October 3, 2007

More opportunities for junior divers now available; USA Diving seeking bids for those new meets  

After listening to feedback in Town Hall meetings and member surveys, USA Diving found that members felt the organization was geared too much toward the elite level programs and not divers at all levels. We’ve listened to your input, and a restructuring of the summer junior program was passed at convention last week to allow more divers the opportunity to compete at more meets throughout the summer. An additional age group was added, and 150 divers can advance past regionals on each event -- up from 80 under the previous rules. The number of divers advancing to nationals also increases.

Here’s how it will work: First, choose the region you wish to attend. The top 15 divers on each event at regionals will advance to one of five zone meets. Divers can attend any region meet they wish and then track through to zones based on the region attended (For example, divers attending Regions 1 and 2 must compete at Zone A; Regions 3 and 4 to Zone B, etc.).

From zones, places 7-12 may attend the USA Diving Age Group National Championships. Places 1-6 may choose to attend the Speedo Junior National Championships or the Age Group National Championships. Divers who qualify for both may participate in the events they qualify for at each meet. (For example, let’s say a diver finishes third on 1-meter, sixth on 3-meter and ninth on platform at zones. The diver would be allowed to compete 1-meter and 3-meter at Junior Nationals and platform at the Age Group Nationals. The diver could also opt to skip the Junior Nationals and compete all three events at the Age Group Nationals. The diver could not, however, compete 1- and 3-meter at both events. If the diver opts to attend only the Age Group Nationals, that spot would not be replaced at Junior Nationals).

International teams will be selected from the Junior National Championships.

Also, 11 and under divers will have their own age group throughout the entire process, including platform.

The age for all meets will be determined by the diver’s age on December 31.

Bid to host one of these new Zone meets

These changes will go into effect beginning with the 2008 season, and thus, USA Diving is seeking bids to host these new events. Zones C and D will be awarded to Columbia, Mo., and Moultrie, Ga., as they were slated to host the East/West Championships, which have been replaced by the five Zone Championships.

If your organization is interested in hosting a Zone Championship for Zones A, B or E, please fill out a bid form and submit to USA Diving’s Molly Evans by October 19. Bids are also being sought for all five Zones for the 2009 season.

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