TWISTERS DIVING TEAM INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION
2011-2012
Welcome to the Twisters Diving Team. Our team members include divers from all ages and diving skill levels. We practice and compete from both the 1-meter (low), and 3-meter (high) springboards. The Twisters Dive Team is a registered member of AAU Diving, a national diving association. This membership provides the team, the facility, and the athlete with insurance coverage for both practice and competition. It also allows registered team members to participate in AAU Diving sanctioned meets. All of our coaches are registered with AAU, and a few are also registered with the USA Diving program. In order to register with USA Diving the coaches must attend a national “Safety Certification” course, and pass a written and life saving examination, every three years. They must also be certified in CPR and First Aid.
TEAM PHILOSOPHY
The goals of the Twister diving team are as follows:
-to DIVE SAFELY!
-to HAVE FUN!
-to teach diving skills
-to enjoy the sport of diving
-to allow team members to achieve their diving goals
-to develop divers self confidence and discipline
-to promote teamwork
Our coaches will balance these goals by requiring that divers follow basic safety rules. Divers will comply with these rules at all times. Divers not complying with these rules will be asked to leave the pool. As our team develops physically and emotionally, some rules may be modified.
The rules are:
-NO HORSEPLAY such as pushing people in the water, flipping towels or Sammys, pushing, shoving, running, fighting, etc.
-DO NOT hang or sit on the boards, stands, or ladders while waiting your turn.
-DO NOT double bounce the board (multiple bounces).
-BE COURTEOUS to other divers. Please do not waste time while on the board, get out of the water as soon as you complete your dive, and do not distract other divers with disruptive behavior during their dive. Be ready to dive when it is your turn.
-Follow all of the pool’s regular rules (we are their guests)
-FOLLOW THE COACH’S INSTRUCTIONS AT ALL TIMES
DIVING TIMES AND FEES
Diving sessions are divided into blocks of 2 months. These sessions are Oct 1 through the end of Nov, Dec 1 through the end of Jan, Feb 1 through the end of March, April 1 through the end of May, and June 1 through the end of July. The sessions have been arranged in this manner to accommodate high school divers during their school seasons. There is no diving Aug and Sept. Payment is due prior to the start of the session. Please mail all payments: do not give payments to coaches at the pool! Additional divers in the same family will receive a discount. There are no refunds for illnesses, or any other reasons for missed practices. Two different options for practices are available to divers. The first option is two hours of practice a week: Monday and Wednesday evenings for one hour each night. Divers in this group will be charged $120 for each two month session. Young and novice divers are encouraged to participate in this option. The second option is 6 hours of practice each week: Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons for two hours each time. Divers in this group get three times the amount of board time for only twice the cost. These divers should be willing and able to concentrate on diving for 2 hour practices. Divers who wish to participate must demonstrate the ability to work hard. The cost is $240 for each two month session. The diving fee is used to pay pool rental, coaches wages, meet expenses, postage, printing, league fees, and team registration and sanction fees. Any and all profit will be used to benefit the team. Every diver must join AAU Diving as a registered athlete in order to dive with the team. The registration fee is $14 per year from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31. Registered athletes will receive individual insurance while at practices and meets. You must use our team code which will be updated each September, please verify the code before you register. You may do this on line at AAUsports.org and register as an athlete with AB (added benefits) so that you may compete in meets). I will need a copy of your registration card before you can practice with the team. You can either email a copy of your registration card to me, or bring a copy to practice. No diver may participate until AAU registration is received. Sometimes the more accomplished divers may be asked to dive in USA Diving meets. The Gold member registration fee is $75 per year from Jan 1 through Dec 31. However, only a few divers participate in these meets and you will be notified well in advance if you have qualified.
DIVING FACILITY
The Twisters Diving Team practices at the Gladstone Community Center located at 6901 N. Holmes in Gladstone, and the Park Hill Aquatic Center located at 8152 N. Congress in KC, MO on the Park Hill campus.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Our practice schedule will be Monday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Gladstone Community Center pool, Wednesday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Park Hill Aquatic center, and Saturday afternoons from 1:00-2:00 at Park Hill. Each Monday and Wednesday practice is divided into two, 1-hour sessions. The divers will be separated primarily by age: the youngest divers (12 and under) will dive from 7:00 to 8:00, and the older divers (13+) will dive second from 8:00 to 9:00. The more competitive divers will practice from 7:00 to 9:00 each night as well as noon to 2:00 on Saturday. We ask that you please arrive early so the divers can get changed, warm up, and stretch before practice. Divers are asked to be ready to stretch out and warm up at least 10 minutes before their practice begins. Divers more than 10 minutes late may be asked not to join practice. Divers will leave at the end of their practice. Divers in the first session should not continue diving during the second session.
MEETS
Divers may participate in diving meets if they wish. It is not a requirement to be on the team but we strongly encourage competition as it greatly improves the diver’s motivation and performance. During the fall, winter and spring the meets will be infrequent and on the weekends. During the summer they will be about every week, and may include week nights as well as weekends. You will receive information approximately two to four weeks before each meet, or as soon as we get the information from the meet director. Entry fees are generally $25 for each event and will be the diver’s responsibility. Entry deadlines and payment are usually due about 1 week before each meet. There will also be a $15 to $25 coaching fee for each meet to cover additional coaching time. Individual divers will split the coach’s expenses if the team has to travel outside of the Kansas City area.
DIVE SUITS
Divers may wear any suit to practice: boys may wear boxer type suits or competitive suits. Team members have the option of purchasing a team suit, but it is not a requirement. We generally order team apparel in December. We will schedule a dive team photograph each spring or summer. If the divers have a team suit they are required to wear it at all of the meets.
PARENT PARTICIPATION
Successful diving teams require the participation of the divers’ parents. As our team grows and participates in meets, we will need parents to become active in the sport. We will always need volunteers to help judge, keep score, assist in running meets, maintain diving equipment, and transport divers. When the Twisters have a home meet we will all need to pitch in and help to make it run smoothly. However, we ask that you leave the coaching to us! Please observe your diver’s practice from the gym rather than the pool deck. The divers will certainly enjoy your support and enthusiasm. We will circulate a list of the diver’s names and phone numbers (please let us know if you object to this). This helps to develop a system of communication between divers and coaches. If you need to speak to the coach please do so only when he/she is not coaching a session. Please fee free to call them at home.
COACHES/STAFF
1) Mitzi Mathews (Twisters founder, Director, and Head Coach)
781-2992 home, 510-6221 cell
Mitzi dived at the University of Kansas. She has coached age group, high school, and college divers since 1975; including MO and KS high school state champions and NAIA college national qualifiers. She is a USA Diving volunteer physician, and has authored a chapter in the new USA Diving Coaching Manual. She continues to compete in U.S. Masters Diving and practices medicine in Liberty.
2) Mary Meyers (Twisters Coach)
679-4708
Mary dived with the Twisters through her Junior and Senior High School years, and was a diver for Liberty High School. She joined the team as a coach in 2004. She has also coached at Clayview Country Club for 4 years, Kansas City Country Club last summer, and currently coaches at North KC, Oak Park, Staley, and Winnetonka High Schools. She has been a high school coach for the past 4 years. She focuses her attention on the mechanics of diving.
3) Bob Lucas (Twisters Coach)
519-3816
Bob competed at Ewing High School in New Jersey, as well as 3 years in college at Virginia Military Institute (NCAA Div I AA). He joins our team this season and is the Park Hill High School girls coach as well. He has coached high school diving off and on for a number of years. He is a Lt Colonel in the Marine Reserves and works as an Engineer. He is a patient and disciplined coach.
4) Steve Mathews
Steve has served 4 years as the Missouri Valley Diving Association’s Registration Chairman, and is familiar with its rules and regulations. He does the majority of equipment purchasing and maintenance for the team.
Thank you for the opportunity to bring diving to your home.
Mitzi Mathews
1700 Richfield Rd.
Liberty, MO 64068
781-2992 home
510-6221 cell