DIVE MEET INFO
Dive meets are fun and exciting! We hope this will give you an overview of what a dive meet looks like.
Dive Meet Arrival
What to Bring to a Meet
Dive Meet Sign Ups
Dive Meet Events
How Long Does a Dive Meet Last
Number of Dives
Groups of Dives
Body Positions
Elements of a Dives
Required Dive
Optional Dive
Scoring & Judging
Dive Meet Terminology
Meets begin promptly at 5PM
- HOME warm ups begin at 3PM
- Away warm ups begin at 4PM
- Warm-ups are MANDATORY and divers need to arrive promptly. Check times in weekly email for any changes.
- There is a 1-hour break while the away team warms up.
You may not need all of these items but here are ideas for your diver
- 2 towels at least and maybe a Shammy to dry-off and keep warm.
- Blanket or sleeping bag – fleece blankets are nice when it’s cool outside.
- Water – for hydration
- Food – Bring healthy snacks or money to buy food at the meet
- Sweats – are nice on chilly days to keep warm between events
- Deck of cards or games
TBD: Placeholder Info: May change: Have your child talk to the coaches early in the week. They will teach you child how to fill in an Individual Diver Score Sheet and help select dives for that diver.
Check out a sample diving score sheet. It gives values for dives that are used to calculate scores. Again, the parent does not need to fill in this form.
A dive meet is organized similar to a swim meet. Kids dive by age followed by gender (girls followed by boys).
- 10 & under girls are the first to dive in a meet followed by 10 & under boys followed by
- 11-12 girls then 11-12 boys and so on through
- 13-14 age
- 15 & up
On occasion, the last two age brackets are combined to move the meet more quickly. Each diver's name is announced at his/her turn, followed by the type of dive and the degree of difficulty (DD).
HOW LONG DOES A DIVE MEET LAST?
That depends on how many divers are competing but meets typical finish between 7 and 8 pm.
In the All-City Dive League, number of dives in a meet is based on your child’s age as of June 1st of the current year.
- 10 & under will have to know five different dives.
- 11 & up divers will have to know six different dives.
Dives have to be in different groups. A diver may not compete the same dive in two different positions. (i.e. cannot do a forward/front dive in both the pike and tuck position).
There are five groups of dives. The first four groups involve rotating in different directions relative to the board and the starting position while the fifth group includes any dive with a twist
1. Forward or Front Group
The diver faces the front of the board and rotates toward the water. Dives in this group vary from the simple front dive to the difficult forward four and one-half somersaults.
2. Backward Group
All the dives in the backward group begin with the diver on the end of the board with back to the water. The direction of rotation is away from the board.
3. Reverse Group
These dives begin with the diver facing the front of the board (using a forward approach) and rotating toward the board.
4. Inward Group
The diver stands on the end of the board with back to the water and rotates toward the board or opposite of the backward group's movement.
5. Twisters Group
Any dive with a twist is included in this group. There are four types of twisting dives: forward, backward, reverse, and inward. Because of the many possible combinations, this group includes more dives than any other.
When each type of dive is performed, the diver utilizes one or more of the four different types of body positions:
1. Tuck
The body is bent at the waist and knees, the thighs are drawn to the chest while the heels are kept close to the buttocks.
2. Pike
The legs are straight with the body bent at the waist. The arm position is dictated by the particular dive being done or by the choice of the diver.
3. Straight
This position requires that there be no bend at the waist or knees. However, there may be an arch in the back, depending on the dive. As in the pike position the arm placement is either the diver's choice or defined by the dive done.
4. Free
This is not an actual body position but a term used to describe the diver's option to use any of the other three positions or combinations thereof when performing a dive which includes somersaults and twists.
In classifying a dive into one of the judging categories, certain parts of each dive must be analyzed and evaluated, and an overall award obtained. The 5 parts of a dive are:
1. Approach
Should be smooth but forceful, showing good form.
2. Takeoff
Must show control and balance plus the proper angle of landing and leaving for the particular dive being attempted.
3. Elevation
The amount of spring or lift a diver receives from the takeoff greatly affects the appearance of the dive. Since more height means more time, a higher dive generally affords greater accuracy and smoothness of movement.
4. Execution
This is most important, for this is the dive. A judge watches for proper mechanical performance, technique, form and grace.
5. Entry
The entry into the water is very significant because it is the last thing the judge sees and probably remembered best. The two criteria to be evaluated are the angle of entry, which should be near vertical, and the amount of splash, which should be as little as possible.
A required dive is the first dive of the competition that is selected by the host pool coaches prior to the meet. For example, the required dive for the first meet may be a forward dive. This means that a diver must select from that dive group. So, an acceptable required dive could be a forward dive in pike position, a forward dive with 1 somersault, and so on. You can read more about dives below (Guide to Diving).
After a diver completes the required dive, the remaining dives are called optional dives. The sum of dives performed by a diver must come from at least 4 different groups of dives, and no more than 2 can come from any one dive group.
As you watch more and more diving, especially by talented performers, you will observe that although several divers may do exactly the same dive, it never looks quite the same. This is because each individual has different mannerisms, characteristics of movement, strengths and sense of timing-which all add up to an abstract but observable phenomenon called "style".
Style is difficult to assess by any standard, except whether or not you like it. This is why it is hard to judge diving. Even though there are criteria of execution all divers must meet, evaluation remains a subjective process. No matter how well a dive is performed, artistic likes and dislikes of the judges play a large part in the outcome of any contest, and for this reason there are usually differences of opinion among coaches, competitors, judges and spectators about the accuracy of results.
There is a degree of difficulty number (DD) assigned to each dive. During competition, the judges each score each dive between zero and 10 points in either full or ½ -point increments. The scores are added together then multiplied by the DD for the total score for that dive.
At higher levels of diving, you can better and explain and classify the scores, but at the All-City level you will notice the younger kids – who are learning how to dive – get lower scores, and that the older kids tend to earn higher scores. As divers get older and get more experienced and improve their dives, their scores will increase.
If a diver is supposed to perform a dive in a certain position, but performs it in another position, the diver will still get a score with a deduction for incorrect position.
Dive meets will have three judges comprised of coaches from both teams.
Diving Rules
To learn more about the rules Goodman Waves and the entire All-City League follow please check out USA Diving. For more info, check out the All-City League rules.
Approach
The forward steps taken by the diver toward the end of the board. The approach precedes the hurdle.
Degree of Difficulty (DD)
A numerical value assigned to a dive based on the general difficulty that factors into the overall score of the dive. The total score from the judges is multiplied by the degree of difficulty to determine the dive score.
Failed or No Dive (Balk)
When a diver initiates motion to begin a dive but discontinues before leaving the diving board. A balk is declared by the referee and causes a deduction of points per judge. If the diver balks again or falls into the water, the referee declares a failed dive.
Hurdle
The motion that precede the dive takeoff and after the approach. In a front dive, the hurdle would be the bounce on the board. Divers spend a lot of time practicing the approach and the hurdle.
Individual Score Sheets for Divers
A diving score sheet gives values for dives that are used to calculate scores.
Shammy
The absorbing towel that divers use to dry themselves on the board before executing dives. Named for 1948 and 1952 Olympic platform champion Sammy Lee.
QUESTIONS? PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR FAQs or ASK!
