For parents
Parent's guide to dive sheets.
Understanding your high-school diver's scorecard doesn't have to be mysterious. Decode the numbers, the codes, and the scores.
01 · Basics
Decode the scorecard.
Your diver's scorecard packs a lot in. Here's how to read it.
Sample scoresheet
Meet
- Event
- Regional Championships
- Date
- March 15, 2025
- Location
- City Aquatic Center
Diver
- Name
- Sarah Johnson
- School
- Central High
- Coach
- Mike Thompson
- Grade
- 11th
| # | Dive | Description | Pos | DD | J1 | J2 | J3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 103C | Forward 1½ Somersault | C | 1.6 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 33.6 |
| 2 | 201B | Back Dive | B | 1.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 27.0 |
#
Dive numbers
The code that describes exactly what dive your child is performing.
- 103C
- Forward 1½ Somersault, Tuck
- 201B
- Back Dive, Pike
- 301A
- Reverse Dive, Straight
DD
Degree of difficulty
How challenging the dive is. Higher DD means more points possible.
- 1.2–1.8
- Basic dives
- 1.9–2.5
- Intermediate
- 2.6+
- Advanced
J
Judge scores
Each judge rates the dive 0–10. Highest and lowest are dropped.
- 8.5–10
- Excellent
- 6.5–8.0
- Good
- 5.0–6.0
- Satisfactory
- 0–4.5
- Needs work
02 · Dive codes
Reading the secret code.
Every dive has a code like 103C or 301A. Here's how to read them.
First digit
1
Direction group
- 1 — Forward
- 2 — Back
- 3 — Reverse
- 4 — Inward
- 5 — Twisting
Middle digits
03
Somersaults
- 01 — ½ somersault
- 02 — 1 somersault
- 03 — 1½ somersaults
- 04 — 2 somersaults
Position letter
C
Body position
- A — Straight
- B — Pike
- C — Tuck
- D — Free
Result
103C
Means
- Forward (1)
- 1½ Somersault (03)
- In Tuck position (C)
Common beginner dives
- 101C
- Forward Dive, Tuck
- 201C
- Back Dive, Tuck
- 301C
- Reverse Dive, Tuck
- 401C
- Inward Dive, Tuck
Advanced dives
- 107C
- Forward 3½ Somersault, Tuck
- 205B
- Back 2½ Somersault, Pike
- 5132D
- Forward 1½ Som, 1 Twist
- 307C
- Reverse 3½ Somersault, Tuck
03 · Scoring
How scoring works.
The math behind your diver's scores — once you see it, every result starts to make sense.
The formula
(J1 + J2 + J3) × DD = final score
In meets with 5 judges, the highest and lowest scores are dropped. The middle three are added, then multiplied by the dive's degree of difficulty.
Step-by-step example
Diver performs 103C (Forward 1½ Somersault, Tuck) — DD 1.6.
6.0
J1
lowest
7.0
J2
7.5
J3
6.5
J4
8.0
J5
highest
What judges look at
- Approach & takeoff — 20%
- How they walk out and leave the board.
- Flight & form — 40%
- Body position, control, and technique in the air.
- Entry — 40%
- How cleanly they enter the water.
Score ranges
- 8.5–10
- Excellent — Near-perfect dive
- 7.0–8.0
- Very good — Minor flaws
- 5.5–6.5
- Satisfactory — Acceptable
- 3.5–5.0
- Deficient — Noticeable issues
- 0–3.0
- Unsatisfactory — Major problems
04 · Formats
6-dive vs 11-dive.
High-school diving uses one of two competition formats. Here's the difference.
6-dive format
The most common format for regular-season meets.
Requirements
- One dive from each of the 5 groups
- One additional dive from any group
- Total of 6 dives
Why this format
- Shorter meets, less stressful for new divers
- Ensures variety
- Good for learning all basic dive types
11-dive format
Used in higher-level competitions and championships.
Requirements
- 5 voluntary dives (one from each group)
- 6 optional dives (any groups)
- More challenging DD requirements
Why this format
- Allows for more specialty dives
- Higher scoring potential
- Tests endurance and consistency
- Used in state championships
05 · Q&A
Common parent questions.
Things parents ask us all the time. Click to expand.
Easier dives have lower Degree of Difficulty values, so even with perfect execution they can't score as high as harder dives. A perfect 10 on a DD 1.2 dive only gives 30 points, while a good 7.0 on a DD 2.5 dive gives 52.5 points. Coaches balance this by teaching divers when to attempt harder dives.
A dive receives 0 points if (1) the wrong dive is performed, (2) the diver lands unsafely (back or belly), (3) they lose control completely, or (4) they perform a dive not on their dive sheet. Safety is the top priority — unsafe entries result in failed dives regardless of how the dive looked in the air.
Dive sheets must be submitted before the meet begins (usually 24–48 hours prior). Once submitted, changes are typically not allowed except in cases of injury or with referee approval. This is why coaches spend time carefully planning sheets with appropriate DD ranges and competition requirements.
Validation errors occur when dive sheets don't meet competition requirements: duplicate dives, missing dive groups, banned dives for safety, or DD limits exceeded. These tools help coaches catch problems before submission. A sheet with validation errors may be rejected or result in scoring penalties.
Not necessarily. A well-executed easier dive often scores better than a poorly executed difficult one. Coaches consider the diver's skill level, consistency, and the competition format. Consistent mid-range scores often help the team more than one high score and several low ones.
Focus on effort and improvement rather than scores or placements. Diving is as much mental as physical. Positive encouragement and trusting the coaching process help divers develop confidence. Every diver progresses at their own pace, and each competition is a learning experience.