Dive Team Handbook
The Little Falls Dive Team is part of the Montgomery County Dive League. Below are links to MCDL and the handbook that describes the league rules and what's expected of divers, coaches, and officials. If you have any questions please contact LFSC dive reps, [email protected]
Link to MCDL: http://www.mcdiving.org/
Link to MCDL Handbook: Handbook.pdf (mcdiving.org)
Frequently Asked Questions
(updated May 31, 2026)
1. Are there some winter diving opportunities that I can consider?
Winter diving opportunities at the Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center:
Please note that the Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center (KSAC) in North Bethesda is currently closed for a massive, multi-year modernization and structural renovation project. While renovations are underway, indoor open dive sessions and local Montgomery County Recreation winter lessons at this facility are temporarily paused.
For families looking for year-round training, the Montgomery Dive Club continues to offer elite team experiences and group developmental lessons by utilizing alternative regional facilities during the off-season. You can check their current seasonal schedules, alternate locations, and register for fall, winter, and spring sessions directly via the
Winter diving opportunities at the Wilson Aquatic Center:
The Wilson Aquatic Center in DC is a beautiful indoor Olympic-sized pool located in Tenleytown, making it a short drive from the Little Falls neighborhood.
When scheduling permits, the pool typically offers open dive windows on Saturdays for divers who want to practice their lines and hurdles independently. However, because weekend hours are frequently adjusted due to staffing shortages, maintenance, or high school swim and dive meets, it is highly recommended that you call the front desk or check their live portal before driving over. You can check current facility hours on the official
2. What is the goal of the Little Falls Dive Team?
Our goal is to provide a highly welcoming, "no-cut" team environment for kids and teens (ages 18 and under) to learn new dives, build confidence, make lifelong neighborhood friends, and have a lot of fun. While we compete in local meets, participation in competition is entirely optional.
3. What is the attendance requirement for a diver to join the team?
There is no strict attendance requirement to be a part of the Penguins! We know summer is a busy time for families, and your diver is welcome to participate even if they have conflicts with summer camps, sports tryouts, or family vacations. Practice slots are divided by age groups into manageable weekday blocks—afternoon blocks while school is finishing up, moving to morning blocks once the summer holiday begins—allowing it to easily fit into your family's routine.
4. Does the LF Dive team offer competitions?
Yes! Little Falls is a proud member of the Montgomery County Dive League (MCDL). The league consists of five active divisions, and the Penguins compete in Division III.
We host or travel to 5 regular-season dual meets per year, which take place on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 PM. For divers who meet specific qualifying criteria during the summer, there are also opportunities to move on to the Divisional Championship Meet and the league-wide All-Star Meet. You can track schedules, standings, and events on the
5. Are divers required to participate in meets?
Not at all. We warmly encourage all of our divers to try a meet when they feel comfortable, but there is absolutely no pressure to compete.
Because the MCDL is a recreational community league, we welcome and celebrate divers of every skill level. If your diver wants to experience the fun of a Sunday meet but cannot yet perform all the required dives for their specific age group, they can dive "exhibition." This allows them to dive alongside their peers and hear the crowd cheer without their scores counting toward official place awards or team points.
6. What are the different dives, such as jumps, lineups, and hurdles?
If you want to learn the basic mechanics of a forward hurdle, the difference between a flip and a twist, or how judges score a lineup, please check out the official rules, educational resources, and training guidelines hosted on the
7. What dives will my diver do in a Little Falls dive meet?
Divers compete in MCDL dual meets across six distinct age brackets. The specific dive requirements and formatting for regular-season meets are structured as follows:
-
8 & Under (3 Dives Total):
- Forward dive or forward lineup
- Back jump or back dive/lineup
- 1 optional dive (can be a basic back jump or a more complex voluntary dive)
-
9–10s (3 Dives Total):
- Forward dive or forward lineup
- Back dive or back lineup
- 1 optional dive (can be a back jump or a more complex dive)
-
11–12s (4 Dives Total):
- Forward dive or forward lineup
- Back dive or back lineup
- 2 optional dives (can include a front jump, back jump, or more complex dives, but must be in different directional categories)
-
13–14s (5 Dives Total):
- Forward dive or forward lineup
- Back dive or back lineup
- 3 optional dives (can include jumps or advanced dives, must be in different directional categories)
-
15–18s (6 Dives Total):
- Forward dive or forward lineup
- Back dive or back lineup
- Inward dive
- 3 optional dives (must be in different directional categories)
Note: Our coaches work closely with every child during the week to select the exact optional dives they feel safest and most confident performing before submitting the Sunday meet sheets.
