Diving Team information page
Somerset Valley YMCA – Hillsborough, Somerville and Bridgewater
Lords of the Boards Diving Team
The nationally recognized Somerset Valley YMCA “Lords of the Boards” diving team offers competition for novice to college level diving. We compete as a United States Diving club in regional and national US Diving sanctioned meets. Additionally, we compete as an AAU club in the TriState Diving league and invitational meets.
We offer training for Novice, Intermediate and Junior Olympic level divers. Each athlete is encouraged to develop his or her skills according to progressions that are appropriate to that individual. Our beginner and intermediate level divers compete in the TriState Diving League.1988 thru 1993, 1996-97 Women’s YMCA National Team Champions
1989 and 1997 Combined YMCA National Team Champions
Six YMCA Individual National Champions and 114 YMCA All Americans
49 USD Regional Champions
Eight East National Champions
47 USD National Qualifiers with 20 finalists
2006 USD Junior National 13/u Champion on both one and three meter
Thirty-two AAU national finalists with six National Champions
Ten NJSIAA State Champions and Eight High School All-Americans
Our Coaches
Fred Woodruff
Fred did his collegiate diving and later coached at Lehigh University where he earned a BA degree in Psychology and Management. A thirty year veteran age group coach, Fred formed the Lords of the Boards in the fall of 1983. His program has produced national level divers since 1985. In fact, the performance of his teams earned him Region I coach of the year honors in 1988 and then again in 1989. He served as Junior Olympic Chairman of the New Jersey Association of United States Diving for seven years and as Region I Chairman from 1997 until 1999. He is currently serving as treasurer of the New Jersey Association. Fred begins his fourteenth season as head diving coach at Rutgers University.
Lesley Woodruff
Lesley competed at the national level as an age group diver placing in the top three in three consecutive Canadian nationals. She later attended the University of Ottawa where she earned her degree in sports psychology and human kinetics. She has been coaching age group diving for twenty-one years in Canada and the US. In her last three seasons coaching the Gloucester Diving Club in Canada, she coached ten national finalists. Her outstanding performance while at Gloucester earned her the 1989 and 1990 Provincial Awards for Diving. Since coming to the states in 1990, Lesley and Fred have coached the SVYLOB together and her presence has not gone unnoticed. Lesley was awarded YMCA coach of the year honors at the 1998 YMCA nationals. Later that year she was selected to serve on the National YMCA Swimming and Diving Committee. Lesley also coached Seton Hall University for eleven seasons.
Diving Programs
Beginner diving lessons and the Preteam developmental programs are offered throughout the year. Beginner classes offer instruction in the basic skills of springboard diving including jumps, hurdle, and basic dives. Once a diver masters the basics, they are encouraged to enter our Preteam training program. In Preteam they learn more about the sport of diving, refining the skills they have already learned, while progressing onto new, more complex skills and dives. The skills learned in Preteam are important, if not essential, for those who aspire to someday become a member of the LOB team.
Beginner lessons (1 class per week) are offered on Sundays 9:00 - 9:30am or on Thursdays 6:00 - 6:30pm. No previous diving experience is required, but participants must be able to swim in deep water. Should the instructor determine that someone is not yet ready for this class in terms of their swimming skills or maturity, they will be advised to take the course at a later date.
Preteam (1 or 2 classes per week) is offered Sundays 9 - 10:00am and on Thursdays 6:00 - 7:00pm. We encourage, but do not require, that participants practice their diving twice per week. Many participants may not aspire to be on the team, but enjoy developing their skills, learning new dives, and competing in a low key atmosphere. We offer five sessions of the Preteam throughout the year.
Dive Team The Diving Team holds tryouts every September. However, divers moving into the area, wishing to join the team, should contact the Bridgewater center to arrange a tryout at any time of the year. Preteam members will be offered membership on the YMCA Dive Team after developing the necessary skills. All Diving Team members must be YMCA Full Privilege members.
