Waltham Forest Diving Club
We would like to welcome all prospective new divers and their families to Waltham Forest Diving Club (WFDC). We hope you will enjoy your time with us. Divers train in hour long sessions held on Tuesday (5pm to 7pm) and Thursday (6pm to 8pm) evenings at the Walthamstow Pool and Track, Chingford Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 5AA. Tel 020 8527 5431. Please see the Official Pool & Track website for details of how to find the venue.
We maintain a general waiting list and also take introductions from the GLL pool-side coaches (see end of this page). When your child has been invited to join the club there are a few important preliminary administrative tasks that MUST be completed prior to he or she going onto the pool-side. It is essential that the parent / carer meets the designated membership officer in the viewing gallery overlooking the diving pit BEFORE the child even goes to the changing room. You will be required to do the following:-
The coaches are only allowed to accept a diver onto the pool-side when the membership officer has signed off the paperwork.
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) who manage the Pool & Track facility on behalf of the local council offer a basic introductory pool-side diving course for absolute beginners which is a very good alternative way to start if places in the club are not immediately available. Ask for details from any member of staff at the reception desk.
Our main form of communication is via the website and email so we need parents to check both of these on a regular basis. When your child first joins we will ask for an email address during the induction meeting. We do not have the resources to do regular mass mailing of envelopes to the membership for updates about the club. Anything really urgent or important will also be posted in the diving club display cabinet on the 1st floor near the changing room entrance.
Diving is all about getting the basics right - you should not expect to be performing triple summersaults from the 5 metre board on your first visit to the club. Even our great Olympians started with forward and backwards jumps just like you will. The club runs several ability groups ranging from absolute beginners to competition level squad divers during the same hourly poolside sessions. Occasionally the parent of a new diver will express concerns that their child is not performing like the others after a term or two. Diving is a highly disciplined skill that takes time to develop - just like playing a musical instrument. Some of our club members have been doing the sport for several years to reach the standard they are at. If your child is not matching their performance level after a couple of terms then this is entirely normal.
If you have any additional questions or comments please contact us by one of the following means: