Young divers head to Sheffield for Junior Development squad assessment camp

A group of up and coming divers are heading to Sheffield this weekend for the Swim England Diving Junior Development squad assessment camp.

More than 40 divers from clubs across England and Scotland are taking part in this year’s camp as they look to gain selection to the national squad for the 2024/25 season.

It will involve several evaluations on core diving components from both the dryland and in the pool supported by a dedicated team of coaches and support staff.

The athletes taking part have been invited on the back of last season’s results, including at the Aquatics GB Junior Elite Diving Championships.

Gaining a spot on the squad – for athletes aged between 12 and 17 – is the next step towards competing in prestigious international events with the selected divers benefitting from being a part of a number of training camps across the next 12 months.

Additionally, the camp offers the divers the chance to share experiences with their fellow athletes and coaches and learn from one another as they enter the new campaign and turn their attention towards upcoming events.

Selection to the squad requires the divers to pass several technical and physical areas:

1. Performance GB Junior Elites – Invited to join the camp
2. Physio assessment
3. Physical Testing
4. Dryboard skills
5. Entry Test – consistency
6. Skill chain and awareness 3m springboard – consistency, awareness & control
7. Required dive test platform OR springboard (six dives) – group fundamentals
8. Squad staff observations

The skills have been changed for this year so that they are based on several elements and not just on the scores achieved by the divers across the weekend.

There are several benchmark standards however alternative skills can be selected with the athletes only just returning to training to start the new season.

Eyes on the future

Speaking ahead of the camp, Swim England diving programme lead Connie Ford said: “It’s a great achievement for all these athletes to be invited to this assessment camp.

“We have a group packed full of talent and we’re excited to work with the next generation of athletes across the next three days.

“Unfortunately we can’t select all of them for the squad but we are looking forward to working to support each of them in the next stage of their diving journey.

“We hope that the camp gives them an invaluable experience and insight which they can take with them into their upcoming competitions.

“Thank you to all of the coaches and team staff that are joining us in Sheffield to support these divers during the camp.”