Dunn Loring Dolphins

Dunn Loring Dive Team

Welcome to the Dunn Loring Dolphins Dive Team!

The Dunn Loring Dive team is governed by the Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL) and is one of the largest dive teams in the area. Being a member of the Dunn Loring Dolphins Dive Team is a great way to spend the summer. Members have a great time learning to dive in a safe and friendly environment with experienced coaches. This handbook is a guide to the things you need to know about diving for the Dolphins in the NVSL.

Questions about the DL Dolphin Dive Team? Email [email protected]

Team Rep: Tanya Ratner

PRACTICES

Practices for the 2024 season will begin on Tuesday, May 28th. There will be 3 weeks of after school practice.

If your diver has other commitments, he/she/they/them are welcome to come during another age time slot. However please keep in mind that the kids usually have more fun when they are with others of the same age.

Morning practice is held Monday - Friday from 8.45 am – 11.45 am and with begin on Thursday, June 13th.

SAFETY AND BEHAVIOR

• Safety remains our ultimate concern. The coaches must be able to focus entirely on the divers who are on the board. To ensure this occurs, divers who have finished their practice (i.e., are from a previous group) need to leave the dive well as soon as their practice has ended. Only the coaches and divers who are currently practicing should be in the dive well during practice hours. We appreciate you and your diver's understanding of this very important rule.
• Because diving well safety is our first priority, divers who are not behaving on the deck during practice will be asked by the Coaches to sit out that day. If the problem reoccurs at a subsequent practice, one of the Dive Reps will contact the diver's parent(s). In the event of a third instance, the Dive Reps and Coaches will evaluate whether or not the diver is ready to be a member of the team this season. We appreciate your understanding as we introduce so many children to the sport of diving.
• The NVSL has developed requirements for member teams to have a concussion policy with coach education and certification included. NVSL established its policy in 2021 and is following the CDC’s Heads Up Concussion training and certification for coaches. Parents are encouraged to view the Concussion fact sheet located here.

MEETS

A Meets

We have 5 meets with the other teams in our division. These are held on Tuesdays at 6 pm with warm-ups starting around 4pm for home meets and 5pm for away. We reschedule any rained out meets to a date that works best for the most divers. Divers will be notified on the Friday before each A meet if they will be diving. Parents or divers need to let us know if their diver is available so the place can be filled by another diver.

• We are allowed to bring up to 32 divers to a dual meet regardless of age group. The coaches will determine which divers will participate. The top 3 divers in each age group are scored to determine the winning team.
• The team with the best record during the season is awarded the title of Division Champion.
• The age groups and required dives are based on a diver’s age on June 1*.

Age groups are:

Freshman 10 & under front entry/dive, back entry/dive, 1 optional (may be a jump)

Junior 11–12 front dive, back dive, 2 optionals

Intermediate 13 – 14 front dive, back dive, 3 optionals

Senior 15 and over front dive, back dive, inward dive, 3 optionals

*A diver is allowed to “dive up” to a higher age group if the coaches think it is appropriate.

B Meets

We try to schedule 2-3 B meets per season for divers who have not met the qualifications for A meets. These meets are typically held on Thursday nights. If you have placed 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd in an A meet you are not eligible to compete.

Crackerjack Developmental Meet

• This meet is for novice divers who may or may not have been able to participate in one of the A meets. This is a huge meet with divers from all of the teams in the NVSL taking part. The divers are allowed “do-overs”. Coach assisted dives are also allowed and scored. All divers receive awards and a box of Crackerjacks after competing. Divers who compete in this meet are not eligible to participate in the divisional meet.

Wally Martin 3 Meter/Synchro Meet

• The 3-meter portion of this meet takes place on the high boards. It is open to any diver in the NVSL. The required dives are the same as for a dual meet. There will be at least one practice session before this meet.
• The Synchro portion of this meet is on the 1-meter boards. Pairs can be from any combination of ages or pools. They must be of the same gender, though.
• Note that two additional practice sessions will be scheduled at Oak Marr Rec Center for divers competing in the 3-meter portion. This practice will be outside of normal morning practice hours and coordinated/scheduled by the Head Coach a few days prior to the event. Parents should be prepared to make transportation arrangement for their diver(s).

Divisional Meet

• This meet takes place between the 6 teams in the division. Each team is allowed to bring 16 divers. The coaches will determine which divers are asked to participate. The divers who place in the top 2 in each age group will advance to the all-star meet. A diver may also advance to the all-star meet by attaining a certain score in this meet (the score will be published at the beginning of the season). Also, if a diver finishes as an alternate in divisionals and was in the top 8 finishers in the previous year’s all-star meet, they are eligible to dive in this year’s all-star meet.
• Note that one additional practice session will be scheduled at the host pool for divers competing in Divisionals. This practice will be outside of normal morning practice hours and coordinated/scheduled by the Head Coach a few days prior to the event. Parents should be prepared to make transportation arrangement for their diver(s).

All-Star Meet

• This meet consists of the top divers from all 8 divisions. A diver must qualify for this meet at the divisional meet. This is the apex of the season.
• Practice will start on Monday 7/22/24 and run through Friday 7/26/24.
• Note that one additional practice session will be scheduled at the host pool for divers competing in All-Stars. This practice will be outside of normal morning practice hours and coordinated/scheduled by the Head Coach a few days prior to the event. Parents should be prepared to make transportation arrangement for their diver(s).

MEET OFFICIALS:

The NVSL and the Dunn Loring Dive Team is run entirely by volunteers. In order to run a dive meet, we must have a referee, judges, table workers, an announcer, and a team representative. The NVSL offers training for these positions throughout the beginning of the season.

• Table Worker Option 1 - Must be able to write down 5 numbers, cross out the high and low number, and add the remaining 3 numbers together.
• Table Worker Option 2 – Must be able to use a calculator to multiply the score by the degree of difficulty and keep a running total.
• Announcer --Announces the diver, the dive, the degree of difficulty, the scores, and the results.
• Judge--Judges must be over 18 years old and have taken a judge training course.
• Referee--Referees must have judged for 1 year in the NVSL and have taken the NVSL referee training course.

NVSL DIVING CLINICS - 2024:

Coaches

• Saturday, June 8th at 4:00pm at Camelot. All coaches are required to attend

Team Reps

1. Sunday, June 2nd 8am at Overlee

Meet Worker

• Sunday, June 2nd, 9:45 am at Overlee

Judges

• Sunday, June 2nd, 10:30am at Overlee
• Tuesday, June 11th, 6:30pm at Chesterbrook
• Wednesday June 19th, 6:30pm at Sleepy Hollow Bath

Referees

• Wednesday, June 5th, 6:30pm at Overlee
• Sunday, June 9th, 2pm at Hamlet