WHAT SKILL LEVEL IS NEEDED TO DIVE IN COLLEGE?

In college diving, coaches place more emphasis on the fundamentals of diving rather than solely on dive difficulty or scores. They prioritize divers who can execute strong techniques and display versatility on the 1-meter, 3-meter springboards, and the 10-meter platform. While dive scores are important, how well a diver performs the dive is what truly stands out. College coaches often scout talent at major events like the National Junior Olympics, Senior Nationals, and National Championships, which feature competition at a collegiate level.

WHAT COLLEGE COACHES LOOK FOR: APPROACH, TAKE-OFF, EXECUTION, AND ENTRY

Instead of focusing solely on the type or difficulty of a dive, coaches are more interested in whether athletes have mastered basic skills. These fundamentals indicate whether a diver is ready to compete at the college level. Here’s what coaches evaluate:

• Approach: A smooth, controlled progression to the edge of the board, typically with three steps, and proper body positioning.
• Take-off: Properly leaving the board with a controlled jump, ensuring the diver clears the board safely.
• Execution: During the dive, maintaining control and correct form, allowing judges to assess the dive effectively.
• Entry: A nearly vertical entry into the water, with feet together and toes pointed to minimize splash.

DO I NEED TO COMPETE IN CLUB DIVING?

Yes, participating in national-level club diving significantly enhances a diver’s chances of getting recruited by college coaches. Club diving teams provide access to essential recruiting events like the National Junior Olympics and Senior Nationals, where coaches actively scout for talent. While high school diving focuses primarily on the 1-meter springboard, club diving prepares athletes for the broader college competition, which includes the 1-meter, 3-meter, and sometimes the 10-meter platform.

Since college diving demands year-round training and experience on multiple springboards and platforms, divers committed to a club program will have an edge in recruitment.

HOW GOOD DO I NEED TO BE TO GET A DIVING SCHOLARSHIP?

Securing a diving scholarship is competitive due to the shared scholarship pool between swimming and diving teams. Typically, only 15% of available scholarships go to divers, with the rest allocated to swimmers. To earn a scholarship, a diver must demonstrate technically proficient dives that can score well at conference and national levels. Coaches look for divers who can contribute valuable points to the swim and dive team, enhancing the team’s overall standing.

Coaches focus more on how well divers have mastered the basics and can deliver strong dives consistently, rather than solely focusing on their scores. A recruit’s best approach is to find a program where they can continue to develop their skills, even if they don’t score right away during their freshman year.

HOW IS DIVING SCORED?

In competitive diving, a panel of five judges scores each dive out of 10 points. The highest and lowest scores are discarded, and the remaining three scores are added together. This total is then multiplied by the dive’s degree of difficulty, or tariff, which is based on the dive’s technical components.

WHAT IS A GOOD SCORE IN DIVING?

Scores are awarded as follows:

• Completely failed: 0 points
• Unsatisfactory: 0.5 to 2 points
• Deficient: 2.5 to 4.5 points
• Satisfactory: 5 to 6 points
• Good: 6.5 to 8 points
• Very good: 8.5 to 10 points

While a high degree of difficulty increases scoring potential, college coaches often focus more on how well the diver executes their dive, regardless of the final score.

THE ROLE OF VIDEO IN THE COLLEGE DIVING RECRUITING PROCESS

Recording all dive performances—whether during practice or competition—is highly recommended for divers aiming to get recruited. A highlight video featuring a diver’s best performances can be a valuable asset in the recruitment process, giving coaches a clear view of a recruit’s abilities and making it easier for them to assess potential talent.