LESSONS FOR 6 YEAR OLD BEGINNER?

Question
TOM, I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD WHO LOVES GYMNASTICS AND LOVES SWIMMING...SO..WE'D LOVE TO SEE HOW SHE LIKES SPRINGBOARD DIVING..IS SHE TOO YOUNG? CAN YOU HELP US FIND LESSONS IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN?
THANKS!

Answer
Jamie -

As far as her age goes, I feel that 6 is a little too young for a program that I would be coaching but that does not mean you should not pursue having her try it out. I take kids when they reach the age of 8. At 6, I think that their attention span is too short but it could be that your daughter has a longer one than most. If you want her to start diving, I would suggest that she go 2 days per week for no more than an hour (45 minutes would be a better length of time for each lesson).It should be low key and a fun recreational experience as opposed to a serious competitive situation.

To find a prgram for her, I would try Twin City Divers that practice out of the University of Minnesota pool on campus. Go to www.usadiving.org, click on Clubs and then Find A Club. Enter MN and a list of teams will come up. There you will find the contact information.

Also try www.aaudiving.org for more team location info.

www.diving.about.com - Site that explains the sport.

www.flipnrip.com - Site for divers and families.

Good luck in your search.