COMPETITION
We compete at the national level. Every year.
TRACK RECORD
AAU Nationals medalists — San Antonio, TX
Annual USA Diving Nationals qualifier
Multiple divers in Nationals semifinals and finals
Club founded in Seattle by Coach Ilich Marcano
Dual sanctioning.
Sanctioning
USA Diving
Sanctioning
AAU
Dual sanctioning gives our athletes access to the widest range of competitive opportunities in the region. Most clubs hold only one membership.
COMPETITION PATHWAYS
Two main competition pathways.
Alpha participates in AAU and USA Diving. AAU covers the broadest range of entry points, from novice events to JO competition, while USA Diving is the national route for athletes with a complete JO list.
AAU DIVING PATHWAY
Our most common meet path.
AAU meets are open to both novice and JO divers, making them a supportive way to gain experience while still offering a route toward AAU Nationals.
To attend AAU Nationals, divers must earn a qualifying score at an AAU meet.
Where we compete
- Alpha home meets
- Cheney, WA
- Beaverton, OR
Registration
FUTURE CHAMPIONS EVENT
A novice event inside AAU.
Future Champions is an AAU event format for novice divers who are still building skills before moving into more advanced competition.
Best fit for divers who are
- Newer to competition
- Building foundational skills
- Not yet ready for a full JO list
- Looking for a lower-pressure first meet experience
USA DIVING PATHWAY
The national JO route.
USA Diving meets are for athletes with a complete JO list and lead through the national junior competition circuit.
- 1
Regionals
Groups A and B begin here. Divers need a complete JO list, and the top 15 advance to Zones.
- 2
Zones
Groups C and D begin here. The top 3 in each event qualify directly to Junior Nationals, while places 4-18 advance to the corresponding East, Central, or West Championships.
- 3
East, Central, or West Championships
Divers who advance from Zones compete for one of the next three qualifying spots to Junior Nationals.
- 4
Junior National Championships
The national championship field includes prequalified divers plus qualifiers from Zones and the East, Central, and West Championships.
QUICK COMPARISON FOR PARENTS
Which meets should my diver attend?
| Meet | Best for | Format | Usually attend when |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAU Novice / Future Champions | Novice divers building their first competition skills | AAU novice competition | Your diver is still developing basics, with Future Champions offering a gentler first meet format when available. |
| AAU JO | JO divers | AAU competition | Your diver has a JO list and is gaining experience, competing locally, or pursuing AAU qualification. |
| USA Diving JO | JO divers with a complete JO list | National qualifying pathway | Your diver is ready for the Regional, Zone, and national USA Diving circuit. |
Your diver’s coach will guide the final choice based on skill level, experience, readiness, and goals. The table is meant to help families understand the usual progression before meet selections are made.
AAU NATIONAL QUALIFYING SCORES
2026 qualifying scores.
Competitive year
September 2025 - July 2026
| Division | 1 meter | 3 meter | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group E | |||
| 9 & Under GirlsCoaches discretion; platform divers must enter Group D. | No minimum score | No minimum score | No Group E |
| 9 & Under BoysCoaches discretion; platform divers must enter Group D. | No minimum score | No minimum score | No Group E |
| Group D | |||
| 10-11 Girls | 130 (5 dives) | 140 (5 dives) | 140 (5 dives) |
| USA Diving format | 150 (6 dives) | 160 (6 dives) | 160 (6 dives) |
| 10-11 Boys | 120 (5 dives) | 125 (5 dives) | 140 (5 dives) |
| USA Diving format | 140 (6 dives) | 150 (6 dives) | 155 (6 dives) |
| Group C | |||
| 12-13 Girls | 205 (7 dives) | 210 (7 dives) | 175 (6 dives) |
| 12-13 Boys | 210 (8 dives) | 225 (8 dives) | 190 (7 dives) |
| Group B | |||
| 14-15 Girls | 250 (8 dives) | 260 (8 dives) | 248 (7 dives) |
| High School | 362 (11 dives) | - | - |
| 14-15 Boys | 255 (9 dives) | 275 (9 dives) | 275 (8 dives) |
| High School | 382 (11 dives) | - | - |
| Group A | |||
| 16-18 Girls | 305 (9 dives) | 317 (9 dives) | 250 (8 dives) |
| High School | 372 (11 dives) | - | - |
| 16-18 Boys | 365 (10 dives) | 390 (10 dives) | 305 (9 dives) |
| High School | 405 (11 dives) | - | - |
| Division | 1 meter | 3 meter | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite Open | |||
| Women (5 dives) | Min. D.D. 11.4 | Min. D.D. 13.2 | Min. D.D. 13.2 |
| Men (6 dives) | Min. D.D. 15.4 | Min. D.D. 16.8 | Min. D.D. 16.2 |
| College Open | |||
| Women | 6 dives | 6 dives | 5 dives |
| Men | 6 dives | 6 dives | 6 dives |
Important information
- Qualifying scores are required to attend the AAU Diving National Championships. Divers only need to meet the score once during the competitive year.
- Qualifying scores may be obtained at AQUA/FINA, AAU, NFHS (1-meter only), USA Diving, or Dive Plongeon Canada events.
- College events are open only to enrolled collegiate divers. Junior divers may not enter collegiate events.
- Elite Open events are open to divers who meet the minimum degree-of-difficulty requirements.
- Junior divers must earn a platform score to compete in platform at AAU Nationals; a 3-meter score no longer qualifies them for platform.
COLLEGE RECRUITING
Diving is one of the best-kept secrets in NCAA recruiting.
Division I and II programs actively recruit divers
Fewer athletes competing for roster spots than swimming or gymnastics
Elite divers have a measurably higher chance of scholarship offers
Seattle's education-focused families are ideally positioned to leverage this
Ask us about our alumni and their college placements. We are happy to walk families through the recruiting timeline and what coaches look for.
How meets work.
Registration
Meet registration is handled through DiveMeets.com or DiveLive. Coaches coordinate entry deadlines and dive lists for all athletes.
Coach travel fees
When coaches travel with the team to away meets, a travel fee applies. Details are communicated well in advance through our team channels.
Communication
The team uses Google Chat as the primary communication channel. All schedules, updates, and meet information are posted there.
Diving age
Competitive age is determined by the diver’s age on December 31 of the current year. A diver who turns 12 in November competes in the 12-year-old group for the entire season.