Initiating rotation in back and reverse armstand triple somersaults tuck dives

To determine strategies for initiating rotation in armstand back and revers e triple somersaults tuck dives from the 10-m platform, videotaped records of 17 elite mate divers performing in competitions between 1995 and 1999 we re analyzed. Linear and angular momenta at last contact were similar for bo th dives. Although the lower extremity actions were comparable, they occurr ed significantly earlier (p <.05) in reverse triple takeoffs, allowing dive rs to enter the tuck more quickly. As divers lean, the moment arm of the ve rtical platform reaction force increases with respect to the CG. The vertic al platform reaction force moment promotes back and opposes reverse somersa ulting angular momentum. Meanwhile, the horizontal platform reaction force moment promotes reverse and opposes back somersaulting angular momentum. Co nsequently, divers performing reverse triples maintained a more vertical tr unk position during the early part of the takeoff, while those executing ba ck triples leaned Dar-ther before initiating lower and upper extremity acti ons to exert force against the platform. Since the strategy for reverse rot ation may result in the head passing close to the platform and there is ver y little to gain in degree of difficulty, it is recommended that competitor s execute back rather than reverse somersaulting armstand dives.