diving colleges

Question
Thank you for your reply. I apologize for not being specific enough. My son is searching for a university where he can dive.  He placed 7th in the state of Missouri this year. He is interested in platform as well as 1 and 3 meter.  His top score was in the 425 - 450 range for an 11 dive meet. He has a B average grade point with some honors classes.  Our resources are limited to provide financial support.  Where would you suggest?  Thanks.

He is a senior and will graduate May 2009.  He has not had any diving experience other than high school and camps at Univ. of Indiana, Bloomington.
He would like to dive D1, but I think his experience level will knock him out of that arena.  D2 would be fine too.  
He has been invovled in student council at school - with many service activities, and several church mission trips.  He also has held a part-time job since he turned 16.  
I do have video available, although it is not super professional.
Toni Palmer
Special Education Case Manager
Kickapoo High School
SMART Certified Masters' Trainer
3710 S. Jefferson
Springfield, Missouri 65807


Answer
Toni-

Based on the info you have given me, I would suggest he pursue looking into Division II and III schools. Division I diving coaches are looking for divers who have an extensive background in club meet diving. Last month, there was an early NCAA scholarship signing period where most of the financial aid money was awarded. The next NCAA signing period is in April.

He needs to get in touch with college diving coaches immediately so they know who he is and what he can do.He should draw up an athletic biography that includes his list of dives, the meets he has competed in, what dives he learned at camp on 3 meter and platform. The video you have is good enough. Make copies of it to include in his bio. They also want to know what type of student he is. SAT scores, GPA etc.

Go to www,ncaa.org. Click on Winter Sports and then click on Men's Swimming. Click on all the links that give info on Division II and III schools. There you will find a list of schools with diving. Also go to www.ncaastudent.org. This is a website for potential student athletes.Lots of info there. He needs to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse to see if he is eligible to compete his freshman year.Sounds like he will be but all students must go this process to declare eligibility.

While he may not get financial aid his first year, he could earn one for his second season by contributing lots of teams points, especially at the conference championships, his freshman year.He should also look into non athletic financial aid. There are grants out there and other monetary aid - you just have to look hard to find them.

Go to www.divemeets.com. This website gives results of many many diving meets across the US. College coaches use it all the time to see how high school divers are doing. Have him click on "Past Meets". Click on the Ohio State Diving Invitational. Look up the men's events results. Click on a score and then the printable dive sheet of any diver. This will give him an idea of what dives college kids are doing and what they are scoring. In college, it is only six dive meets that are all optionals - no 11 dive meets like high school.

Other diving websites include:

www.usadiving.org - National governing body
www.aaudiving.org - Other governing body
www.flipnrip.com - Site for divers & parents
www.usadiver.com - Articles about diving
www.diving.about.com - Has info for college bound divers.

Good luck in your search.