Training Advancement
Lessons PreTeam and Team Advancement and Requirements
Lessons Divers will learn diving skills and Diving Safety Protocols. We have a dedicated Lessons coach to insure diving careers begin with care and understanding. We will also introduce “Team Behavior” IE Saying only Positive things to others. Athletes attend 1-2 Lessons per week. Once skills and beginning dives are achieved and safety protocols understood, families will be invited to begin PreTeam.
WHITE BELT REQUIREMENTS MUST BE BE COMPLETED BEFORE MOVING TO PRETEAM
PreTeam
Divers will begin more competitive driven warm ups and training sessions. The practices are longer and will require understanding positive ‘Team Behavior’. Divers will need to be on task and trusted to follow workout sheets and all safety protocols. This is also the time for PreTeam divers to become exposed to the training techniques used in the Dry Gym. Only with weekly Gym training can divers remain safe, progressive, and competitive. Once divers achieve Novice Competition Requirements they will be asked to attend meets. Families will then decide if competition and travel are right for them.
YELLOW BELT REQUIREMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED FOR DIVERS 11 and UNDER
Novice Team
Novice Diving was invented to allow Youth Divers a chance to get involved with competition in a short time. Unlike soccer, which is also extremely difficult, challenging, and competitive, diving must be learned before you play. We can’t just roll the ball out. Divers are divided into Age Groups:
Group A (16-18’s)
Group B (14-15’s)
Group C (12-13’s)
Group D (11 & Under)
Group E (9 & Under)
Requirements for each age group are different. The older you are the more dives you compete. USA and AAU Meet Requirements are very similar. AAU generally allows less restriction and parameters. This is key because USA is our Olympic governing organization and their requirements / differences should be understood. DSD also has competition expectations / requirements. Many clubs accept minimum requirements to be involved to maintain revenue. Our Novice Divers are expected to be striving to meet JO requirements, not minimum requirements. The key is… “Are you doing the right things to insure long term diving success?” Divers and families that want to learn dives at a slower or more relaxed pace will be asked to join our Recreation Program. If divers cannot meet Team Training expectations, Recreational Diving will allow the athlete to continue at their own determined pace. Team divers will perform as directed day to day.
Novice Team Divers are focused on meeting Junior Requirements and families are interested in competing while they continue to train for Junior Olympic Competition. Once Divers begin winning Novice Diving Events it’s time to allow other beginners a chance to learn, participate / win. The DSD Novice Team is part of our Junior Team. Families are learning what the Club Diving Lifestyle is all about. Families will learn through travel and extensive training requirements if Club Competition is right for them.
Junior Team
Junior Divers have met USA and DSD Training and Competition Requirements. In short, they have Optional Dives. They have been working the belt system for an extended amount of time and understand the rigors associated with being a Student Athlete. Divers do not miss diving for school and will, at times, miss school for diving. We understand that school comes first. Its unfortunate that school schedules that insist that divers cannot miss any school will destroy all chances of USA success. In addition to missed school days, divers will be traveling a lot during the summer. Families that usually travel during July will have to rearrange family summer plans to accommodate all USA Diving Meets. While difficult to let go of traditional family summer culture, the replacement isn’t Niagara Falls. What I mean is that instead of attending Niagara Falls as a tourist… We’ll be attending the USA National Championships as legitimate participants. Maybe it will be in Orlando again and we'll all do Universal Studios and Disneyland. Sometimes its not in a great place. So, we’ll take solace in understanding we deserve to be at all great USA Meet Experiences. Niagara Falls is available to anyone, any time, until it doesn't exist.
Also, let me know if you know the history of Niagara Falls. I’m fascinated with the Falls and love to talk about it. I’ve never had the opportunity to be there because they don’t have a Nationally recognized Dive Team.
All Junior Team members will be expected to train 5 days per week on average. So if your signed up for 5 days per week and miss one… You’ll need a make up. We are taking attendance for all groups and will notify you when training expectations are falling below DSD standards.
Not all families will be ready to take on Club Diving responsibilities therefore we are providing a group for divers that would like to take things slower and at a more relaxed pace.
HSRM
Divers will train Thursday and Saturday. We will provide 1/2 hour warm up on deck and then 1 hour of water training. Divers in this group are either focused on High School, Recreational Diving or Masters Diving.
Masters Divers will highlight their goals and work with coaches to achieve the goals at a rate determined by the athlete.
High School Divers that don’t want to be responsible for the rigors of Club Training, will focus on High School goals and work with coaches at a rate determined by the athlete. Keep in mind that Divers will NOT spend over half of their training time on 1m. We are not inviting people to stall our 1m boards.
Recreational Divers are not prepared to meet Team standards and will work with coaches to meet diving goals determined by the athlete on a daily bases. These divers will also be expected to train on 3m for up to 75% of their time. We cannot afford to allow groups to congregate on 1m.
All divers will use the 3 meter boards starting the first day.
Should a diver be injured or not feeling well they will still be expected to use the 3m board. The forces associated with 3m are roughly 20% more than 1m. The fear factor is greater than 20% so it’s important to recognize athlete’s and parent’s attempts to limit 3m diving. It’s not about risk up there…. it’s about fear.
So if a Doctor says you are too injured to dive 3m….. you are too injured to dive 1m. Parents, Doctor’s, or Athletes will not determine that the athlete is cleared for 1m only. If you’re too injured to dive 3m…. you’re too injured to dive.
