C. Get to know the parents and the siblings of your divers. Many times, parents can be invaluable resources to you and your diving program. Accountants, lawyers and doctors can be especially helpful. This is networking, plain and simple. D. Coaches should sit down with parents and tell them what diving can do for their kids.
Diving teaches kids about long-term commitment and delayed gratification.
Our sport has a lot to offer, but we should not assume that parents and athletes get it right off the bat. Sell the sport to the kids and the parents as a Life Sport something kids can do for life, not just while they are kids. If coaches are willing to make it a part of their curriculum, there are many life skills that diving teaches. Of course, participating on a diving team or in a diving program for a number of years looks good on a college resume, and for some athletes it results in scholarship. E. Project the image that your diving program is bigger than it really is.