2009ArlingtonForest Tigers
Dive Team Information
CoachAsst. CoachDive Rep
Bobby MeeksMaija PaegleRenee Gorsky
Welcome to the 2009 Arlington Forest Tigers dive team! We are looking forward to another fun and challenging season in Division II. Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions,and some other information about the dive team and dive meets.
Practice Schedule
MTWF 11-1pm, 5-6 pm; Th 1-2 pm.
There will be no evening practice on evenings of dive meets or AFC home B swim meets.
Meet Warm-ups
The home team normally will have the boards from 4-5pm, and the visiting team from 5-5:45pm.
League Website:
This website has the league schedule, directions to pools, meet results, team standings and other info.
How do I get a team suit?
Team suits can be purchased at SportFair (on Lee Highway near Edison St.)Team suits are not required for participation on the team.
What skills must a diver have to participate in an A meet?
For a freshman diver (age 10 or under), the skills required are a front dive, back dive, and an optional dive (usually a front flip). In addition to the required front and back dives, juniors need 2 optional dives, intermediates need 3, and seniors need 3 optionals, plus a mandatory inward dive. It is up to the coaches to decide which divers are ready for A meets.
How are meets scored?
Each team may bring a maximum of 32 divers to an A meet. There are four classes each for boys and girls (8 events). The classes are Freshman (10-u), Junior (11-12), Intermediate (13-14), and Senior (15-18). A first place award earns 5 points for the team, second place earns 3 points, and third place earns 1 point. The total number of points awarded in a meet with full participation in all 8 events is 72, so a team needs more than 36 points to win. This is why it is important to have divers in every class participate in every meet.
How are divers judged?
Parent volunteers judge the divers. There are 5 judges, and for each dive the highest and lowest awards are dropped, resulting in 3 awards used to calculate the score. The 3 awards are added together, and then multiplied by the degree of difficulty (DD) for that dive to determine the score. The scores for all of the dives are added together to determine the diver’s final score for the meet.
Dives are judged based on the approach, hurdle (take-off), execution in the air, and entry into the water. A satisfactory dive rates a 5 or 6. The scale goes up to 10, but scores above 7 are very rare. Deductions can be taken for things like lack of height in the air, entry too far from the board, poor form, wrong position, balking, lack of control, or dive not entering the water vertically.
Remember: Listen to your dive being announced. You may ask for it to be repeated. You may also ask the referee to change the dive position before you begin your approach.
What do divers need to bring to meets?
Divers should bring a few extra towels, and some clothes to wear after the meet (we usually have a pizza party for home meets and go out to eat after away meets). Most pools have snack bars, so bring some money for drinks and snacks if desired, and possible dinner out with the team. If parents are not attending, a cell phone is a good idea in case the meet is called for weather or runs late.
What if the meet is called for weather?
If, because of weather, it is not safe to start or continue a dive meet, it will be delayed or cancelled and rescheduled. It is the responsibility of the meet referee, home dive rep, and pool to actually cancel a meet. During inclement weather, everyone must leave the deck. It is often best to wait in your car because of lightning. We will signal when the pool is open again, or if the decision is made to reschedule. Do not leave the pool area without letting the coach or dive rep know where you are. If the meetis rescheduled, we will let you know the plans.
For a cancelled and rescheduled meet, any events that have been completed will still count, but an interrupted event will be started over. All divers that did not complete their events should try to attend the rescheduled meet, because the team cannot make substitutions.
Which divers go to Divisionals and All-Stars?
Each team is only allowed to send 16 divers (regardless of age group) to Divisionals. The coach chooses divers who have practiced regularly and have participated in at least two A meets that season. These divers will compete individually (not for team scores) against divers from the other 5 teams in our division. Divers who participate in the Crackerjack meet are not eligible for Divisionals in the same season. In Division II, the top 3 finishers in each category qualify to All-Stars.
That’s all you need to know to get started. Get ready for a season full of diving, fun and friends! And please help your team by remembering to show good sportsmanship and respect for the other divers, the coaches, and the officials at all times.