It’s all about providing the divers with a combination of opportunity for success and opportunity to be challenged. It’s important that we know what is expected at each level, in terms of the minimum skills which should be performed and the standard to which they should be performed.

Fortunately, to make this easier, our coaches all have a great deal of experience at all levels of competition, so they know whether a diver is ready for the next level or not.  If we are not sure or we need a reminder, we often look back at previous years’ results and dive lists. It can occasionally be a tough call with divers that are border line - we want to give them a challenge, but we also want to provide them with an opportunity for success too, so getting the balance right can be tricky! 

Depending on the type of competition, there may also be rules which exclude divers from competing in one level if they have moved up to compete at another level. For example, divers who compete at National Age Groups cannot return to compete at the National Skills Finals, whilst they are in the same age group.   Divers who compete at Elite Juniors, cannot return to compete at National Age Groups whilst they are in the same age group – so we have to make sure we get the decision right, otherwise the diver cannot go back!

So, as you can see, there are a lot of things we have to consider when we select a team, but rest assured, any decisions we do make, are always based on what is best for the diver at that time.