Welcome to the Rapids 2017 Dive Team

Members of the Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL)

Members of the Northern Virginia Swim League

2017 dive program

If your child has an interest in diving, please encourage her or him to try it. No experience necessary -- children aged 5-18 are welcome if they can jump off the board and pass the swimming test administered by the lifeguard staff.

  • 2017 Rapids Dive Team ($150) - SIGN UP
  • 2017 Rapids Swim & Dive Bundle ($275) - SIGN UP

Our program, as well as the NVSL, emphasizes teaching children the proper technique for safe diving and a love for the sport. If you decide not to continue with diving past June 24, you may ask for a refund. There is even a special rate for those who register for both swim and dive team!

Have questions? Please email us at greatfallsdive@gmail.com and we would be happy to talk with you about the GFS&T dive program.

We are counting on last year’s divers returning for another fun filled summer, and look forward to welcoming many newcomers to our team. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon for a summer of learning new skills and forging friendships!

Great Falls will compete in NVSL Dive Division IV this summer. NVSL rules categorize divers into groups according to their age on 6/1/2017. Your age on that date determines what age group you are in for the entire summer season. You may dive in a more difficult group if you wish.

10 years old and younger
3 dives: including “falls” and “jumps”

11 and 12 years old
4 dives: Front Dive, Back Dive, and 2 optional (no jump/falls)

13 and 14 years old
5 Dives: Front Dive, Back Dive, and 3 optional

15 -17 years old
6 Dives: Front Dive, Back Dive, Inward and 3 optional


COACHES

Caroline McCleary is excited to return to Great Falls for her fourth season as Head Coach of the Dive Team. In her past  seasons as Head Coach, Caroline enjoyed watching her divers develop not only their diving skills but their sportsmanship as well. Caroline will dive for the University of Kansas Jayhawks in the upcoming school year.  She previously competed at Tulane University for the Green Wave Dive Team in NCAA Division 1 m. During her high school years, she was a NISCA All America diver, four time MVP for McLean High School’s dive team, winner of numerous NVSL-Dive Divisional and All Star awards, Virginia High School League titles and Junior Olympic awards.

Ellie Smith is happy join the coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2017 season.  She has been on the GFS&T dive team for ten years, where she first fell in love with the sport.  In addition to diving for Great Falls during the summer, she also dives for Dominion Dive Club year round.  She has been an all- star qualifier for the last six years, last year placing 4th in the senior division.  She also qualified and attended USA Diving Nationals last year In both 1m and 3m events, and she placed within the top 50.   Ellie is a rising junior, and she attends high school at Holy Child in Maryland.  Ellie won MVP of her high school dive team for the last two years.   She placed 16th at Metro’s this year.    She looks forward to another great season!

Thom Davis is excited to return to the coaching staff as an assistant coach this year.  He is a rising senior at the Heights School where he is a member of the Swim and Dive team.  He placed 8th this year in the National Catholic Swimming and Diving Championship.  He has also been a member of the Great Falls Dive team for six years.  He is a three time MVP winner and placed first in divisionals in 2013 and 2014.  He has represented Great Falls in the All Star meet numerous times. 


2017 Dive Registration

To register for dive team, use the 2017 Registration links below. You will pay when you register, but can be refunded if your child formally withdraws by June 24. This allows divers to try out and determine if they want to stay with the sport. Any child participating in both swim and dive teams will receive a discounted rate. 

  • 2017 Rapids Dive Team ($150) - SIGN UP
  • 2017 Rapids Swim & Dive Bundle ($275) - SIGN UP

Acknowledgement:  By submitting this registration, I acknowledge and understand that diving involves certain inherent risks of injury.  Although my child will be supervised primarily by coaches employed by GFS&T, they will also be assisted, supervised and/or transported to events by parents and others who serve the team without compensation.  With a full understanding of these risks and circumstances, I give permission for my child/children to participate fully in the GFS&T dive team program.


Practice & Meets

Dive Practice

Each diver should pick an hour to practice each day. Suggested ages for the morning practices coordinate with the swim team practices, but if you have a conflict, you are welcome to practice during a different hour.

Pre- Season: (May 30 thru June 23)

  • Mon - Fri from 5:30 - 6:30 pm - OR -
  • Mon - Fri from 6:30 - 7:30 pm

In season: (June 26 - July 30)

  • Mon - Fri from 9:15 - 10:15 am - OR -
  • Mon - Fri from 10:30 - 11:30 am
  • Weds & Fri from 4:30 - 5:30 pm

Dive Meets

Tuesday meets begin at 6 PM; we warm up at 4 PM if the meet is at home, and at 5 PM if the meet is away:

Dive Meets Schedule (2017)

  • Tuesday, June 27 Highland Park at Great Falls
  • Wednesday, July 5 Cardinal Hills at Great Falls
  • Tuesday, July 11 Great Falls at Dominion Hills
  • Sunday, July 16 Wally Martin Meet at Oak Marr
  • Tuesday, July 18 Fairfax at Great Falls
  • Sunday, July 23 Cracker Jack Meet at Springfield
  • Tuesday, July 25 Great Falls at Camelot
  • Sunday, July 30 Divisionals at Cardinal Hill
  • Sunday, August 6 All-stars at Oakton

Additional Meets

  • Cracker Jack Meet. This is a great and fun meet for beginning divers of all ages. (Divers can compete even if they can only jump off the board)
  • Wally Martin Meet (3 meter board meet for experienced divers)
  • Divisionals (divers need to qualify)
  • All-Stars (divers must qualify)

Visit NVSL Dive for team addresses, driving directions and other information on the pools that compete in our dive league. 


Parent Volunteers

We need parent volunteers!

Several parents are needed to run each meet: 5 for away meets, and 6 for home meets. Classes are offered through the NVSL to train parents to judge; we need at least one more judge! The other positions only take a few minutes to learn.  

Please email greatfallsdive@gmail.com if you are interested / willing to help out.


GET DIVE EMAILS

Sign up to receive emails from the Dive Team in seasons. You can opt-out anytime.


Inclement Weather

Know Before You Go

Dive practices and meets are sometimes cancelled or interrupted when thunder and lightning are near the pool. Get up-to-date info on practice cancellations or when practices are rained out: 

Great Falls Rapids Text Alert Sign-Up

The Rapids Head Coach or Asst. Coaches are the only ones to call off practice. If you don't hear anything, the practice/meet is still on!