Donaldson Run Dive Team

Dive Scoring Sparknotes

Definitely take a NVSL Dive Judge training clinic at the beginning of the summer. Everything will make SO much more sense. In the meantime, here is the link for the handout at that clinic. Dive Judge Handout 2023

**B Meet Scores are inflated from these guidelines.

Here are some key takeaways from the clinic to help understand:

Dives are named with numbers and letters that explain what the dive is.
Dive Numbers:

Forward 100
Backward 200
Reverse 300
Inward 400
Twister 5000 (hundreds number is start position; tens is # of ½ somersaults; ones is twists)

Dive Positions:

A straight
B pike
C tuck
D free

For example

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 judged at an A Meet: generally defined by the following examples...

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
Take off from one foot on a forward approach

Unsatisfactory Dive – ½ to 2 points

No take-off (diver simply falls in water)
Diver hits the board, but still completes the dive legally
Dive performed out of position or with no clearly definable position A nearly horizontal or balled up entry (cannonball)
Front or back entry performed instead of forward or back dive

Deficient Dive – 2 ½ to 4 ½ points

Approach: Incomplete hurdle, arm swing, or press;
Feet contact not at end of board
Take-off: Arms reaching outward vs. upward
Flight: One or more breaks in position
Body position not tight or compact, i.e. lacks some element of aesthetics and symmetry
Twists in dives that are not in the twister group
Twisting dives over-twisted or under-twisted
For tuck position: front of thighs not close to the chest
Position of dive definable, but not tight, aesthetic, and symmetrical
Dive not completed at or before entry into the water
Bent leg(s) or arm(s), poor body alignment, legs or feet apart, flat feet
Outward rather than upward trajectory
Entry: Arms not over the head or at the sides as specified for dives or jumps Legs or feet apart or not in symmetrical alignment
Dive exceeds vertical or fails to reach vertical (goes long or short) Dive too far, too close, or to one side of board

Satisfactory Dive – 5-6 ½ points

Approach: Clear press and arm swing
Running approach must have hurdle
Hurdle is from one foot; after hurdle, both feet must contact the end of the board

Take-off: Vertical lift from board from both feet

Flight: Up, but not out Balanced and controlled
Arms, legs, and torso aesthetically, symmetrically aligned Well defined dive position
Dive completed in air
Body fully extended at or before entry

Entry: Approximately vertical, feet together, & toes pointed 
In front of board, not off to the side
Not too far out, not too close
Full extension of arms on headfirst entry
Arms straight at sides for 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 of the following:

Strong vertical lift (diver’s center of gravity reaches at or above the diver’s height). Dive completed above board level
Aesthetic and symmetrical body alignment from takeoff through entry
Strong vertical line established well before entry into the water
Rip entry (no splash)

Think about the 4 parts of the dive:

1. Approach
2. Take-Off
3. Flight position
4. Entry

Entry into water should be 3 feet from board.