Dive Judging Explained
Dive judging can feel overwhelming at first — taking an NVSL Dive Judge clinic at the beginning of the summer makes everything much clearer. In the meantime, here’s a quick cheat sheet to help it all make sense.
The 4 Parts of a Dive
Every dive is judged on four main parts:
- Approach
- Takeoff
- Flight position
- Entry
Entry into the water should be approximately 3 feet from the board.
Dive Names Explained
Dives are named using numbers and letters that describe what the dive is.
Dive Numbers
Forward – 100
Backward – 200
Reverse – 300
Inward – 400
Twister – 5000
(Hundreds number = starting position; tens = number of ½ somersaults; ones = twists)
Dive Positions
A – Straight
B – Pike
C – Tuck
D – Free
Examples
101 B = Forward dive pike
202 A = Back flip straight
403 C = Inward 1½ somersault tuck
5121 D = Forward somersault ½ twist free
Range of Scores (A Meets)
B Meet scores are inflated from these guidelines.
Failed — 0 Points
Wrong dive performed
Head or hands not contacting water first on head-first dive; feet not contacting water first on feet-first dive
Entries on dives twisted over or under 90 degrees
Takeoff from one foot on a forward approach
Unsatisfactory — ½ to 2 Points
No takeoff
Diver hits the board but completes the dive
Dive performed out of position or with no clearly definable position
Nearly horizontal or balled-up entry
Front/back entry instead of forward/back dive
Deficient — 2½ to 4½ Points
Approach:
Incomplete hurdle, arm swing, or press
Feet contact not at end of board
Takeoff:
Arms reach outward instead of upward
Flight:
One or more breaks in position
Body position not tight or compact
Position definable, but not tight, aesthetic, or symmetrical
Twists in dives not in the twister group
Twisting dives over- or under-twisted
For tuck position: thighs not close to chest
Dive not completed before entry
Bent legs or arms; poor alignment; legs or feet apart; flat feet
Outward rather than upward trajectory
Entry:
Arms not over head or not at sides
Legs or feet apart or not symmetrical
Exceeds vertical or fails to reach vertical
Too far, too close, or off to one side of board
Satisfactory — 5 to 6½ Points
Approach:
Clear press and arm swing
Running approach includes hurdle
Hurdle from one foot; both feet contact end of board
Takeoff:
Vertical lift from both feet
Flight:
Up (not out); balanced and controlled
Aesthetic, symmetrical alignment
Well-defined position
Dive completed in air
Fully extended at or before entry
Entry:
Approximately vertical
Feet together; toes pointed
In front of board (not to side)
Not too far out or too close
Full extension of arms overhead (head-first entry)
Arms straight at sides (feet-first entry)
No twists on entry
Good to Very Good to Excellent — 7 to 10 Points
All of the above, plus one or more:
Strong vertical lift
Aesthetic, symmetrical alignment from takeoff through entry
Strong vertical line established before entry
“Rip” entry (no splash)
