Squad Diving

Squad Selection

Children are selected to join our squads if they have the physical and mental attributes to be a competitive diver. Squad selections are made by the head coach.

We are always on the lookout for skillful children to become competitive divers from taster sessions, our learn-to-dive programme, holiday courses, school talent searches and talent trials. The characteristics we look for include:

• Flexibility: good pike shape, splits, flexible shoulders and achilles
• Springy jumps
• Strength: strong core, arms and legs
• Good toe point
• Competent headstand and handstand
• Coordination and control
• Bravery and willingness to try new skills from high boards
• Attention to detail and form
• Ability to make changes to dives from coaches' comments

Children with a background in competitive gymnastics, tumbling, trampolining or dance can also have some of the traits we look for to make successful competitive divers.

If you think your child has some or all of these attributes then contact Kirsty McMahon, our head coach, at kirsty@stardiving.org to arrange a talent trial.

Talent Trial

A talent trial can be either 30 or 45 minutes, depending on availability.

The first part is on dry land, warming up and stretching before doing some strength and flexibility exercises. The second part is pool based, running through some basics on poolside before trying out the boards.

Important: Children having a talent trial must come wearing shorts, a T-shirt and trainers for the dry-land activities. Swimming costumes need to be worn underneath. A water bottle is also recommended to stay hydrated.

Squad Structure

The current squad structure has six different competitive squads. See 'Squad Descriptions' for more information about each of them.

Squad divers do a mix of pool and dry-land training, including conditioning, gymnastic work, trampolining and dry boards.

The divers range from TID and novice to skills, development, age group and elite junior level, training between two to five times a week.