AFD FAQs
What are the differences between the Practice Groups or Teams?
A diver's practice group will be determined by their age, their commitment to training days per week, and the competitions they're training for, and what competitions are required for them to compete in.
Non-Competitive Teams
Learn To Dive - Divers 8th grade and younger. No meets are required but divers are encouraged to compete in all meets they qualify for.
High School Varsity - for divers 9th-12th grade focused on OHSAA High School diving. No meets are required but divers are encouraged to compete in all meets they qualify for.
Travel Team
Red - Divers of any age committed to training 2-4 days per week. Divers are required to compete in Ohio Diving League meets and are training for AAU Diving and USA Diving meets.
White - Divers of any age committed to training at least 3 days per week. Divers are required to compete in Ohio Diving League and AAU Diving meets and are training for USA Diving meets.
Blue - Divers of any age committed to training 5+ days per week. Divers are required to compete in all AAU Diving and USA Diving meets that AFD attends with goals of competing in Senior level competitions.
How do practice costs vary between the Practice Groups or Teams?
Practice costs vary by Practice Group and days per week a diver is committed to. The more often a diver practices, the lower the per-practice cost is.
Are there any annual costs or team fees?
Yes. Every diver must complete the current season membership before registering for any Practice Group.
Travel Team divers make a year long commitment at the start of each season. To join the Travel Team, divers will pre-pay their annual meet fees that cover coaching coast for their designated required competitions.
Red - Covers all ODL meet fees.
White - Covers all ODL and AAU Diving meet fees.
Blue - Covers all ODL, AAU Diving and Jr. USA Diving meet fees.
Event Entry Fees for AAU Diving and USA Diving are always the responsibility of the diver.
Is AFD Team Gear Required?
Historically, Yes for the Travel Team. We are working on our 2027 order with our TYR rep currently and should have ordering available later in September or early October.
How strict are you on the day a diver practices each week?
If I miss a day or week of practice that I'm signed up for, can I make it up?
We are flexible. If a diver signed up for 1 day per week and one week Tuesday is better and one week Thursday is better, it is always fine to change which days per week you practice.
We always allow makeup practices. All we ask is that for the make up practice, you stay within your practice group, you coordinate with an AFD coach when you'll be making up a practice, and that you do you best to makeup practices within the same session. If you know you're going to miss practice ahead of time, you can make up your practices in advance.
Why do I need AAU Diving and USA Diving memberships if I'm not going to compete in meets?
These memberships are insurance both for the diver and for the club. If a diver is injured in a sanctioned club practice or meet, these memberships can help cover costs that traditional health insurance doesn't cover.
All AFD coaches are AAU Diving and USA Diving member coaches.