My athlete is interested in Diving, what do I do?
Please use the QR code on the home page of this website to join the Dive Team Inquires Band group. Once you join, on the first page there are instructions on who to direct message and what information to include in that message. A coach will be notified once the message is received and they will answer. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. If it has been 48 hours and you do not have a response please send a second message.
What are the requirements to join dive team?
An athlete needs to be able to pass a swim test. This includes being able to swim the length of the pool without touching the sides or the lane lines. There is no stroke requirement (can be doggy paddle, underwater, or a combination of multiple methods). We just need to ensure their safety in deep water. Our diving well is 17 feet deep and sometimes the athletes get nervous in that depth. If your athlete has already been a part of COM Aquatics and has passed Level 4 in Learn to Swim they are able to join without a test.
How much does the Dive Team cost?
Our beginning classes are $102 per month for 2 hours a week. Prices do increase as the training hours increase with higher level classes.
My athletes first day of class is tomorrow- where should we meet?
Please have your child wait outside the dryland room. When you enter the diving well there is a room to the right with a bench outside. This is the meeting spot.
My child is late, what should I do?
If your athlete is late, please have them look for their instructor or another coach on deck. Classes start on time and most head directly into the dryland room. If this is your first day, you can ask the front desk at COM to help you find a coach to ensure your athletes gets into the correct group.
Can parents watch practice?
Parents are welcome to watch the water portion of practice from the stands. Parents will not have access to watch the dryland portion of practice, but we encourage you to come watch your athlete in the dryland room during the Chevron Dryland Mini Prix.
What is appropriate attire for practice?
Classes will consist of 2 parts- a dryland portion and a water portion. Sometimes the water portion is first and other times the dryland portion is first.
For dryland- please have your athlete in shorts and a t-shirt. Clothing should fit the athlete and not be too big. If it is too big it can become dangerous for them. Having a shirt that can be tucked in or a little form fitting is best. No socks allowed in the dryland room. We throw away too many socks due to athletes forgetting them. So it is better to just put your socks in your shoes and enter barefoot.
For water: a bathing suit that fits and maybe slightly snug. The suit stretches in water and if too big then it starts to gap in areas that need to be covered. Boys should wear a brief or a jammer but please do not wear suits that you would wear in your backyard pool. Be sure to bring a towel.
How many hours a week do the kids train?
This is not a straightforward question, as groups train a variety of hours depending on level, but the standard progression starts at 2 hours per week, then 4, 6, 9, 12, 15.
What are the different groups?
Please see the Program page of the website where each level is described in detail.
How does my athlete move up from one group to another?
The Program page on the website has every group in the program and the criteria to move on to the next level.
What is the Chevron Dryland Mini Prix?
This is the Dryland skill assessment portion of our program. In order to move up athletes must demonstrate proficiency on the dryland skills for their current level. These Mini Prix occur every 8 weeks. Please see the Parent Corner section of the website for links to the skills that are being tested at leach level and copy of the test itself. Feel free to click on the links and you will be taken to a video of exactly what we are looking for when the athlete performs the skills. This is a great way for the athletes to practice at home.
What Are ManCards?
ManCards are the water portion of the skill mastery required to move up in levels. Athletes will be provided with the ManCards and will get skills punched over time as they complete each skill. Remember diving is a progressive sport and requires repetition and mastery not only for short term success but more importantly for long term goal achievement. In the Parent Corner section of the website there is a link for the ManCards where you can see every skill with videos of exactly what coaches are looking for on these skills/progressions.
I think my athlete has completed their ManCard and has passed skills testing, now what?
Following skills testing, you will receive a private message in BAND if BOTH the skills tests was passed and ManCard was complete. That message will include all the needed information about changes in the cost, schedule, and when the move up can take place. There will also be an invite for the new groups Band. Please reply to the direct message with acceptance or decline of the move up and if accepted please join the new band group (and remove yourself from the old group).
Who will be my child’s coach?
Please check out the Our Staff page on the website- there are pictures of each coach and the groups they coach. We do reserve the right to move coaches as needed to the benefit of the program.
Are competitions required for the dive team?
No one is ever required to compete, however competition is part of being on a competitive team. The sport allows for athletes of all levels (even new ones) to be able to compete at local meets pretty quickly. COM Dive team hosts 2-3 meets a year and these are open to athletes of all levels and are a great way to experience a competition in a low stress environment. We also attend 2-3 out of town competitions that are open everyone on the team.
Coach says my athletes has a dive list for a meet- what does that mean?
It means your athlete has achieved the criteria to compete at the upcoming competition, Please pay attention to the event that coach has specified. Diving has multiple levels that include: future champions, Novice and Junior Olympic (Group). Most of our athletes will start off in either Future champions or Novice depending on how the rules for the meet are set up. Do not register for the JO or Group A/B/C/D/E events unless told to by your athletes coach as these are the more advanced levels and harder dive requirements are in place.
How do I register for a meet?
Please see the meet assistance page for step-by-step instructions on how to register for a dive meet.
Im having trouble registering for a meet, what do I do?
We have a lot of experienced parents in the stands that will gladly assist if you need help or attend one of the booster club meetings (occur the first Monday or Tuesday of the month) and the parents can help. If you have reached out to other support and are still having trouble, please message your athletes coach in BAND.
What does my athlete wear to a competition?
COM Dive Team is sponsored by Arena and Arena gear MUST be worn at all competitions. Please do NOT show up to a competition wearing a logo from another company. This can affect our sponsorship.
Open practices: any arena suit can be worn, competition events: must wear an Arena suit with the COM logo.
Shirts: need to be COM only and preferably with the arena logo.
Bottoms: Plain black shorts, leggings or sweatpants- Arena or no logo
Awards podium: Small home meets a COM shirt is allowed but any travel meet, an Arena COM warm up jacket is required.
Bag: Arena swim/dive bag- does not have to have the COM logo but may.
What time does my athlete show up for a competition?
Coaches will inform the athletes of the times to arrive. Please note that specific timelines for meets do not get released until a day or two before the event. This is due to the timeline being dependent on the number of registrations. If it is a meet weekend- please know that you will not have specific times in advance. We know this makes it difficult to plan your weekend, but it is a part of diving. We do provide the information as quickly as it is received or prepared.
Once the timeline is released you will need to locate the event where your athlete is registered for and look for the start time of the warm ups. Please arrive 30 mins prior to the start of warm ups. Meets will run early if they are ahead of schedule but may also run late. Please plan accordingly.
Some meets there will be an open warm up in the AM. It is up to the coaches to determine if this time is needed for your athlete. This will depend on the amount of time for warm ups prior to the start of the event and the number of dives your child is competing. .
Open practice prior to the start of competition: Often there is a practice day prior to the start of the competition. Attending this practice is not required but encouraged. Coaches will inform you on if you are required to attend the open practice.
We are new to the team- any words of advice?
Please be sure to join both the COM Dive Team band and the group specific band. Information will be posted in both. The COM Dive Team band will have information that affects the whole team, while the group specifically will have information that affects your athletes group specifically. You are also able to message your athletes individual coaches from the BAND group. From the COM Dive Team Band you may message our Head Coach: John Proctor or assistant Coaches Dianna (Di) Ranelli or Kathe Hepfer.
It is advised to scroll back thru old posts to get a feel for the activities of the program.
What are ways I can help out within the program?
Monthly booster club meetings occur the first Monday or Tuesday of each month and the dates are posted in the COM Dive Team Band events. Come to these meetings to learn about opportunities. Volunteers are needed at every function and volunteer sign ups are always sent out on Band. We always welcome HELP!
I want to volunteer at a meet, but I'm nervous?
Please do not be, we are always in need of volunteers with a wide range of opportunities. Helping run the computer tables gives you a front line view of the meet and how the competition is run. The tables consist of an announcer, scribe (writes down the scores as the announcer reads them off) and a computer administrator to ensure the scores are appropriately entered into the computer. We are also always looking for wranglers to help the younger athletes know where to be and when it is their turn, deck monitors, concessions, hospitality, awards, and many others.
AAU verse USA Diving Memberships?
Both AAU and USA Diving sponsor competitions in the sport of diving. They currently provide two very different tracks with some pros and cons to each. At COM, we compete in both governing bodies. Your athletes AAU membership is paid for when you register for the diving team and will be renewed each year. If your athlete is going to compete at a USA Diving competition you are required to purchase that membership on your own. Typically the only athletes that will need a USA Diving membership are the ones going to Regionals, zones or USA Junior Nationals.
Why are some competitions on Dive Live and others on Dive Meets?
When a team hosts a competition they are able to choose if they want to host and run the meet on Dive Live or Dive Meets. The larger AAU meets will always be on Dive Live, whereas the larger USA Diving meets will always be on Dive Meets. The local and smaller meets may be a mix of both platforms.
Dive Live is all app based and runs more like a social media for meets. Live results are available. You can set up parent accounts, athlete accounts and upload videos of your athletes dive to the platform.
Dive Meets- is web based. Live results are available if the host team sets up this function.
***If you have other questions that have not been answered, please feel free to ask other parents in the stands or to message Di Ranelli, Kathe Hepfer, or John Proctor on the COM Dive Team Band. You may also send an email to COM.diving.team@gmail.com. ***
