Team Policies

  • North Star Diving Code of Conduct: All participants in the North Star Diving Club are expected to adhere to the Athlete Code of Conduct. North Star Diving Club should be a fun and engaging atmosphere, where divers not only learn and improve their diving skills and techniques, but also life skills.  Any athlete or parent that fails to adhere to their respective Code of Conduct may be removed from the team and forfeit any current registration.
  • Practice Attendance: Divers are expected to attend the practices for which they register. Practices are scheduled and staffed based on registration, so in order for us to be most effective, we must know who will be at practice.
    • Schedule Adjustments: We are aware that our participants have busy lives and may occasionally need to change their scheduled practice days. Please contact Coach Jason with any potential schedule adjustments that you may require with as much advance notice as possible. We will do our best to be flexible, but changes must be communicated before a missed practice.
    • Extended Absences: Please communicate any extended absences due to injury, illness, vacation, etc. via email to Coach Jason with as much advance notice as possible.  Please include the reason for missing practices, and the dates that you will be absent.
    • Make-Up Practices: No make-up practices will be allowed unless they have been pre-approved by Coach Jason.
    • Practice Changes/Cancellations: The online calendar will be updated regularly, and it is your responsibility to check it for changes or cancellations.  If there is no one registered for a particular day or time at the close of registration, the practice schedule will be updated according.
  • Payment Policies:
    • Program Fees: Program Fees are due at the time of registration and will be collected via our online registration system, which accepts Visa, Master Card, and Discover.  Payment plans are available for some programs and are detailed on the current Fee & Program Structure Table.
    • NSDC Membership Fee:  For divers participating in either of the team programs, there is a $50 Membership Fee per session.  This fee is due at the time of registration and is valid through that session.  The fee helps cover equipment costs to enhance the training experience for all team members.
    • Family Discount: Families with multiple divers registered for North Star Diving Club programs will receive 10% off the registration fee of equal or lesser value for each additional diver.
    • Prorated Fees
      • If a diver is approved to start in the middle of a session, North Star Diving Club will be happy to prorate his or her fees.
      • NSDC will not prorate or discount fees for divers that take extended vacations, breaks, or divers that quit during a season for reasons other than illness or injury.
      • If a diver is injured or ill for more than two weeks of a season, NSDC will credit the diver for the amount of time missed from practice. This must be approved and arranged with Coach Jason, and divers will be able to attend additional practice during the session or a credit may be given to future session.
    • Cancellation Policy: Once you have completed online enrollment, you may cancel up until the registration deadline for that session and receive a full refund less 10% as a cancellation fee. Cancellations received after the registration deadline but prior to the first lesson/practice will receive a refund of 50% of program fees paid.
  • Grievances: North Star Diving Club strives to have an open communication policy with all participants.  If at any time, you feel you would like to leave the program or have any other concerns with you or your diver’s participation with NSDC, please notify Coach Jason of what your concerns are so we can schedule a meeting to discuss how to proceed.  Addressing those concerns at a practice or on the pool deck does not allow for Coach Jason to appropriately address your concerns.  We certainly do not want any unhappy divers participating with us, but diving is a sport where athletes do experience challenges and learn to overcome fear.  If following a meeting, you do choose to go to another program, you will be asked to follow the transfer rule under USA Diving regulations.
  • Hand Spotting Policy: Hand spotting is a technique used to help divers learn basic posture and somersaulting skills. It involves the coach manipulating the athlete in the air with his or her hands. The primary goal of hand spotting is diver safety. By hand spotting, the coach can help the diver complete the somersault while at the same time lessen the impact on landing.  Only North Star Diving Club staff members who are trained and certified in hand spotting techniques are allowed to hand spot. North Star Diving Club staff use landmarks on the body around the hips, shoulders and legs to spot. Please note that inadvertently we will sometimes miss our landmarks, but diver safety is always the top priority. As a member of the North Star Diving Club it is your choice whether or not we hand spot your child.  No diver will lose an opportunity or status based on the decision to not be hand spotted.
  • FINA Age Determination: A diver’s age as determined by FINA (the International Governing Body for Aquatic Sports) is their age on December 31st of the current year.
  • Meet Policies: During the season, a series of competitions/meets will be scheduled. Some meets are local, developmental meets and some are Regional, Zone and National level meets that will require traveling.   Attendance at the local meets is strongly encouraged for North Star Diving Club team members, as it is part of an athlete’s development as a well rounded diver.  The Regional, Zone, and National level competitions are also wonderful opportunities, and they are also highly encouraged for those divers ready to attend, based on NSDC Coach recommendations.  Pertinent information concerning competitions including fees, lodging and travel will be provided prior to each event.
    • Most competitions will have registration fees, which divers and their families will be responsible for covering.  These are not included in program fees.
    • There may be additional costs for attending competitions to cover coaching fees as well as travel expenses for coaches.
    • Divers are also responsible for their own travel arrangements and costs for each meet.  For out of town competitions, NSDC may book a block of rooms in a specific hotel, and reservation instructions would be included in the meet information sent out to families.
    • Any diver participating in a meet is required to have their own transportation.  In following the United States Olympic Committee’s Safe Sport Program, endorsed by USA Diving, NSDC coaches cannot provide transportation to athletes.
    • While attending meets, NSDC coaches are only responsible for the divers time spent at the pool for warm-ups and the actual competition.  Outside of that time, families are expected to make arrangements for a parent, guardian, or chaperone to attend with their diver.
    • All divers are expected to follow the NSDC Code of Conduct when traveling to and attending competitions.  The coaching staff reserves the right to dismiss any diver from a meet for any Code of Conduct violations.