THE
SPORT OF DIVING
SPECTATOR'S GUIDE TO DIVING
As a spectator of the sport of diving, your appreciation is greater if you
know what to watch for...what makes a great dive.
TYPES OF DIVES
There are six different groups of platform and springboard dives. The first
four types involve rotating in different directions relative to the board
and the starting position, while the fifth group includes any dive with
a twist and a sixth group involves an armstand starting position on the
platform.
1. Forward 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 somersault.
2.
Backward Group: All the dives in the backward group begin with
the
diver on the end of the board with his back to the water. The direction
of
rotation is away from the board.
3. Reverse Group: Formerly called "gainers,"
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 his back to the water and rotates toward the board or
opposite of the backward group's movement. The earlier term for these dives
were "cutaways."
5. Twisting 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.
6. Armstand Group: In platform diving, there
is a sixth, unique group of
dives called "armstands." Here, the diver assumes a handstand position
on the edge of the platform before executing the dive.
BODY POSITIONS
When each type of dive is performed, the diver utilizes one or more of the
four different types of body positions:
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.
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.
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.
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.
PERFORMANCE & JUDGING
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.
A dive is scored between zero and 10 points in either full or ½ -point
increments by each judge. A table of the scores and the criteria for how
they should be awarded follows:
0…………………….….completely
failed
½
- 2 ……………….…….unsatisfactory
2½
- 4½.……………………….deficient
5
- 6 …………………………….satisfactory
6
½ - 8 …………………..……….…good
8
½ - 10 ……………………….very
good
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 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 the part 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.
SCORING
Seven judges are used in a National Competition. When the judges awards are
given, the two highest and two lowest scores will be eliminated. Usually five
judges are used at preliminary or invitational competitions with the one highest
and lowest score eliminated. The
remaining three scores are totaled and that number will then be multiplied
by the degree of difficulty rating assigned to that dive. The
DD is predetermined with a table range from 1.2 to 3.5 in one-tenth
increments