A BIOMECHANICAL EVALUATION OF DIVE START PERFORMANCE IN SWIMMING-FORCE DEVElOPMENT CHARACTERISTICS AND ANGULAR MOMENTUM

Abstract

Dive start performance has been considered a major determinant for race swimming over short distances (e.g. Lyttle & Benjanuvatra at www.coachesinfo.com).This performance is based on chronologically interrelated sub components such as take-off performance on the block, flight performance before water contact, dive entry while immersing into the water, and gliding performance before the first swim stroke. In this "work in progress" report, we will focus on the take-off performance from the block. We will introduce a portable 2D-force measurement starting block which can be installed in different training centres and pool locations. Selected data on a research program for the biomechanical evaluation of dive start performance in swimming will be presented in order to show force development profiles from junior level swimmers. In addition, we will introduce data on the angular momentum at take-off. We will discuss some validation procedures in order to estimate the quality of the underlying calculations. To date, angular momentum has hardly been evaluated in biomechanical studies on the dive start in swimming. Nevertheless, angular momentum might play a crucial role for the angle of dive entry.