Hello

Dive Practice Locations & Schedule​

We have multiple training locations to help our divers improve both in and out of the water:

​Bellevue Aquatic Center

• Diving Options: 1-meter springboard

• Location: 601 143rd Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98007

• Focus: Perfect for developing core springboard skills and practicing the basics.

King County Aquatic Center

• Diving Options: 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard, platform

• Location: 650 SW Campus Dr, Federal Way, WA 98023

• Focus: Main training center for advanced diving techniques, all boards, and platforms.

​Dryland Practice

• Location: Crossfit Federal Way, 33753 9th Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98003

• Focus Areas:

  • Tuck, Pike, and Layout positions

  • Jumping & air awareness using trampolines and dry boards

  • Core strength exercises for stability in the air

​Practice Schedule:

• Full schedule is available on our Team Calendar.

• Keep an eye on the calendar for updates on water and dryland sessions.

Behavior Expectations

We want every practice to be fun and focused! Divers are expected to:

• Listen to Your Coach: Stay engaged and follow instructions.

• No Goofing Around: Stay focused; distractions or disruptions are not allowed.

• Safety First: Misbehavior may result in sitting out or being asked to leave.

• Respect & Teamwork: Treat coaches and teammates with respect, both in and out of the water.

Dive Meets

Dive meets are exciting opportunities for divers to showcase their skills.

• Registration: Usually through DiveMeets.com or DiveLive. Register the diver’s information, not the parents’.

• Meet Fees: Paid per event (1m, 3m, platform) plus a coach travel fee for away meets.

• Meet Commitment: Families confirm attendance by filling out the Meet Commitment Form. This helps coaches know how many divers are planning to attend.

• Coaches’ Role: Assist with warm-ups, dive preparation, and scoring discussions.

• Meet-Specific Communication: For each meet, we create a dedicated Google Chat to share updates, schedules, and last-minute changes. Make sure you get added to the chat so you don’t miss anything.

• Timing Note: Meets sometimes run ahead or behind schedule. It’s best not to rely on exact event times. Instead, communicate with other parents at the meet to know which event is currently happening.

​​​

Diving Age

• Determined by the diver’s age on December 31 of the competition year.

• Example: If your child turns 13 on December 30, they compete in the 13-14 age group all year, even if they are technically 12 for most of the year.

​​​

​​Communication Channels

Stay connected and informed through:

• Facebook: Join Alpha Diving Club Parents for team news and parent engagement.

• Google Chat: For quick updates, email us at myalphadivingclub@gmail.com to be added.

• Email: Reach out for inquiries or announcements at myalphadivingclub@gmail.com or info@myalphadivingclub.com.

​​​

Meet Calendar & Notifications

• Check our Team Calendar for upcoming meets, practice schedules, and announcements.

• Notifications are sent via email and communication platforms to keep everyone updated.
   

How to Identify Dive Numbers

Dives are described by their full name (e.g. reverse 3 1/2 somersault with 1/2 twist) or by their numerical identification (e.g. 5371D), or “dive number.” Specific dive numbers are not random. They are created by using these guidelines:

1. All dives are identified by three or four digits and one letter. Twisting dives utilize four numerical digits, while all other dives use three.

2. The first digit indicates the dive’s group: 1 = forward, 2 = back, 3 = reverse, 4 = inward, 5 = twisting, 6 = armstand.

3. In front, back, reverse, and inward dives, a ‘1’ as the second digit indicates a flying action. A ‘0’ indicates none. In twisting and armstand dives, the second digit indicates the dive’s group (forward, back, reverse).

4. The third digit indicates the number of half somersaults.

5. The fourth digit, if applicable, indicates the number of half twists.

6. The letter indicates body position: A = straight, B = pike, C = tuck, D = free.

​

Examples:107B = Forward dive with 3 1/2 somersaults in a pike position305C = Reverse dive with 2 1/2 somersaults in a tuck position5253B = Back dive with 2 1/2 somersaults and 1 1/2 twists in a pike position.​​

​

Competition Levels in Youth Diving

In youth diving, there are two primary competitive levels: Novice and Junior Olympic (JO). Understanding the difference helps explain why meet scheduling and available time blocks are important.

Novice Diving

Novice diving is designed for newer or less experienced divers. Requirements are simpler, and divers are allowed to perform lower-difficulty skills while they build confidence and technique. Exact dive counts and restrictions vary by organization, but generally:

• Divers perform fewer dives than JO athletes.

• Degree of difficulty (DD) limits are lower.

• Divers may repeat skills within the same dive group.

• Dive lists often focus on fundamentals (e.g., lineups, basic jumps, simple flips).

Novice sessions tend to run more quickly, but meet organizers need enough deck time to run both novice and JO events if both are offered.

Junior Olympic (JO) Diving

JO diving follows the rules established by USA Diving, and the requirements depend on the diver’s age group. JO divers must complete a specified number of dives that include both voluntary dives (limited DD) and optional dives (no DD limits).

​

Age-Group Requirements (USA Diving JO)

Group E (9 & Under)

• 5 dives total

• Typically: 3 voluntaries + 2 optionals

Group D (10–11)

• 6 dives total

• 3 voluntary dives from different groups

  • DD limit: ≤ 5.0 on 1-meter, ≤ 5.4 on 3-meter

• 3 optional dives from different groups (no DD limit)

Group C (12–13)

• Girls: 7 dives

• Boys: 8 dives

• Includes a combination of voluntaries and optionals, with higher expected difficulty than younger groups.

Group B (14–15)

• Girls: 8 dives

• Boys: 9 dives

• Optional dives begin to include more advanced skills (e.g., 2½ somersaults, twisting optionals, higher DD range).

Group A (16–18)

• Girls: 9 dives

• Boys: 10 dives

• Same dive groups as Group B, but optional dives typically include more difficult skills (e.g., front 2½ instead of front double).

Note: Requirements can vary slightly by competition type or governing body, but these are the standard JO guidelines used nationwide.

Need Help?

If you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help every step of the way.

​

Welcome to Alpha Diving Club — let’s dive in!