A
Announcer - The person who calls out the name of the diver and the dive he is performing in a competition.
Armstand dive - Any dive that starts with a handstand at the end of the platform. Armstands are only used in platform diving.
B
Back press - The takeoff for all back, inward and back twisting dives.
Backward dive - A dive that rotates backward (away from the board) after takeoff.
Balk - An illegal movement in performing a dive. Refers to a false start on a forward or backward takeoff or when a diver loses balance during an armstand and touches the platform with one or both feet.
Bubble machine - A force of air from the bottom of the pool to the surface of the water. It breaks the surface tension of the water and provides a softer landing. Used when learning a new dive.
C
Call - A verbal command from a coach notifying a diver when to come out of a particular dive. Primarily used when divers are learning new dives.
Carriage - The posture of a diver when on the diving board or platform. Refers to the way a diver carries his/her body during the forward or backward approach.
Compulsory dives - See required dives.
D
DD - Abbreviation for degree of difficulty.
Degree of difficulty - A measure of how difficult a dive is to execute, ranging in value from 1.2 to 4.2. A diver’s final score for a dive is calculated by multiplying the degree of difficulty by the sum of the judges’ scores.
Dive groups - The six categories of dives: forward, back, reverse, inward, twisting and armstands.
Draw - Random selection of the order in which divers perform. Also refers to the selection of judges for an event.
Dry board - A diving board placed over a foam pit or port-a-pit used in dryland training.
Dryland Training - Refers to a training apparatus or piece of equipment such as trampolines and/or dry boards that help divers perfect and execute dives.
Duraflex diving board - The standard brand of diving board used in competitive diving.
E
Elevation - The height a diver gains from his/her takeoff.
Entry - The part of a dive when the diver hits the water, either with feet or hands and head. A diver’s goal is to enter the water with as little splash as possible, usually with a near-vertical body position and pointed toes.
Execution - A diver’s performance of the dive. An element of scoring that takes into account dive mechanics, technique, form and grace.
F
Failed dive - Term for when a diver fails to execute the dive they intended to perform.
FINA - Stands for the Fédération Internationale de Natation—the international governing body for aquatic sports, including diving. (FINA also governs swimming, water polo, synchronized swimming and open-water swimming.) FINA writes the rules for and sanctions international competitions, including the Diving World Cup.
Finals - The last round of competition in which the best divers in the preliminary round(s) compete for final standings (and medals).
Firmboard - See
platform.
Flat-hand grab - A method used in diving to create an entry with little to no splash. This technique derives its name from the position of the hands: The
palms of the hands face-up above the head, creating a “flat” or level
surface.
Flying - When a diver keeps his body in a straight position for at least one quarter of a rotation prior to executing the remainder of the dive.
Forward approach - Dive approach in which a diver takes several (usually three) steps and a hurdle prior to takeoff.
Forward dive - Type of dive in which the diver faces forward (away from the board) and spins forward after the takeoff.
Free position - Dive position that combines the straight, pike and tuck positions – used in twisting dives.
Fulcrum - A moveable wheel under a springboard, which divers adjust to change the amount of spring or bounce in the board.
H
Heavy entry - An entry that causes a lot of splash.
Hurdle - The last, giant step taken before takeoff from the board.
I
Inward dive - A dive that starts with the diver facing the back of the diving board (or away from the water) and spins forward (toward the board) after takeoff.
J
Jets - A stream of water that sprays the surface of the pool. It helps a diver distinguish the top of the water from the bottom of the pool.
Judge - Official who scores competitors dives.
K
Kick out - The quick, strong extension of a diver’s legs out of the tuck position to stop rotation.
L
Lineup - Fall into the water (either forward or backward), to focus on entry and having perfect body alignment.
List - A list of dives for a competition, including both required and optional dives.
N
NFHS - The National Federation of State High School Associations is the governing body for diving competitions for high schools in the United States.
O
Optional dives - Dives selected by the diver to perform in an event. There is no maximum degree of difficulty. Optional dives are performed after required dives.
Over - Refers to a dive that rotated past vertical.
P
Pike position - Dive position in which the knees are straight and the body is folded forward at the waist, with toes pointed.
Pike-up - A stomach-strengthening exercise. To perform a diver lays on his back and brings his legs and arms up into a sitting “V” position.
Pit - A training tool that consists of large pieces of soft foam that are used to cushion a landing.
Platform - A solid, immovable structure from which divers launch.
Port-a-pit - A thick landing mat used as a training tool at the end of a dryboard.
Power leg - The leg in the lunge position during a five-step approach
Preliminaries - The first portion of a competition in which divers compete to see who will compete in the finals or subsequent rounds of competition.
R
Required dives - Dives that require a maximum degree of difficulty, usually performed before optional dives.
Reverse dive - Type of dive in which the diver faces forward (toward the water) and rotates backward (toward the board) after the takeoff.
Riding the board - Connecting with the timing of the springboard’s natural flex to gain the maximum height possible on a dive.
S
Sammy shammy - A popular brand of shammy that divers use to dry themselves off with.
Save - A forward somersault or a backward kick that helps make an over- or under-rotated dive appear vertical.
Scooping - Arching the back and creating a shallow dive after entering the water from a forward or inward dive.
Scratch - To withdraw from a competition.
Shammy - A small aqua towel that divers use to dry themselves.
Short - When a diver fails to rotate far enough to successfully execute the dive.
Somersault - Rotation around an axis (or imaginary line) running through the hips.
Spotting - Refers to a coach or an assistant helping a diver practice dives on land, using a safety harness and trampoline. (see also visual spotting)
Springboard - A flexible, “springy” board from which divers leap. Divers compete at two heights in springboard events: 1-meter and 3-meter (distance refers to the board’s height above the surface of the water).
Starting position - The beginning position on either the springboard or platform.
Straight position - Dive position in which the body is fully-extended, with no bend at either the hips or knees. Feet are together and toes are pointed.
Swim - A term used to describe the motion of the arms once a diver has entered the water. The arms push through the water and swim towards the side of the body.
Synchronized diving - Event in which two divers (of the same gender) perform identical dives simultaneously from the same height.
T
Table - In a competition, the place where diving scores are tallied and where the announcer sits.
Takeoff - The moment when a diver leaves the board or platform and execution of the dive begins.
Tariff - See degree of difficulty.
Tuck position - Dive position in which the body is curled into a small ball, with legs bent and knees pulled into the chest as tightly as possible.
Tuck-up - (See pike-up) A stomach-strengthening exercise where a diver lays on his/her back and brings the legs in a tuck position and arms into the middle of the body forming a “V” position.
Twist - To rotate around an axis (or imaginary line) running from head to toe.
U
Unattached - To compete without representing a team.
USA Diving - The national governing body for diving in the United States.
V
Visual spotting - Using visual cues to know when to kick out, stop twisting or stop rotating.
