Section 5: Rules of Play
NCAA Championship Events
- 1-meter springboard: 11-dive list (5 voluntary + 6 optional, women) or 11-dive list (6 voluntary + 5 optional, men) — exact split per published rule book
- 3-meter springboard: same 11-dive list framework as 1-meter
- 10-meter platform (M's championship event; W's contested at some D1 conferences and championships): 11 dives
Dive Categories
- Group 1 — Forward: front-facing takeoff, forward rotation
- Group 2 — Back: back-facing takeoff, backward rotation
- Group 3 — Reverse: forward-facing takeoff, backward rotation
- Group 4 — Inward: back-facing takeoff, forward rotation
- Group 5 — Twisting: any group with twist
- Group 6 — Armstand (platform only): handstand on the edge of the platform, body falls into the dive
Dive Position
- Straight (A): body fully extended
- Pike (B): body bent at the hips, legs straight
- Tuck (C): body bent at the hips and knees, hands holding the shins. Rule 6-4, as corrected under the 2025-26 and 2026-27 Swimming and Diving Rules Changes, clarifies that the knees and feet must be held close together within the body line of the shoulders for the position to be scored as a proper tuck
- Free (D): combination position (twisting dives)
Approach and Takeoff
- Springboard: approach must consist of at least 3 steps + a hurdle (one-foot takeoff into a two-foot landing)
- Platform: approach must consist of at least 4 steps OR a standing/armstand takeoff
- Re-do allowed once per competition for falsely-called dive (per NCAA rule)
Dive Execution
Each dive is judged on approach, takeoff, elevation/distance, execution, and entry. The diver must hit the announced dive position; failure to do so results in degraded scores or a "failed dive" (zero score) per the rule book. Rule 6-4, revised under the 2025-26 and 2026-27 Swimming and Diving Rules Changes, sets a detailed standard for point allocation when a diver is too close to the board or platform, or makes contact with it, during the flight or entry; judges score down according to the severity of the proximity or contact, up to and including a failed dive when the contact meaningfully affects the dive's execution or safety. The same rule change standardized the description of each dive's starting position, approach, aerial position, and entry to align with USA Diving and World Aquatics terminology.