The rules of diving were designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and to promote uniformity in the sport. While most rules pertain to both platform and springboard diving, there are some slight variations between the two practices.
Springboard Diving
- Men must complete six dives per competition, while women must complete five.
- The diver can choose any difficulty level for each dive.
- One dive must come from each of the five categories (forward, back, reverse, inward, twisting).
- Men may repeat one of the categories for their sixth dive. Women cannot repeat any.
- Each dive must be different—no specific dives may be repeated.
Platform Diving and Synchronized Springboard
- Men must complete six dives in a competition, while women must complete five.
- The first two dives of a competition must have a difficulty level of 2.0 for both men and women.
- The remaining dives can be any level of difficulty for both men and women.
- Men and women must both complete dives from a minimum of four different categories, with at least one of the dives being forward-facing.
Age Requirements for Competition
Junior Girls: Springboard
11 and Under
Divers perform three voluntary dives from different categories with a degree of difficulty no more than 5.0 from the one-meter board, and no more than 5.4 from the three-meter board. That’s followed by three optional dives from different categories.
12-13
Divers perform four voluntary dives from different categories with a degree of difficulty no more than 7.2 from the one-meter board, and no more than 7.6 from the three-meter board. That’s followed by three optional dives from different categories.
14-15
Divers perform five voluntary dives, one from each category, with a degree of difficulty no more than 9.0 from the one-meter board, and no more than 9.5 from the three-meter board. That’s followed by four optional dives from different categories.
16-18
Divers perform five voluntary dives, one from each category, with a degree of difficulty no more than 9.0 from the one-meter board, and no more than 9.5 from the three-meter board. That’s followed up by five optional dives from five different categories without limit.
Junior Girls: Platform
11 and Under
Divers perform three voluntary dives with a degree of difficulty no more than 5.4, and two optional dives from different categories. Dives can only be done from the five-meter platform.
12-13
Divers perform four voluntary dives with a degree of difficulty no more than 7.6, and three optional dives from different categories. Dives can only be done from the five-meter and 7.5-meter platforms.
14-15
Divers perform four voluntary dives from different categories with a degree of difficulty no more than 7.6, which is followed by three optional dives from different categories. They may dive from five-meter, 7.5-meter, or 10-meter platforms and must use at least five different categories in the competition.
16-18
Divers perform four voluntary dives from different categories with a degree of difficulty no more than 7.6, which is followed by four optional dives from different categories. They may dive from five-meter, 7.5-meter, or 10-meter platforms and must use at least five different categories in the competition.
Junior Boys: Springboard
11 and Under
Divers perform three voluntary dives from different categories with a degree of difficulty no more than 5.0 from the one-meter board, and no more than 5.4 from the three-meter board. That’s followed by three optional dives from different categories.
12-13
Divers perform four voluntary dives from different categories with a degree of difficulty no more than 7.2 from the one-meter board, and no more than 7.6 from the three-meter board. That’s followed by three optional dives from different categories.
14-15
Divers perform five voluntary dives, one from each category, with a degree of difficulty no more than 9.0 from the one-meter board, and no more than 9.5 from the three-meter board. That’s followed by four optional dives from different categories.
16-18
Divers perform five voluntary dives, one from each category, with a degree of difficulty no more than 9.0 from the one-meter board, and no more than 9.5 from the three-meter board. That’s followed up by five optional dives from five different categories without limit.
Junior Boys: Platform
11 and Under
Divers perform three voluntary dives with a degree of difficulty no more than 5.4 and two optional dives from different groups. Dives can only be done from the five-meter platform.
12-13
Divers perform four voluntary dives with a degree of difficulty no more than 7.6 and three optional dives from different groups. Dives can only be done from the five-meter and 7.5-meter platforms.
14-15
Divers perform four voluntary dives from different groups with a degree of difficulty no more than 7.6, which is followed by four optional dives from different groups. They may dive from five-meter, 7.5-meter, or 10-meter platforms and must use at least five different groups in the competition.
16-18
Divers perform four voluntary dives from different groups with a degree of difficulty no more than 7.6, which is followed by five optional dives from different groups. They may dive from five-meter, 7.5-meter, or 10-meter platforms and must use at least five different groups in the competition.
