Strength and Conditioning

Our divers are supported by both the English Institute of Sport (EIS) and by Sheffield Hallam University (SHU). Tommy Yule and Alex Wolf at Sheffield's EIS centre regularly work with our athletes that are on World Class Programmes. A number of staff members at SHU deliver Strength and Conditioning to another group of our athletes.

Strength and Conditioning is important for a number of reasons. It allows divers to build strength quicker than by training diving alone, allowing them to perform more demanding skills. It allows divers to build strength in areas that are subjected to stress (back, shoulders, wrists) and prevent injury to our divers. It also allows divers to develop and increase co-ordination and proprioception - this will make them more aware of their body and what it's doing when they're diving.

Sports Psychology

We have a number of professionals working with our divers. Michele Miller is the lead psychologist for British Diving, as is linked to all our World Class athletes. Ian Maynard is a Professor at SHU who works with some of our divers. Our most involved psychologist is Kate Hays from SHU. Our divers access time with Kate each week - either in individual or group sessions - and work on Goal Setting, Stress-Management, Profiling, Competition Routine, Visualisation/Imagery and is also there to help with any individual difficulties our athletes face through their career.

Video Analysis

Rob Scaife from EIS works with our divers, and the coaches use computer software (Dartfish and Quintic) to analyse the divers' performances through the season. Rob can provide video from competitions, instant feedback with analysis (to complement the three video replay systems the divers use day-to-day) and work on projects lasting up to a whole season with athletes.