Dive Number/Letter System Explanation

Divers come from all around the world.  Naturally, divers from different places likely speak different languages, so a universal communication system was developed to allow all of us to understand what happens in diving competitions.  Thus system gives each dive a number, and each position a letter. 

An explanation 0f this system follows:

Direction Groups

Dives spin forward, backward, reverse, or inward, and these four directions are known as a series of numbers as follows:

Forwards:  100 series                 Backs:  200 series

Reverse:  300 series                Inward:  400 series

Now we'll look more deeply at each digit.

The first digit in these numbers indicates the direction (this is redundant, but it helps to take each digit one at a time).  "1" indicates front spinners, "2" indicates back spinners, "3" indicates reverse spinners, and "4" indicates inward spinners.

The second digit of a dive number for one of the four direction groups indicates whether a dive is performed normally, or by "flying" the beginning (staying straight until you rotate 180 degrees, then going into a tuck or a pike).  The choices for this digit are "0" for normal and "1" for flying.

The third digit indicates the number of half-somersaults performed in the dive.  A simple dive consists of one half-somersault.  A somersault consists of two half-somersaults.  A one and one-half somersault consists of three half somersaults.  The process remains the same for up to four and one-half somersaults (which gives a third digit of "9").  No one has broken through to five somersaults, but if they do,the whole system will need an overhaul!

So, using the logic of the above, a dive with the number 304 would be a (304 -- reverse), (304 -- normally performed), (304) 4 half-somersaults = 2 somersaults) or, in plain English,  a "reverse double somersault."

Another example:   dive number 413 would be a (413 -- inward), (413 -- flying), (413) 3 half-somersaults = 1 1/2 somersaults) or, in plain English,  an "inward flying one and one-half somersault," or "flying inward one and one-half somersault."

Two exceptions to this system happen for some skills that we use in the US but are not used internationally -- the forward line-up and the back-lineup. Line-ups are just fall-ins with no approach or push.  the forward line-up is numbered "001" and the back line-up is numbered "002."

Twisting Dives

Twisting dives are a bit more complicated, because in addition to twisting, these dives also spin forward, backward, reverse, or inward.  Thus, twisting dives are given a 4-digit number according to the following rules:

1.  All twisters start with the digit "5."

2.  The second digit indicates the direction of the somersaulting (fronts = "1," backs = "4," reverses = "4," inwards = "4," just as it did in the above description about direction groups.

3.  The third digit indicates the number of half-somersaults to be performed  just as it did in the above description about direction groups.

4.  The fourth digit indicates the number of half-twists to be performed,  following the same formula as described for calculating the number of half-somersaults (i.e., "1" = 1/2 twist, "2" = full twist, "3" = 1 1/s twists, "4" = 2 twists, etc.).

Armstand Dives

The final kind group of dives is performed on platform only.  These dives start from a handstand position and are called "armstands."  The rules for giving armstand dives a number are similar to twisting dives, but have some oddities. -- there is no flying component in armstand dives, so for non-twisting dives, that component is thrown out of the number system.  and the 5 that is usually included in twisters is thrown out, and any 4-digit armstand is assumed to be a twister.   Rules and examples follow:

1.  All armstands begin with the digit "6."

2.  The second digit in armstand spinners (non-twisting dives) indicates the direction of the spin ("1" = front, "2" = back, "3" = reverse, and so far, there are no armstand inwards).

3.  The third digit in armstand spinners indicates the number of half-somersaults, same as we saw in the earlier rules about other dives.

4.  If the armstand is a twister, it has a fourth digit indicating the number of half-twists, ame as we saw in the earlier rules about other dives.

Examples:  

614 is an (614) armstand), (614) forward, (614) double somersault.

6245 is an (6245) armstand, (6245) back, (6245) double somersault, (6245) two and one-half twists.

That takes care of the number system!

Position Letters

Now for the easy part.  Dives are done in one of four positions:  straight, pike, tuck, or free (a combination of positions only used in twisting dives, or in line-ups when the choice of position is the diver's).

Each position has a letter:  straight = A, pike = B, tuck = C, and free = D.

Examples:

 205C = back two and one-half somersaults tuck

5434D = inward one and one-half somersaults, two twists free

616B = armstand forward triple somersault pike

For some practice, click on the link below :)  Have fun and memorize this sytem!  All competitions use the numbers, and the more elite levels use numbers only except when there's a TV audience!

Dive Number/Letter Exercises

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