Update -- September 12, 2007

Dear Divers and Parents,

Our Fall Invite is approaching, and I am getting excited about hosting our first invitational since 2002! The main reason I am looking forward to this one is that all you divers have shown so much improvement since the Keala O'Sullivan/Dare to Dream Invites last month.

Here's a sampling:

Braden is now doing 101B, 401C and 102C 1M as well as 101C and 101A 3M, plus 100A, 100B, and 100C 5M.  Emily has learned 401C 1M and 101B with a spot, as well as 002A 3M.  Joanna has gotten 201A with a set, 201C, 202C, 202A, 5221D, and 402C 1M, as well as her 002C, 101B, 401B, and 403C 3M and 100A 5M.  Jace has gotten his reverse actions back and has a Level 8 list on both boards -- he has re-learned his 301C both boards with solid mechanics, and has learned 101B, 103B, and 401B both boards as well.  Justine learned a coveted dive, the 403C, which completes her Level 8 3M list and has gotten 100A and 100C 5M.  Matthew has learned 001B (standing, open pike) and 001C 3M, and has added his 002A as well as a full approach 101C 1M.  Linnet is still working on her 103C 1M, but has done a great job with her 201A with a set and her 201C with a spot, as well as her 202C and 5121D, on the 1M, while getting 002A, 101C, 101B, 401C, and 401B on 3M, plus 100A on 5M.  Ashley has gotten a slew of new dives:  104C, 403C, and 5122D 1M; 201C, 301C, and 403C 3M; 100A and 100C 5M.  BJ has learned 101A and gained confidence in his 202C (which plagued him for about 2 years after he scared himself) 1M, and is doing it independently (and going so far over that he is ready for 203C), and learned 201B, 301B, and 105C 3M.  Amanda has learned 201A 1M with a set and 201C with a spot (just about ready to do that independently), as well as 002A, 101C, and 401C 3M and 100A and 100C 5M.    Alena has gotten her 101B, 103C, 401B, and 201A with a set on 1M, and her 002A, 101C, and 401C 3M.   WOW!  Lotsa learning going on!

REMAINDER OF SEPTEMBER WORKOUT SCHEDULE

Thurs, Sept. 13, 3:30 - 6:00 PM at Schofield

Fri, Sept. 14, 4:00 - 6:30 PM at Schofield

Sat, Sept 15, 3:30- 6:00 -- INTRASQUAD PRACTICE COMPETITION/PARENT TRAINING SESSION FOR MEET ADMINISTRATION (See below :)

Mon, Sept 17, 4:00 - 6:00 PM at Schofield  

Tues, Sept 18, 3:30 - 6:00 PM at Schofield 

Thurs, Sept. 20, 3:30 - 6:00 PM at Schofield

Fri, Sept. 21, 4:00 - 6:30 PM at Schofield

Sat, Sept. 22, 7 Am to Noon  at Schofield -- TROPIC LIGHTNING FALL INVITATIONAL

Mon, Sept. 24, 3:30 - 6:00 PM at Schofield

Tues, Sept. 25, 4:00 - 6:30 PM at Schofield

Den No Mo' Til Wednesday, Oct. 3 'cuz Coach Jeff will be attending the annual USA Diving Convention in Anaheim, CA.

COACH JEFF AWAY 9/26 - 10/02

Every year, usually in September, USA Diving has an Annual Meeting.  I serve on several committees at the national level, and will be in California during that week to attend the convention and also to visit my family (just became an uncle third time over -- my sister gave birth to a healthy 20 1/2", 9 lb, 2 oz boy earlier today (poor sis!)  :)

TROPIC LIGHTNING FALL INVITATIONAL

We have gotten final word from the pool management, and are good to go for Saturday, September 22.

Due to the fact that the USA Diving Computer program has not yet been updated to include Future Champions, and most of the athletes in the meet will be diving Future Champions, we will do paper tables this time out.  Next season (starting in January), we hopefully will be able to go Computer and enter the 21st Century :)

Warm-ups will start at 7 AM and first event at 9 AM.  We will do 11 and Under Future Champions 1M events at the same time as 12 and Older Future Champions/8 to 10-Dive List 3M events (cuts down on the number of people trying to use a board at the same time) and then switch.  We will follow these events with an all-inclusive platform event (and we will work on platform skills and dives over the next month to prepare you all!).  Depending on the number of entrants, I estimate we will be finished by about noon or so.

I will serve as Meet Director, and will train all the enthusiastic parents and siblings and supporters in how to run the tables, etc.  As a start, I have put together a guide to "Running a Diving Meet A-Z" as well as one for "Running a Scoring Table."  Please check these out, and we will have our next training opportunity at the Intrasquad competition coming up THIS WEEK SATURDAY, September 15 at 3:30 PM.  It is really important for parents to attend the September 15 intra-squad if at all possible, as your volunteering at to help run the table at the Tropic Lightning Fall Invitational is one of the main factors that will help things run smoothly!

For more information, you can refer to the Meet Information.

I have one 10'x10' pop-up to help provide shade.  Any families that have "EZ-Up" Style shelters/shades, please feel free to bring them along both for the table workers' and judges' sakes as well as for the families and the divers' sakes.

DIVING MECHANICS EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

Somersaults have been added to the section on Diving Biomechanics.  I think many of you might enjoy getting your brains wrapped around how we do what we do off the boards (and ALL of you will benefit from it!).  Please check out the Diving Bio-Mechanics Discussions section of the website.  

ASL CORNER

As always, this reference is here so you all can learn to communicate with our deaf diver/s: check out the ASL Corner,  do the lessons as you want to, ask me for help as you need.

Okies, That's all for now! 

Jeff