HOW TO WATCH DIVING.

This was written in the late 1970's when I taught at Arlington High School.

For the people who like to watch competitive diving, the following represents a way to understand and appreciate what is observed.

A basic understanding of the rules governing the sport is not necessary to appreciate a good dive but is helpful in understanding what looks like a good dive isn't scored well by the judges. The following are a few of the basic rules governing the sport:

-- No less than three walking steps may be taken followed by a jump from one leg and landing on two feet at the end of the board and jumping into the dive to be performed. This represents the minimum to be done for the forward take-off. Any violation of this rule is called a balk and the referee will penalize it by subtracting two points per judge’s score. If the diver starts the approach and then stops, this is also a balk and the same penalty is assessed. If the diver stops a second time or falls off the board, it will be a failed dive.

-- For backward dives, if the diver makes any attempt to start a dive and then stops, this is also a balk. If the diver moves the board up and down more than four times before the arms begin to move to start the dive, the judges will deduct one half to two points from their score. The same is true if the diver's feet leave the board prior to doing the dive.

-- DIVE POSITIONS:

-- STRAIGHT (There is no bend at the waist or the knees.)

-- PIKE (The only bend allowed is at the waist not at the knees.)

-- TUCK (A bend is allowed at the waist and the knees.)

These positions may be combined for use in twisting dives and this combination is called the FREE position. Most twisting dives may only combine the pike and straight positions.

-- A dive is deficient if the judge observes an altered position in a dive. (If a dive is supposed to be straight, and the judges sees a bend at the waist or the knees the penalty is automatic.) The judge, in his/her opinion should score a maximum of 4 points.

-- A dive is unsatisfactory if the position of the dive is totally altered (tuck instead of pike). Also if the diver enters the water with his hands above the shoulders on feet first dives or with hands below the shoulders on headfirst dives. Hitting the board is also unsatisfactory and the score should be no more than two points per judge called by the referee.

-- A dive is failed if a dive other than announced is performed (front somersault instead of a front 1 1/2 somersault) or fails to complete the dive prior to hitting the water. A failed dive will score 0 points.

Understanding that there are basic rules that govern the score a diver receives should give the spectator a better understanding that the judges are looking for certain things in different dives. The penalties mentioned above are maximums and minimums that are assessed when a judge visually can detect a flaw in a dive.

Divers will receive high scores if they can do the following:

-- Presentation of the diver. (In diving we are looking for good posture. If the diver displays this both on the board and in the air, the dives look and score better.)

-- Perform a smooth approach and hurdle.

-- Ride the board. (This means getting maximum lift from the board. It can commonly be associated with board noise. The only sound that should be heard is the board bouncing while the diver attempts to do the dive.)

-- Height of the dive. (There is no such thing as too high in diving. The higher the better.)

-- Flight of the dive. (The parabolic arc formed by the dive that keeps the diver within a reasonable, safe distance from the end of the board.)

-- Form. (This is the body position in the air. Legs together, toes pointed etc. If a position is designated, the position should be firm for pike or straight and as compact as possible for the tuck and pike positions.)

-- Drop to the water. (When the actual dive is completed in the air, how much time is there before he/she touches the water? The higher, the better.)

-- Entry. (The more vertical the entry the better. Also the less splash the better.)

Divers will receive lower scores for the following and these usually happen in combinations rather than the only thing a diver did wrong:

-- Stomping the board. (This usually means anticipating the jump at the end of the board and/or landing flat-footed. A loud thud can be heard. The cost of this is height in the dive.)

-- Poor body positions both on the board and in the air. This includes not pointing the toes.

-- Finishing dives as the diver enters the water.

-- Landing toward the stomach or back on the entry.

-- Creating a large splash after entering the water.

-- Twisting on dives without a twist.

-- Over or under-twisting on twisting dives.

-- Landing too far away from the board.

-- Landing too close to the board.

-- Hitting the board.

-- Appearing to be out of control on a dive.

-- Landing to the side of the diving board.

One should notice that not only are there rules that must be followed but there are impressions that divers leave with the judges. All of these things are factored in when the final score is awarded. The best viewing place for spectators is the same profile position the judges have. Sitting elsewhere gives a different perspective and commonly results in seeing things that the judges can not see from a profile.

A good judge will see flaws in dives when most people need to run slow motion tapes to see the same things. This is experience and long association with the activity. Because of this they develop and eye for judging.

The points are awarded for dives on the following basis:

-- Exceptional 9 to 10 points.

-- Excellent 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 points.

-- Good 6 to 7 points.

-- Satisfactory 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 points.

-- Deficient 2 1/2 to 4 points.

-- Unsatisfactory 1/2 to 2 points.

-- Failed 0 points.

More judging information is contained on the index page of this site under the High School section titled "A Rationale for Scoring a Dive".

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