Real-time analysis and feedback of performance indicators in elite diving

The difficulty and quality of dives required to win medals in Olympic springboard diving has increased throughout the modern era. A greater understanding of optimal diving technique, increased training opportunity and support from disciplines of sports science and medicine have influenced this trend. Progress towards world class standards is enhanced by objective measurement of performance in a training and competition context from which an assessment of the effect of training interventions can be made, leading to a programme individualised for each diver. A description of kinematic parameters representing high quality performance of the world’s hardest dives did not exist. Standards were therefore defined following analysis of dives performed over five years of springboard competition. This new knowledge contributes to a model called ‘What It Takes To Win’ (WITTW). A practical method to calculate kinematic metrics from dives in training also did not exist, limiting comparison between training and WITTW standards. To bridge this gap, a flexible method for analysing dives in training and competition was developed and a bespoke tool created to calculate and feedback performance data with a greater level of sensitivity than in related studies in the sport. Automatic tracking was designed and implemented to facilitate ‘real-time’ measurement of kinematic data, providing a new training process where objective data added to subjective interpretation of quality throughout training. Four World Class Programme divers were tracked through a season’s preparatory phase. Change in performance was measured and an analysis conducted to compare progress towards WITTW standards and assess the influence of strength and conditioning training in performance outcomes. Statistical analysis of longitudinal training data showed that independent variables relating to ‘best’ performances were not common to all divers and that an individualised set of critical variables could be identified for each diver as strengths around which to focus training.