Judging High School Diving

Best Practices

Judging Philosophy

Be Prepared Are you prepared to judge this contest? Are you well rested? Do you know the NFHS rules? Are you familiar with the dives likely to be

performed in this contest? Have you witnessed enough diving of this

caliber to properly carry out your responsibilities as a judge?

Judge What You See A diver who is highly ranked in the State is

not always going to do a great dive. A diver who starts the contest out poorly can

get better as the contest continues. A diver who starts the contest out

exceptionally can perform a poor dive later. Judge what you see, not what you expect to

see.

Be Independent Score the dive based on what you feel it is

worth, don’t worry about what others think. Trust your own judgment no matter what the

other judges score. A judge who gives up his independence is no longer a judge.

“I am the only one who is right” is not a bad philosophy as long as your realize you can make mistakes too.

Ignore Outside Influences Do not allow outside influences to affect your

scoring.

Remember you posses the knowledge, not the crowd.

Crowd favorites are not always the best dives in a competition.

Never Pre-judge Don’t help the favorites, its not fair and they

don’t need it. A bad dive is a bad dive no matter who does

it. A good dive is also a good dive. Unknowns are just as capable of scoring a 10

as the favorite. Remember the scale goes from 0 to 10, for

all divers in the competition.

Overcome Bias Biased judging is an offence against the

concept of sportsmanship and fair competition.

In spite of this, some judges believe that they are entitled to give known divers a half point extra on each of their dives.

It is considered an unethical practice in the sport of diving.

Treat Every Round Equally Do not start out cautiously in early rounds. Do not overly award dives in the final rounds. Judge each round as if it were the only round. Dives performed in the early rounds are just

as capable of scoring a 10 as dives in later rounds.

Don’t “hold back” in case a better dive comes along, it might not.

Treat Each Dive Equally Don’t reward difficult dives simply because

they are difficult. Don’t penalize a dive simply because it is

easy. A back 1 somersault is capable of scoring

10s A back 2 ½ somersault is capable of scoring

1s

Judge The Complete Dive Remember the dive starts with the starting

position and not the entry. Judge the starting position, approach, takeoff,

flight, and entry A great dive in the air that has a fair amount

of splash can still score a 6 or better. A terrible dive in the air that “rips” the entry

may still be worth only a 4 or less. A dive that starts with a “crow hop” can still

receive 8s as well.

Use The Full Range Of Scores The scale goes from 0 to 10 If you feel a dive is failed, give it a 0 Don’t let yourself get stuck between 4 and 6 At the State Meet, the difference between the

best dives and the worst dives will not be 2 points per judge.

You rarely upset the diver, coach, or crowd by making a mistake of scoring to high.

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Judging Philosophy Your overall impression of the dive should

be your first indicator. Wow! That was great!

• Excellent or Exceptional Grouping That was nice!

• Good Grouping Hmm,Ok.

• Satisfactory Grouping Umm, what was that?

• Deficient Grouping Uh Oh! (Judge flinches)

• Unsatisfactory Grouping

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NFHS Scoring Scale

Failed 0 Unsatisfactory ½ to 2 Deficient 2 ½ to 4 Satisfactory 4 ½ to 5

½ Good 6 - 7 Excellent 7 ½ to 8

½ Exceptional 9 - 10

What is the difference between Excellent and Exceptional?

Do not be Concerned Who is Winning or Losing

It is the judges responsibility to judge each dive as it is performed, without consideration of the final standings.

The judge should not try to calculate the running score or current standing.

There is no need to observe the score board when it displays the standings of current score totals.

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Elements of a Dive

There are six elements of a dive to consider when judging:

1. Approach2. Takeoff3. Flight – Stage 14. Flight – Stage 25. Line Up6. Entry into the water

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The Approach – The Purpose

To get to the end of the board !

To display controlled balance.

To set the direction of take-off.

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The Hurdle Step – The Purpose

To get to the end of the board!

Question: What do you do if the diver does not get to the end of the board?

Hurdle & Takeoff

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The Take-Off – The Purpose

To gain maximum height.

To set the dive in motion.

Hurdle & Takeoff

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The Flight Stage 1 – The Purpose

To start the execution of the dive.

In an upward direction (including the stationary point or crest).

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The Flight Stage 2 – The Purpose

To complete the execution of the flight.

To initiate the start of the line-up.

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The Line-Up – The Purpose

For the body to be in a straight & vertical position.

With the arms in or moving to the appropriate position.

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The Entry – The Purpose

Arms in the specified position.

Body stretched, vertical, unbroken until fully immersed.

Entry completed.

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The Six Building Blocks Now the dive is announced and the diver is ready. You are ready to judge the dive.

Let us SEE how you look at the dive using the six building blocks!

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SEEING - The Approach

On-balance. Did the diver get to the

end of the board with both feet symmetrical?

Did both feet / toes remain on the board?

Any shuffle?

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SEEING - The Takeoff Leaning forward ?

Forward / Inward / Back

Leaning back ? Forward / Inward / Back

Just right ? Arms reaching to set ? Good height (power) ? On-balance & fluid ?

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SEEING - The Flight Stage 1

Too far out ? Too close ? Just right ? Specified body position ? Power & grace ? In line with board ?

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SEEING - The Flight Stage 2

Continuing body position - tight & precise.

Any give away at this stage - split; too low, crossed feet, under-rotated, over-rotated.

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SEEING - The Line-up Is the body

straight? Is the body vertical?

& in a straight line? Is there a bent hip? Is there a twist? Is it short? Is it long ?

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SEEING: Do You See Anything?

What Else Do You See ?

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Once Again – A Reminder• Various divers will use

various flight paths• But notice that the line

of flight is always through each of the dimensions

• There is enough flexibility within the size of the rooms to accommodate the various flight path styles

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Philosophy

A judge must keep each element in mind when viewing a dive, yet in the end, the dive should be judged as a whole, without overemphasising any single area.

This is especially true when it comes to the entry. It is very easy to forgive earlier flaws if a dive enters the water vertically and without a splash.

Although a good entry is very impressive, all parts of the dive are to be judged.

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A State Association Perspective

What Are We Looking For ?

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NFHS Common DeductionsExcessive oscillation - More the 4 oscillations BEFOREarms move.

Deduction of ½ to 2 points at judges discretion.

Not stopping the oscillation of the board just before orafter the starting position is assumed.

Deduction of ½ to 2 points at judges discretion.

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NFHS Defined DeductionsFoot/Feet leaving the board on Back/Inward Takeoffs“Crow Hop”.

Deduction of ½ to 2 points at judges discretion.

Note: this is not a mandatory 2 point deduction.Deduction is based on how major the violation was.

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NFHS Defined DeductionsSpreading knees in tuck position (knees should beinside the shoulders).

Deduction of ½ to 2 points at judges discretion.

Note: many divers will squeeze into very tight tucks andtheir knees will split yet remain inside the shoulders.This should not be a deduction.

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NFHS Defined DeductionsOne somersault - require the straight position be

maintained from the takeoff until the body has rotated to the horizontal position (1/4 rotation)

One and one half somersault – require the straight position be maintained until the body has rotated to the vertical position (1/2 rotation)

Deduction of ½ to 2 points at judges discretion.

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NFHS Defined Deductions

112C Forward Flying Somersault Tuck

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NFHS Defined Deductions413C Inward Flying 1½ Tuck

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NFHS Defined DeductionsEntering to the side of the board.

Deduction of ½ to 2 points at judges discretion.

This is often missed at this level. It is rather easy tosee on inwards and reverses where it occurs mostoften.

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NFHS Defined DeductionsA diver does not attempt to come out of a twist.

Unsatisfactory dive - award ½ to 2 points if declared bythe diving referee.

In a twisting dive, the divers shoulders are twistedpast 90 degrees before the feet leave the board.

Failed dive if declared by the diving referee. If not declared by the diving referee, diving judges may deduct ½ to 2 points for twisting manifestly from the board.

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Final Thoughts

Score RELATIVE to the field

High School divers are capable of Exceptional (scores from 9 to 10)

Good Judging brings about Great Diving !

Credits:

FINA - presentation content and educational opportunities

USA Diving – consultation, training, and education of coaches and officials

IHSAA - rules and presentation materials

Starz Diving - consultation and material presenters

NFHS - rules governing the high school diving

It is through cooperation of the various experts in the sport of diving that we become better and provide the best experience for our athletes of all ages and skill levels.