Springboard & Platform Diving-2nd Edition

232 pages published: 2003

About the Book

Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1988, Ron O’Brien coached two-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis and many others during his extensive reign as the U.S. Olympic team’s head diving coach. Now, in the latest edition of Springboard & Platform Diving, the best-known diving coach in the United States shares new information and training plans never before published. Along with a wealth of technical instruction, Springboard & Platform Diving gives you the fundamentals of the sport. O’Brien shows you how to plan for the training year and adapt the six-week peaking-for-competition program he used for training champion athletes.

From solid fundamentals to fine-tuned movements that add aesthetic appeal for judges, O’Brien describes each type of dive in detail. He augments his instruction with numerous sequential illustrations that highlight the best and most current technical elements of each dive. A special boardwork checklist will help coaches and divers pinpoint deficient skills.

Springboard & Platform Diving provides readers inside information once exclusively reserved for the world’s best. This book is a one-of-a-kind blueprint for diving success, written by the best coach in the sport.

About the Author

Ron O’Brien is currently the national technical director for United States Diving. He has produced more champions (including four-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis) and coached more Olympic, world, and Pan American teams than any other coach in diving history.

Before retiring from active coaching in 1988, O’Brien served in almost every capacity in diving, from national 3-meter champion in 1961 to president of the U.S. Professional Diving Coaches Association from 1981 to 1985 to International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee in 1988. His divers have won 12 Olympic medals and 196 gold medals in national and international competition, and he has coached at least one U.S. national champion in each of 23 consecutive years (1973 to 1995).

Ron lives in Islamorada, Florida.

Words of Praise

"O’Brien’s book is excellent and covers all areas of diving technique. Ron O’Brien is considered one of the greatest diving coaches of all time. His knowledge of the sport is outstanding." Richard Kimball Four-time U.S. Olympic diving team assistant coach Two-time NCAA women’s and one-time men’s diving coach of the year

"Ron O’Brien was ‘the man with the plan’ who enabled me to fulfill my Olympic dreams far beyond my expectations. This book is unique because, for the first time, Ron shares with the world of diving his secrets to success. Chapters 9 and 10 on training and peaking for competition and coaching and mental preparation are the hidden treasures in this book. Read it, and pass it on!" Mary Ellen Clark 1992 and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, 10-meter platform