Diving for 12 year old

Question
My daughter is a gymnast/cheerleader/trapeze artist that is interested in diving.
I have been unable to locate any programs in our area (Woodland Hills, CA) and
that seems really surprising to me. The only one I've heard of is in Pasadena
which is quite a ways from us. Do you know of any others?

Answer
Carrie-

The closest diving program to where you live is found in Thousand Oaks at the Samuelson Aquatic Center, 60 W. Olsen Rd. The Dive Thousand Oaks team is coached by Arsen Javadian who was a world class diver for Russia in the early 1990's. This pool is either at a high school or a city pool. Since I have never been there, I do not know who owns it.

To get a hold of Arsen, go to www.usadiving.org. Click on Clubs and then Find A Club. Enter CA and a list of teams will appear. If his name is not on there, contact the team at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena. Cristina, the head coach, will know how to find him for you.While at this website, look under Parents and Store. Lots of info there about getting your child in diving.

I am not familiar with Woodland Hills so I do not not if there is a diving pool there. Unlike the sports your daughter is in now, diving coaches do not own their own pool, like a gymnastic coach has their own warehouse that they lease that can be found anywhere. Diving pools and coaches are found at high schools, colleges, city and county pools as well as private country clubs..

You can also try www.aaudiving.org. Click on Diving Sport Contacts and when the map comes up, click on the District numbers closest to where you live. Contact the names that come up and ask about AAU diving teams in your area.This person(s) may know how to get a hold of Arsen.

Other websites about diving include:

www.usadiver.com - Articles about diving.

www.flipnrip.com - Site for parents and divers. They have a huge list of diving coaches and programs in the US. Registration is free.

www.diving.about.com - Site that explains the sport.

www.divemeets.com - Another site that has a large list of coaches and teams. Click on the link at the top center of the page. Another free of charge registration site.

Good luck in your search. I am sure you will find something. Diving is huge and very successful in Southern Calif - one of the largest diving areas in the US.