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Getting Started in Diving
By Julia Cantone // usolympicteam.com // April 15, 2004
Getting Started in Diving
Programs for junior divers (ages 18 and under) are conducted through 42 Local Diving Associations (LDAs) encompassing more than 300 nationwide. Young divers can begin by competing in LDA and club meets, and advance to region championships and eventually the National Championships as part of USD’s Junior program. The top boy and girl diver on 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard and 5-, 7.5- or 10-meter platform in each age group is named to the Junior National Team.
The senior program identifies and develops top national and international-caliber divers. Members of the men’s and women’s Senior National Teams are selected each year at their respective national championships. The masters program is available for divers 21 and over who no longer compete on the senior level, but wish to remain active.
Joining USA Diving
To become a member of USA Diving and participate in sanctioned events, prospective divers must contact their local Registration Chair. Information on local Chairs can be found online or by calling USA Diving. The Chairs coordinate individual and club memberships in each state and also have a current list of local clubs.
Major Events
National Championships are held for juniors, seniors and masters every year. FINA hosts one major international championship for seniors each year: the FINA World Cup in the two years following the summer Olympics (all aquatic sports) and the FINA World Championships in the year preceding the summer Olympics (just diving). FINA also hosts one major international junior diving event each year.
Becoming a U.S. Olympian
To become an Olympian, a diver must first qualify for the USA Olympic trials by achieving a score minimum or by placement at diving competitions designated by USA Diving. USA Diving takes the top two athletes on each board to the Olympic Games. Also, synchronized diving was just added as an Olympic event for the 2004 games, and to qualify for Synchro, a nation must secure a spot at competitions designated by FINA, the international federation. USA Diving selects the Synchro divers for those competitions based on Synchro results from competitions which USA Diving selects.
Click here for complete selection procedures.
Contact Information
web: USA Diving
email: todd.smith@usdiving.org
phone: 317.237.5252
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