What Is A Balk In Diving?

What Is A Balk In Diving?

A balk is when a diver starts their dive and then stops.

They start the hurdle, and abort. Or they're standing backwards on the end, begin the press, and step in instead.

But below is some more context in to what balking means and here's a video of a balk (in practice). 

What it costs

At World Aquatics level, a balk is a two point deduction from each judge's score on that dive.

Balk a second time on the same dive and it's a failed dive, which means zero points for that round of diving.

Why divers balk

Usually one of a few reasons:

  • The hurdle went wrong. You land too far forward, or too far back, and you know the takeoff isn't going to be good enough to make it around.
  • Something felt unsafe. Especially on reverses, where being in the wrong spot means being too close to the board.
  • Outside interference. Noise, movement, a flash, someone walking behind the board.

The honest coaching take

This is one I feel strongly about, because if a dive is genuinely dangerous you shouldn't go. I also believe that if the hurdle is so bad that you risk not being able to make the dive around, then you're likely better off balking.

The problem with that is if the hurdle is that bad, it is typically hard to stop without falling in.

Two points off from each judge is nothing compared to hitting the board, and no coach worth anything is going to be upset about that.

But most balks aren't that.

Most balks are a diver waiting for a hurdle that feels perfect. And the problem is that perfect hurdles are rare, even for people at the top of the sport. If you only go when everything lines up, you're going to balk a lot, and you're going to build a habit that's hard to break.

The divers who compete best are the ones who can take a mediocre hurdle and still make something of it.

That's a skill, and you only build it by taking hurdles that aren't perfect. I talk about this more in part three of my hurdle series.

So the short version I'd give a diver: balk if it's unsafe. Otherwise go, adjust in the air, and accept that some dives are going to be scrappy.

Balking in practice is different

In training there's no deduction, and that changes things.

Some balking in practice is fine and healthy, especially when learning something new. But if a diver is balking repeatedly on a dive they already know, that's usually not a technical problem.

That's a mental one, and it's worth addressing directly rather than doing more reps and hoping.

Fear in this sport is normal and it comes and goes. It's not a character flaw and it doesn't mean someone isn't tough enough.

You can practice hurdle progressions, lead ups and put yourself in a lead-up/drill mentality while doing your optionals or whatever dive you tend to balk on.

Pro Tip: sometimes your hurdle will just be off that day and no matter what you try it won't work. It's okay to scrap it for the day, do drills, or do backs/inwards to get off of it for a bit. It is not a failure to have an off day. as long as your getting something positive out of each practice, you are good!

Other things you're probably wondering

- DG

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