Daughters diving

Question
My daughter is in the swim club.  She is a beginner.  She needs help with diving off the blocks.  Once she is going, her strokes are fine for her age.  She is just timid about jumping in.  She typically ends up going kind of feet first.  Any suggestions on getting her to go head first

Answer
Ken--
For a young/beginning swimmer the starting blocks can be pretty intimidating.  The best way to get a beginner off the blocks is to work on diving off the pool deck first, even in competition, there is no rule against diving off the deck.  Technique wise, if you are able to help, there are a couple of things I can suggest.
First, remind your daughter to push all the way through her toes and feel like she is still pushing until she hits the water.
Another help is if you can actually be on deck to help(in free time or rec swim times)have her take her ready position(on the deck) and put your hands on her feet, with a little pressure, so you can "hold" her toes on the deck and have her dive and hold her feet so they finish pushing and lag behind.  You may get a little wet.
Another hint is to watch her upper body, does she lift her head up just before she hits the water?  Physics demands that everything has an equal and opposite reaction so head up means feet down.  Remind her to squeeze her ears when she goes.
Hope this helps,
George

If you need more let me know, I will do some brainstorming and see what I can come up with.