Parents' Survival Guide

As you get to know the sport of diving there are several opportunities to learn how to work with your diver and how to work with your coaches. The following is intended to help the NOVICE parent understand the challenges of the sport from the sidelines.

Springboard and platform diving is an individual sport; however, learning to dive is a team effort. The support of family, trusting the coach, and support of team members makes a difference in building the stength and confidence required to eventually throw your body off of a 10 meter platform expecting to rip it for 10's or the courage to dive in your first high school 1 meter competition.

It comes from building on experience, both good and bad, and learning how to face each new dive with the confidence that it can be achieved with effort and determination.

As we get the opportunity, additional comments and articles for your information will be added.

DIVING COMPETITIONS

The answer to commonly asked questions:

YES, we dive in the rain. This applies to workoutsand competitions. The divers are already wet...only the spectators/parents & coaches suffer. The logic is that a diver learning to compete needs to adapt to all types of weather situations. Many of our Junior National Championship competitions held outdoors in Florida and Georgia in August have included the afternoon rains. The reality and practical side is also that there is too much rain during the season to not take advantageof the time on the boards. If the rain is too intense, or if windy conditions exist to prohibit diving safely, the team retreats indoors for video review or dryland workouts. NOTE: If there is lightning the pool is always closed.

NO, UNFORTUNATLY...parents can not watch from inside the fenced pool deck. Unfortunatly we can only allow parents to observe the workouts from outside the fenced area for the safety of the divers. Parents are allowed on deck to go to and from the dive office to handle business, check the diver's mail box and collect their diver after the workout. Due to safety concerns and possible distractions for both the diver and the coaches who need to focus on the divers, parents need to schedule discussions with the coaches so they will not affect the supervision of the divers on the boards.

YES, the bleachers are there for use during competition, but cannot be used by parents during workouts. The divers and the swimmers need the opportunity to listen and practice during workouts without the pressure to perform for spectators.

Please bring a folding chair and watch from outside the gate.

YES, you may request special permission to video tape from the deck as necessary during workout. Please arrange this with the coach in advance to determine the format of the workout.