So Dive in from the Boards!

So Dive in!

 

Extracts from the original little book.

 

 

Whether you want to learn and train as a competitive diver at local level or international level,  whether you choose to learn diving for pure enjoyment and fun,  what better challenging,  stimulating and healthy past time can you choose?

Can be a wonderful, graceful floating sensation in the air

  It’s  a lovely feeling to  spin, turn and twist in the air. You poise yourself wondering whether you’ll have balance when you reach the end of the diving board,  and the courage to lift yourself high waiting for either a floating graceful sensation down to the water – or a sudden explosion of energy into lots of twists and somersaults in the air.“Gosh will I get it all in before I enter the water?” you ask yourself. 

What about all those entries into the water?  It’s a wonderful feeling of pulling all your muscles as tight as tight as can be,  squeezing your ears with the tops of your arms,  and feeling yourself sucking the water down as you enter.  

All the people above the water will see nothing but a few bubbles as your beautifully pointed feet disappear under.  This is called “ripping”  your entries.  You “rip” through the water,  taking the splash down with you.  This is a very skillful art.  Your coach will spend many an hour with you teaching you to perform it “just perfectly.”

OUCH! the water can be so hard

And what about those other entries into the water?  Water looks so blue,  soft and inviting but sometimes you can get muddled in the air,  completely lose your train of thought and OUCH!  the water is so hard and winding you that you can hardly breath,  stinging you and hurting all over.

It’s no laughing matter,  but… oh my!  the colourful bruises that emerge over your skin – any shade of blue,  green or yellow will make you hero of the week when you attend school next day!

This can all happen when you want to run before you can walk.  Understandibly you are ambitious and enthusiastic,  the focus can easily be upset when you are thinking of too many things at once or too soon

It is important to progress step by step over a longer period.  Also never to attend your lessons when you are feeling unwell.  When you are off colour,  you will not be sharp thinking.

Whilst on the subject of alertness,  you must be aware of possible dangers in the pool and around the diving boards.

Always Listen to your Coach

Never push anyone  from the poolside or diving boards.  At anyone time be the only one on the springboard diving board and always jump in line with the board – never to the side – and be sure not to swim UNDER the diving boards.

It’s advisable to attempt new dives only when your coach is with you,  or perform any movement with your back turned facing the water.

Dive safely to be safe! and you will be looked up  and learn from from your fine examples.

You have to have style.

You will achieve more at a faster rate if you have “Style” or “HEY look at me” attitude,  plus of course a willingness to learn.

If you carry yourself well having a straight back, pulling in tummy muscles,  good square shoulders,  your diving exercises will come a little easier to you.

If you don’t consider yourself having these advantages then DO NOT worry,  your diving exercises will put you right!

If you have the correct attitude and really want to succeed then you will.  Bodyline can be taught,  attitude is harder to teach.

If you are aware of what your body does when you move around,  and have natural ability to stretch your muscles and point your feet and toes,  to be able to feel when your legs are together or wide apart,  once taught the take off from the diving board you will balance well.

You’ll look artistic in the air,  and carry this through to your fabulous “rip” entry into the water.  To have the advantage of muscle control, tight or slack,  then you are well on the way of learning quickly.

Don’t fret if you find this difficult,  exercises help to streamline you – as instructed by your coach –  and will eventually be as unconsciously effortless as breathing!

But…it does involve devotion and courage if you wish to dive in competitions and take this game seriously!

More on www.so-dive-in.co.uk

©agj

POETIC HIGHS AND LOWS OF AN INVENTOR!

 LONG HARD JOURNEY TO BRING A NEW CONCEPT TO MARKET...

"It's good, it's brilliant and where did you get the idea?
When it's available to buy there'll be orders from us - NO fear."
Off to the superstores and warehouses with prototype to show,
"How great! wow...what a awesome invention!  when they're around please let us know."

How often my partner and I have heard all this before,
We know it's good,  the market's there,  and is needed more and more.
But the work and the effort over a decade - we thought was almost in vain,
To get it produced was disappointing and let down again and again.

The phone and the fax ringing all day, potential customers enquired
About the Invention, they've heard on the grapevine -  how CAN it be acquired?
Via media, overseas and home, with lists of clients long...
"Are they manufactured yet?" was the persistent song.

There have been many downfalls,  highs and lows,
Once passed the bouncers many companies say "How clever!" - but NOTHING - that's the way it goes.
Spending on Patents, expending much energy and stress,
No-one gives a definate NO,  but then no-one says YES.

Miles and miles of travel,  securing appointments one after the other ,
Moral is boosted to exhileration,  only to find in time they just don't bother.
As soon as you're out of the door there is proof it's all forgotten,
But to us and our passion it's real, and it all seems so rotten.

Manufacturers shelve ideas, for them,  that would be the best,
But how can they possibly know this without putting concepts to the test?
Those that were successful we turned to for advice,
The response being "Sorry I can't help you, but the product is "very naice."

Despite the knock downs, an Innovator and his Partner must show plenty of faith - it's TOUGH,
There comes many a time when one feels you've simply had enough.
It's a lonely expensive business just the two of you,
And despite, commitment and endeavour there's only so much you can do.

You begin to wonder despite the "hearing's" whether it may not be as good as you think,
If companies were not prepared to help,  there must be a chink?
Fuelled with more determination you hang on in there and continue persevering,
Despite many sacrifices,  midnight oil burning, days become nights, you persist in believing.

Prospective clients keep hammering the point "the product will sell",
It's disturbing and humiliating,  you know this fact oh! so well.
With no-one to make commitments,  sign on the dotted line, you suffer duress,
All that Innovation?...  just lying around...useless.

But SUDDENLY your day arrives,  you have a deal!
What were everlasting speculations and fantasies now become very real.
Now EVERYONE wants a slice of the action,  as they come bounding over to you,
There's interest,  motivation, there's action,  they'll do anything for you.

Sell outs,  Industrial Awards, National Press, having to keep check on the stock,
National and International the  dreams of your life just running amock
Why oh why does it have to be all this way,
The years of struggling, and the belief, until you reach this day.

One thing's for certain, past reticent ones could come chasing - the tables being turned,
Recalling the days we needed THEM - and we were spurned,
This particular Inventor would like to help budding Inventors, recalling those days
Advising and mentoring,  and helping them to better ways

Believe in YOURSELF is the order of the day,
Trust your focus, it doesn't matter what others say.
Keep striving and driving through obstacles that could block your way,
Whether the suns shining or not, " JUST MAKE THAT HAY"..................it will be deserved.

First written 2009 Anne Green Jessel