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Judging High School Diving Best Practices
Judging High School Diving
Best Practices
Judging PhilosophyBE PREPARED
JUDGE WHAT YOU SEEBE INDEPENDENT
IGNORE OUTSIDE INFLUENCESNEVER PRE-JUDGE
OVERCOME BIASTREAT EVERY ROUND OF DIVES EQUALLY
TREAT EACH DIVE EQUALLYJUDGE THE COMPLETE DIVE
USE THE FULL SCORING RANGE
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 five elements of a dive to consider when
judging
1
2 3
4
5
1. Starting position2. Approach3. Takeoff4. Flight5. Entry into the water
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Building Blocks of a Dive
The Approach The Takeoff Flight Stage 1 Flight Stage 2 Line Up Entry
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The Approach
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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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Hurdle & Takeoff
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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?
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The Take-Off – The Purpose
To gain maximum height.
To set the dive in motion.
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The Flight Stage 1
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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
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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 Lineup
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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
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The Entry – The Purpose
Arms in the specified position.
Body stretched, vertical, unbroken until fully immersed.
Entry completed. Rip?
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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 DeductionsNot holding the straight position on flying somersaultsuntil the body is horizontal to the surface of the water.
Deduction of ½ to 2 points at judges discretion.
Note: this type of dive is rarely, if ever done inthis era.
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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.
