't seemed that into swimming.

Helen jumped in the water and started a very slow swim across the pool. She flipped to her back a couple of times and remembered to move her arms in "chicken, airplane, soldier" and she was steadily making progress. I only assisted her a couple of times. I was definitely impressed.

We got to the end of the lap lane, and Helen announced that she wanted to do it again. I told her if she was going to do it again, we were getting a lifeguard, because something inside me told me this kid was going to pass the swim test and become eligible for the diving board.

I accompanied her to the lifeguard table and made my ridiculous request. The lifeguard in charge looked at me as if I was crazy, and I shrugged and said "it might work out". And indeed, Helen swam the length of the pool. She flipped from front to back as needed, and twice she almost bumped into the side of the pool when she was going backwards, but she got herself off the wall and kept on moving, chanting "chicken, airplane, soldier". At one point, the lifeguard said "kick those feet", and Helen did. I started to get really excited when we were about 10 feet from the end of the pool. Helen was getting tired, but she flipped to her stomach and realized how close she was and swam to the end!

I can't even express how proud Helen was of her accomplishment. I think it took her by surprise. She's been telling me since the pool opened that she knows how to swim the length of the pool, but when I tell her she needs to show the lifeguards, she always declines "not now".

She then proceeded to jump off the board three times, and though Connor would later tell me he liked it when he was the only one who could use the diving board, he had a ball with her. Seems only fair that I missed her first solo jumps, given that I missed Connor's as well.

But now, I give you several of today's jumps. She apparently forgot how to swim between last night and today because I almost had a heart attack as I watched her try and get to the side. But she made it, every time.

Bravo, Helen!

Missing from this video is the moment when I came about 1 second away from diving in after Helen to fetch her out of the water, and the many times Connor tried to encourage her to do some sort of trick off the board.

First Time Off the Diving Board for Helen

Tonight was the dive team picnic. Part of the picnic involved a family dive meet. Unfortunately, Connor had to join another family because he's the only one in ours who can complete a dive. Next year, though, I have big plans to take the adult dive lessons and find a way to not embarrass myself as I go flying through the air.

Tonight, though, was all Helen's. We asked the coach if he would catch her if she jumped off the board, and he was happy to do that. What a thrill! I think Helen's smile speaks for itself here. The whole dive team applauded when she went off the board. In two years, I could have two divers on the dive team! Connor has already asked if he could do it again next year.

Possibly, this will inspire Helen to learn to swim. Coach Bobby made Helen's night! Thank you, Coach Bobby. What a fantastic end to an incredibly fun summer.

Elaine

Diving - Take 2

Growing up, my mom had a theory. She thought nobody should be given an "A" in any class for the first grading period. What would the student have to work for, if they already had the highest grade? As her daughter, I thought this was a terrible idea. However, now that I'm a mom, I'm beginning to see her point.

Thursday night, Connor had his second dive meet. He completed the same dives as last week (front dive with a hurdle and a tuck, jumping back dive, and front flip), but the judging was a bit pickier. It was still a hoot to watch. Last week's money dive - the back dive with a jump - did not yield such extravagant results as it did before, but he did complete the dive. And once again, because most kids in his age group choose to complete a pencil jump (degree of difficulty 0.5) and Connor complete the flip (degree of difficulty = 1.4) for the third dive, he ended up winning. Again.



And again, he was completely pleased with himself, and his coach rocked it (even giving Connor a huge bear hug in between dives to help keep Connor warm).

But Connor knew his back dive was not as good this week as last week. And now I'm wondering - will he want to work hard to do the back dive better? Or has he decided that he is the King of 5-6 year old boy divers (of which there are not many), and he doesn't need to work to be on top? In many ways, it doesn't really matter. It's just diving. But I'm starting to see my mom's point - at least a little. Of course, maybe Connor will decide to try and become King of the 7 year olds - which will actually be a pretty difficult feat. At least half of those kids can complete a third dive!

Ed's comment? The video above is going to make for some good human interest footage in the Olympics someday. If he gets there.

Elaine

First Dive Meet

On Thursday, Connor participated in his first dive meet. I was nervous. We had attended an "A" meet, the previous week, and Connor had picked up on the following items.

1. 5 is a really good score (diving is scored from 1- 10, and we saw the youngest divers)
2. Receiving "no score" is really bad. (Something that happens when you fail to complete the dive you've signed up to complete.)
3. He would probably at least get 5s. (Confidence that kid has, I tell you.)

I picked up on the following:

1. The youngest age group is age 10 or under. There's a lot of difference between a 5 year old and a 10 year old!
2. Getting a 2 would be a miracle.
3. Sometimes, diving hurts.

I wasn't sure how his little ego would take getting crushed, given that he wasn't on track to get all 5s, but I didn't want to broach the subject too harshly, because I didn't want him to be worrying about it. I want him to worry about clearing the board and not needing to go to the ER - although I don't think he even realizes this is a possibility.

I needn't have worried. It was a "B" meet (which is why he could participate), and the youngest age group there is 5s and 6s. Also, the worst score they give is a 2, and at one point, someone completed the wrong "dive" (they performed a front jump into the pool rather than a back jump) and one of the judges quickly called out "score it as a front jump". And so the other judges followed suit. Amen. Hallelujah.

Connor's first dive was a hurdle front dive. He was the only one in his age group to complete this dive. Most kids opted for a "falling off front dive", or had a coach assist them into the water.

Connor's second dive was a jumping off back dive. Most kids did the falling off back dive, a few did a back jump off the diving board, and a few just jumped off frontwards. Notice the air he gets on this dive - and recall that this is the dive that he recently smacked very badly, and his coach shouted at him "Connor, I'm glad you were wearing that smack suit, because otherwise that would've hurt". He nailed the dive.

Connor received all high scores for this, including at least one 6.5. The announcer forgot to announce it, and his coach shouted "announce those scores - let him hear it" and Connor was out of this world thrilled. I'm sitting far away, but you might be able to pick up on his delight in this photo.

I've said it before. I love this coach. Love him.

Finally, for Connor's third dive, he did a front somersault. He had the option of pencil jump (degree of difficulty = 0.5) or the flip (degree of difficulty = 1.6). He went for it - and landed it - splashing me in the process!

After Connor's group was done, Coach Bobby shouted "hive fives for the divers" and that's when all the kids on the team stood up and started high-fiving Connor like he was Greg Louganis. Connor was so proud.

Connor, you've come a long way!

Elaine

Updated: Connor learned today at his dive lesson that he placed first. He was so thrilled that when I walked in the door today he shouted "Mom! You won't believe what happened. I won the dive meet!". He later told me it was the best thing that had ever happened to him. And then he told me I should take some lessons so I could learn how to dive better.

Wordless Wednesday: From Tallest to Smallest

In preparation for the dive team photo, the divers were asked to line up from tallest to smallest. That's Connor in the back of the line.

Diving...and Dinner

Connor joined the dive team at our pool. It's something he has looked forward to since he first heard about it last year. As much as I have resisted all signing up for sports, I broke down - encouraged it, even, because I know how much Connor loves the coach, and I just adore this thrill-seeking part of my otherwise cautious child. I won't adore it so much when he gets injured, but for now I love that he has this fun place to take risks.

Connor is in the front row, closest to the water.

Diving season is about to be in full swing, and occasionally, I start regretting signing Connor up for it. For the past couple of weeks, Connor has had practice every evening from 4:00 to 5:00. This was fine when I had a driving babysitter, but then I got a new (temporary) babysitter who doesn't drive, and so either Ed or I had to be home by 3:50 every day to dash to the pool. This has done a number on dinner at our house - which used to take place promptly at 5:30.

Noodles and Company is trying to save me. They came out with a "Very Berry Spinach Salad" for the summer. They happen to be located a few blocks from my house, serve Helen's favorite dish - macaroni - and I'm happy for anything green that has cheese as well (bacon optional, so I had them remove it). Yum. And thank you. I'm adding it to our picnic repetroire, which will help facilitate a new routine of diving and then eating, and then swimming before bed. (Yes, it wears even Helen out, and she falls to sleep almost instantly, rather than talking herself to sleep.) I'm also taking any and all other quick and not too expensive suggestions for pre-made picnic items.

But Connor doesn't really care about dinner. He cares about horsing around with the other kids at practice, and then getting his turn on the boards. He can now do: falling forward front dive; falling off back dive; jumping front dive; front flip (inconsistently); and jumping back dive (sometimes - more on that below).

Helen can do: jump off the side and falling forward front dive from the side. She can also complain mightily about not being allowed to go off the board. She can actually swim now, but not consistently enough to pass a swim test. And she'll go through phases of not really swimming at all, but instead walking on the bottom and insisting she's swimming. Hopefully it'll click into place for her soon.

Helen, being indignant while watching Connor dive.

I had intended to use my new camera to capture sweet photos of Connor diving on Friday, but the last 15 minutes of practice on Friday were "Fun Friday", which involves the kids playing games, until they get so out of control the coach has to cancel "Fun Friday". (Oh, the power!). In this game, Connor was supposed to perform a hurdle, leap into the air, and then "catch the sammy". Apparently, Connor needs to leap a little more. The object is several feet above his head in the photo.

Oh well...better luck next time.

During this particular practice, Connor did a jumping off back dive, only he didn't so something right, and he basically did a Nestea Plunge off the board. Ouch! When he came up for air, the coach looked at Connor and said "Connor, I'm glad you were wearing that smack suit, because otherwise that would've hurt". Connor, undeterred, found his place at the back of the line.

Connor also suffered a minor injury when he literally walked off the side of the board. Thankfully, he landed in water. Neither Ed nor I witnessed the event. Ed saw some scratches on Connor's ankle one night when we were in Williamsburg and asked about the provenance of the marks. Connor replied matter of factly that he had fallen off the board. I emailed the dive coach and found out that indeed, he had just walked right off the board. This wasn't too surprising, as I had kept Connor from walking right into three posts that day. Little Dude can definitely be spacey.

Elaine

I received a coupon in the mail for a free salad at Oodles of Noodles. Yum!

Helen Dives!

I don't have a photo, because when I discovered that HELEN CAN DIVE BY HERSELF! - I was the only adult in the pool. Because Helen cannot swim, I needed to be catching her, not photographing her. She walked right over to the deep water where kids can play and promptly put her arms by her ears, stretched up her hands, folded them, and dove. When I asked her who taught her how to dive, she said "Connor did!". Now, to figure out how to get her to seal the deal on swimming, because I have a feeling she's not going to be satisfied with diving off the side much longer.

Diving Lessons

For the past couple of months, Connor has been attending diving lessons at the local pool, with his coach from last summer. After observing him for most sessions, I have confirmed two things.

1. Being skinny has its benefits

2. Despite previous opinions to the contrary, Connor has no brains.

On the first point. Because Connor has no body fat, he chills easily in the pool. In order to extend his time in the pool so that we don't just run in, get wet, and run back out to the warm shower, Ed and I have always opted to dress Connor in a wetsuit. Because of this, when Connor does a belly flop, back flop, or any other kind of flop, it doesn't actually hurt that much. This is not true of the divers wearing regular swim suits. Diving involves tears, people. Real. Tears. (And moms who say "try again!" and "it doesn't hurt that badly" - which is assinine, given that the kids' skin is BRIGHT RED.)

Connor has been spared this fate, and always looks forward to his next turn - though he is a complete space cadet and the coach or I often have to shout "CONNOR!" in order to bring him from his fog up the steps of the diving board for his turn.

On the second point. Connor can now do a flip off of the diving board. I think that's all the supporting evidence you need.

First, the dive:

 Now, the flip:

For that first flip, the coach actually flipped Connor. The next two were performed unassisted.

Elaine