Dive FAQs
Q: In what age group will my child dive?
Diver age levels are determined by their age as of May 31, of the current season. The minimum age is 4 years old.
All divers must be able to swim in the deep end. They are not required to have experience diving before, in any age group.
Q: What if my child is interested, but very tentative and fearful about diving?
You can have your child join us for the new diver practices before registering for the team to see if they will be comfortable enough to work with the coaching staff. As long as they are willing to try our coaches are very good at getting them to begin the basics of diving. Once they get comfortable diving they are generally avid divers for a long time. Just remember that registering after the end of April does not guarantee a team t-shirt. So if you choose to wait let the Dive Rep know and we’ll see about including your athlete(s) in the t-shirt order.
Q: How may dives will a diver be required to do?
8 & under (Shrimps) and 9-10 year olds divers are expected to perform 3 different dives. Ribbons are awarded to the 1st through 6th place finishers and participation ribbons will also be given to all divers upon completion of the race.
11-12 year olds and 13-14 year olds. These age groups are expected to perform 4 different dives. Ribbons are awarded to the 1st through 6th place finishers.
15-18 year olds. This age group is expected to perform 5 different dives. Ribbons are awarded to the 1st through 6th place finishers.
Note that all divers, especially beginning divers, in any age group are not forced to perform the exact amount of dives, but do as many as they are able. They can still participate in meets, but will not likely place without the required amounts of different dives.
Q: How many Dive Meets are there?
1 Practice Meet, 3 Regular Season (Dual) Meets, and an All-Star Meet that 2 divers in each age/gender group will be selected by the coaches at the end of the season to participate in.
Q: Am I required to purchase the team suit? Does my diver need a swim cap and goggles?
Team suits are not required, but are highly recommended. They enhance team unity and team spirit. You may purchase suits during the Team Day sign-ups (see Registration tab for more information). Suits with school or other year-round program names imprinted are them not permitted at meets.
Each diver is expected to dive without a cap and googles. Some younger beginners may wear googles, but as they progress to actual front dives they are discouraged from wearing anything around the head and neck areas to prevent potential injuries.
Q: What time should we be at the pool for a dive meet?
We ask that divers be at the pool where the meet is being held at least ½ hour before the meet so that they are ready for home team warm-ups @ 5 p.m. For away meets and 5:15 for away team warm-ups. All Regular Season (Dual) meets start on a Wednesday at 5:30pm. The All-Stars meet is on a Saturday at 8:30am and divers should be ready by 8am to get ready for warm-ups prior to the meet as listed in the Dive Meet Schedule.
Q: What if there is bad weather forecast on the day of a meet?
Come to the pool as scheduled, even if it is raining. The Greater Charlotte Diving League bylaws require that all swimmers be at the pool before the team representatives decide whether to delay or postpone the meet. Regardless of the prevailing weather the meet is “On” and you should attend. Rescheduling a meet is extremely difficult, so we do our best to complete a meet even if that means waiting out rain delays. If cancelling part way through a meet, a date and time will be decided upon to continue and finish the meet, generally within the next two mornings or evenings pending availability of the hosting team’s pool. We require the pool to be cleared for only thunder or lighting and allow 20 minutes before continuing. Occasionally we might postpone if the rain is extreme, but don’t count on it. Safety is the main concern.
Q: What is the Practice Dive Meet?
This Dive Meet is a Sardis-only meet held at the beginning of the season in order to prepare divers and volunteers for the actual upcoming meets. There may only be 2 dives per diver pending keeping the length of the meet to a minimum. We do not give out ribbons but give out a special item for participating in the meet. Don’t miss out!
Q: Does a Diver have to be at all of the practices to be able to compete?
No. This is a summer league and although we encourage every athlete to attend as many practices as possible, there is no penalty for not attending like with middle and high school athletics. But not practicing means there are not improving.
Q: What is the All-Star Meet and how do I know if my child qualifies?
At the end of the season, coaches will select, based on performance throughout the season and how they feel the diver will help the team to represent Sardis at the All-Star Meet where they will swim against the All-Star divers from the three other teams in the league. Under League by-laws, for a diver to be eligible to dive in the All-Star Meet at the end of the current season, that diver must have competed in at least one (1) dual meet during the current season. You never know if your athlete will be selected as many factors go into the selection process, the first being availability on the date of the meet. Several “top divers” may not be able to make the meet and then we have to go to the next selection. Some of the age/gender groups may only have a few divers to select from. If not enough divers are in an age/gender group, the League allows a younger diver to “age up” by no more than 2 groups at the discretion of the coaches and diver.
Q: How is a meet structured?
The order of events in all dive meets starts with warmups followed by the 8&unders and then the 15-18’s to make the up the first half of the meet. 2nd half is where our volunteers switch out if needed and we continue with the 9-10’s, 11-12’s and 13-14’s.
All Dive Teams have the same order of diving to remain consistent all season long through All-Stars. 15-18’s go first because many have evening jobs to get to, but mainly is for the younger divers to get to see them perform. We encourage everyone to stay throughout the meet, but sometimes youngsters need to leave early and they won’t get to see the older divers if we had them at the end of the meet. Pending the home team’s preference, ribbons may be awarded between events, at half-time or at the end of meet, or any combination thereof. The winning team is announced after the end of all events.
At All-Stars, there are medals for places 1-3 and ribbons for the remaining places. Certificates and give aways for some categories will be given out including a Regular Season Champion (winner of most dual meets) to keep and a perpetual grand trophy for the All-Stars Champion Team with their Team Name and Year engraved on a plaque to keep for the year until the next All-Stars Dive Meet.
Q: How do I know which dives my child will perform?
All dives are chosen by the diver with the assistance from the coaches only. Only coaches can determine what dives are safe enough to perform for the individual diver. Dive Sheets are filled out by the coaches prior to each meet for each diver. Occasionally, a dive might be changed prior to a meet if the diver or coach feel they need to lower the difficulty of a dive. They are not allowed to increase the difficulty at the meet, only change the order or lessen a dive’s difficulty. Each diver generally knows what dives they are performing after the last practice the day before the meet.
Q: What do I do if my athlete can’t make the exact time of the event?
Check with the Dive Rep or coach the day before the event. A single diver may be able to dive with another age group if unable to make their event due to some extenuating circumstances, but not just “because”. Late divers after an event is over will be counted as “Cut” and not be able to compete in the event. It is by the discretion of the hosting team to allow such changes prior to or during the meet.
Q: Are there private lessons available outside of regular practices?
At the discretion of the Club Director and if there is availability of a coach something might be scheduled on an individual basis. But there is not a dive class offered outside of practice on a regular basis. Inquire with the Club Director or Head Dive Coach if you are looking for such. Dive practices have several assistant coaches helping out and that is usually sufficient for a less experienced diver to improve their skills.
Q: Are the Dive meets and practice schedules the same from year to year?
Pretty much with the exception of when schools get out. Typically, the last Saturday in June is when the All-Star Dive Meet is scheduled to avoid the 4th of July weekend when most families go on vacation. The immediate Sunday after is when we have the Dive Awards Banquet. We then back up to the Wednesdays preceding for each of the regular season dual meets (two teams each) and our season starting practice meet (Sardis only). Afternoon practices start around mid-May and we switch over to mornings after the last day of when CMS schools let out.
Q: Who do I contact with any questions or concerns regarding the dive team?
Please contact your Dive Rep, Blake Ramsey at [email protected] and I can either answer or find the right person for you. Please do not engage the coaches during practice unless you have an immediate safety concern. You can ask coaches anything before or after practice and when off-duty from their lifeguard stations.
