Original Story: Diving Australia

Diving Australia and the State Associations have been working hard to put in place a schedule of opportunities to replace the Elite Junior Championships which, as previously communicated, can no longer be held in person.  

The logistical considerations have been challenging but we believe we have been able to design opportunities that will enable all of our Elite Junior athletes (even those currently in lockdown) to have something tangible to aim for in the coming months. 

What we have been able to arrange is a three-pronged approach. 

1 - 2021 Virtual Camp

The 2021 Virtual Camp will be facilitated via Zoom to provide divers the opportunity to engage with one another across the country, and encourage divers to participate in a learning and fun environment from home.

The Virtual Camp will be held across two days on Thursday, 30 September and Friday, 1 October and is open to all divers that are eligible and have qualified to compete at the 2021 Australian Elite Junior Championships or National Skills Final.

There are no costs to attend the Virtual Camp, however, registration is essential.

The exact schedule will be sent out shortly, but the Virtual Camp is designed to enable divers to engage with each other, meet and catch up with people from other states, to do some diving learning and to have fun. With a range of ages eligible to take part, the program will run multiple sessions with breakout rooms etc so divers can choose the most appropriate session for what they would like.

Details

• The Camp will be run on Thursday, 30 September and Friday, 1 October. 
• Registration will be via the the link below. Registration is open now and will close at 5pm on Wednesday, 22 September.
• Again, this will be a free camp, but registration is essential. 
• Each day of the Camp will have a number of 1-hour workshops facilitated by National Talent Coaches and others (schedule to be circulated shortly) with breaks in between each session. Space will be needed as they will not be a “sit on front of a screen” sessions!
•  The competition will be open to athletes who are eligible and have qualified to compete at this year’s Australian Elite Junior Championships or National Skills Final.

2021 Virtual Camp Registration 

2 - 2021 Stay At Home Dryland Competition

The 2021 Stay At Home Dryland Competition will provide divers that have not been able to compete nationally this year, the opportunity to engage in a judged competition in a safe and enjoyable way.

Videos will be recorded in consultation with your primary coach prior to 5pm Sunday, 10 October. Details on skills and evaluation will be provided after registration.

Skills are to be performed following the Virtual Camp, videoed and uploaded to a Diving Australia portal prior to Sunday, 10 October 5pm (AEST).

A national assessment of the Skills uploaded will be done between 11 and 15 October and the Competition will then be streamed on Saturday, 16 October.

Only Athletes who are eligible and have qualified to compete at the 2021 Australian Elite Junior Championships or National Skills Final can compete in the Dryland Competition.

Details

• Skills are to be performed following the 2021 Virtual Camp, videoed and uploaded to a Diving Australia portal (details coming) prior to 5pm Sunday, 10 October. 
• A national assessment of the skills uploaded will be done between 11 and 15 October and the Competition will then be streamed on Saturday, 16 October. (If there are too many entries to finalise by 16 October, then the top 10 will be streamed on 16 October with the remainder the following weekend, Saturday 23 October).
• This will be a free competition, but registration is essential.
• The comp will be broken into three groups, ages will be as at 31 December 2021:
  • Groups A and B: 14-18 years
  • Group C: 12/13 years
  • Group D: 11 years and under
• The competition will be open to athletes who are eligible and have qualified to compete at this year’s Australian Elite Junior Championships or National Skills Final.
• Once registered, divers will be sent details on what skills to perform, and how to video and upload. 

2021 Stay At Home Dryland Competition Registration

3 - State Based Australian Elite Junior Qualifications

Given the numbers associated with Elite Juniors, it is not logistically possible to run a full virtual Elite Junior Championships. Accordingly, each State Association will select a state team between Friday, 1 October and Sunday, 31 October.

Each State will select one athlete to compete at the 2021 Australian Elite Junior Championships for each contested event.

Although only one athlete will represent each state in the final national competition, all athletes will have the opportunity to be selected to the state team. Whilst this is not ideal, given the unique circumstances, it will afford all Australian elite junior divers the opportunity to be crowned as the Australian Elite Junior Champion. Diving Australia is committed to exploring all avenues in order to hold championships and events.

Details

• How and when each State runs that selection process will be up to that State, pending restrictions that may be in place. Your State Association will be getting out information shortly on what the format will be for your State. 
• The national event will cover just 3-Metre and Platform boards for each of Boys and Girls, and just for Groups A, B, C and D. 
• Each State is to select the State Team for the Virtual Elite Juniors. Each State will be able to enter a maximum of 16 athletes – 1 athlete per event.
• Once the State Team is announced, each athlete on that team will be required to (under supervision) video their list of dives and submit to an online Diving Australia portal (details to be advised) where they will be edited into a Virtual Elite Junior Championships to be judged live by a remote Diving Australia panel of high-level judges, leading to the crowning of Elite Junior Champions!