Dual Meets

Each team is allowed to compete up to 3 Varsity and 3 JV divers per meet. The rest are exhibition. Teams are only allowed a certain # of total dives per meet. Team may not be allowed to compete exhibition if they already have 3 Varsity or 3 JV competitors, UNLESS the team with more than 36 total dives agrees to pay the officials more.

 If an athlete placed on the JV roster for that meet scores higher than the Varsity score, it cannot count towards the Varsity team points.

 If an exhibition athlete scores higher than a JV or Varsity athlete, it cannot count towards those team points.

 Exhibition is a great option for newer divers who don’t have a legal 6 dive list, but can still gain competitive experience. Exhibition divers can compete the dives they do have (1-6 total) and be judged on that list.

Dual Meets: Divers compete a "6 Dive List"

A 6 dive list consists of 1 required/voluntary dive and 5 optional dives of their choice.

 Required/Voluntary: This is the mandatory category each athlete must compete at a particular meet. These rotate on a weekly basis across the entire MN State High School league in the following order: forward, back, inward, twister, reverse. (repeat)

 If the required category of the week is Reverse, and the diver has not learned to do anything from the reverse category, they are not eligible to compete Varsity or JV. They are allowed to compete exhibition.

 Optionals: These can be a mixture of the diving categories/groups listed above but the last 5 dives must represent at least 4 categories.

     • Ex) 1 Inward, 1 Back, 1 Twister, 1 Front + 1 dive of your choice.

     • “Optional” does not have to mean more difficult dives. You can compete a front dive as one of your optional dives if it wasn’t already included as the required dive of the week.

 Note: Exhibition divers do not have to follow the same guidelines above because their scores cannot be used towards team points.

11 Dive Lists

Consists of 1 voluntary from each of the 5 categories, 1 optional from each category and 1 “double up” group.

Varsity or JV Selection

 Varsity selection is based on the previous meet scores.

Top 3 highest scores from the previous meet will compete Varsity the following meet.

Week 1 is coach discretion on who is ready with legal list to dive Varsity.

 JV selection is the next 3 highest scores and those who meet the legal list requirements.

 This policy means there will be variances on who competes Varsity. There may be athletes who move back and forth from Varsity, those who compete JV or exhibition all season and those who compete Varsity all season.

Considerations made for: attendance, sickness/injury, Senior Night, fluctuations on V/JV when divers do/do not have the necessary dives to compete, academic eligible based on MSHSL rules and alcohol/drug illegibility based on MSHSL and Prior Lake Athletic rules.

Understanding the dive numbers:

The dive # and position is announced prior to the athlete competing the dive. They tell the diver, judges and the official what is about to be performed.  Not performing what dive and position is called can result in a deduction of points or a failed attempt, resulting in a 0 for that dive.

100’s = forward dives

200’s = back dives

300’s = reverse dives

400’s = inward dives

5000’s = twisting dives

Position designations

A = Straight

B = Pike

C= Tuck

D = Free (used for twisting dives)

Assembling the numbers

The first number indicates the direction of travel (front, back, inward, reverse or a twisting dive) The second number is almost always a 0 to indicate a non-flying dive. (no one does these anymore) The third number indicates the number of half somersaults. (Each ½ somersault rotation = 1)

     Ex) 403 B = inward 1 ½ somersault pike

For twisting dives (5000s)

The first number indicates the dive will be from the twist group (5XXX) The second number indicates the direction of travel (X1XX) = forward direction  The third number indicates the number of half somersaults (XX2X) = 1 somersault (SS) The fourth number indicates the number of half twists to be performed. (XXX2) =1 Twist

     Ex) 5122 = forward 1 SS, 1 Twist

Judging

The following criteria are taken into consideration for scoring.

1) Starting Position

Forward – The diver should demonstrate good posture with arms in a position of the diver’s choice.

Back/inward – The diver should demonstrate good posture, with the head upright, arms in a position of the diver’s choice.

2) Approach / Take Off

Forward – Not less than three steps and finish with a hurdle. forward takeoff shall be from both feet simultaneously to an adequate height to perform the dive.

Back/inward – The board can be oscillated up to four times prior to moving the arms from the starting position. At NO time should the balls of the feet/foot lose contact with the board. If the feet/foot leave the board or excessive oscillation occurs (more than four) prior to the arm movement, the judge should deduct ½ - 2 points for each violation.

3) Flight

Demonstrate control of the dive. Contributing to control is the diver’s height and power along with grace, beauty and accuracy. The dive position (tuck, pike or straight) should be clearly defined. Good form should be displayed by means of body tightness and toe point which is maintained throughout the entire dive flight.

4) Entry

Properly executed dives should be performed a safe distance from the board and walls. (not too far and not too close) Vertical as possible with the body straight and toes pointed. The diver’s line into the water is only one segment of the total dive and should not be over judged. Splashless entries (known as “rip” entries) are impressive and are a critical part of the total dive. However, since the entry is the last part of the dive seen, it is easy to judge the entry, forgetting mistakes in takeoff and/or flight. Avoid this common trap. Conversely, a good dive with a rip entry is automatically a better dive and deserves a higher score.

Scoring

Scores range from 0=10 and are given in ½ point increments.

10 = Excellent – No visible flaws – Approach, hurdle, height, distance, execution and entry are all exceptional.

8½ – 9 ½ = Very Good – Approach, hurdle, height and distance slightly affected. Execution well defined.

7 – 8 = Good – Approach and hurdle unaffected. Height and distance acceptable. Execution defined, entry controlled, but slightly affected.

5 – 6½ = Satisfactory – Approach and hurdle acceptable. Height and distance adequate. Execution complete and entry slightly over or under.

2½ – 4½ = Deficient – Approach and hurdle affected. Height and distance inadequate. Execution affected and entry over or under.

½ – 2 = Unsatisfactory – Approach and hurdle affected. Height and distance inadequate. Execution not complete or broken position.  Entry significantly affected.

0 = Failed.

Tallying Scores

 3 judges scores are added together and multiplied by the Degree of Difficulty (DD).

• Harder dives have higher D.D’.s, rewarding divers with harder lists the opportunity to earn more points. The DD factor is a key factor in earning higher total scores.

 In meets with 5+ judges, the middle 3 scores are kept and the highest and lowest scores are dropped.

 Scores from all 6 or 11 dives are added together for their final score.