How to start diving training

Question
Hi Tom,
I'm in san francisco East Bay area in Castro Valley. I have a daughter who is turning 9 next month. I would like to get her started in diving since she loves water activities. How do I begin her coaching? Do I have to enrol in a club? her long term goal may be to get college scholarship. Any guidance and coach reference you can provide would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Ruth  

Answer
Ruth -

They best way to start her diving is to find a learn to dive lesson program in your area. There are several to choose from. The closest may be All Valley Divers run by my friend Monte Young in Livermore. He uses several pools in the East Bay. There is the Sherman Swim School in Lafayette that offers lessons (owner is Steve Sherman, another old friend) and then there is the Diablo Divers of Walnut Creek coach by Phil Tonne who is also the coach at U.C. Davis. You can find them by going to www.usadiving.org. Click on Clubs and then Find A Club. Enter CA and a list of teams will come up. The contact info for these programs will be listed there. You should not have to join their club team, just the lesson program. While at the USA Diving website, check out other links and categories for more info on diving.You may have to register her with this organization to able to take lessons. Here are some other websites to go to:

www.aaudiving.org - Another governing body for diving you may have to have her join at a very inexpensive cost.

www.diving.about.com - Site that explains the sport. Just enter 'lessons' in the search box and you will find articles about what to expect in a lesson program.

Good luck. I am sure you will find something she likes. These are all very experienced coaches I have known for many years as I am originally from the Bay Area in the Santa Clara County area.