How to Fill Out a 6-Dive Meet Sheet

Six-dive meets use a simple structure, but most errors happen because coaches misunderstand how the voluntary dive works.

In a 6-dive meet, the first dive is always the voluntary dive. The remaining five dives are optional dives.

1. 1
   Confirm the required voluntary category.
   For high school meets, the voluntary category is pre-selected by the state diving association and can change weekly.
2. 2
   Select a safe, reliable voluntary dive.
   The voluntary dive sets the tone for the meet.
3. 3
   Build the five optional dives.
   At least four of the five dive groups must be represented.
4. 4
   Check group coverage.
5. 5
   Verify dive numbers, positions, and DD.

A legal six-dive sheet prioritizes confidence and execution.

How to Fill Out an 11-Dive Meet Sheet

Eleven-dive meets require careful planning because voluntary and optional dives are distributed across multiple rounds.

• → Five dives are voluntary.
• → Six dives are optional.
• → All five dive groups must be represented.

1. 1
   Assign voluntary dives correctly.
   One voluntary dive per group within the DD limit.
2. 2
   Distribute voluntaries across rounds.
   Two in the first five dives, two in the first eight, one across all eleven.
3. 3
   Place optional dives strategically.
4. 4
   Ensure all five groups appear within the first eight dives.
5. 5
   Review order, legality, and athlete readiness.

Eleven-dive sheets reward planning and discipline.

Choosing the Right Dives

A higher degree of difficulty does not automatically produce a higher score. Judges reward execution first.

Although Dive B carries a higher degree of difficulty, Dive A earns the higher score due to stronger execution. Higher-DD dives can still outscore simpler dives, but this increases scoring volatility.

Key Takeaway: Coaches must balance risk and reward when selecting dives.

Common Dive Sheet Mistakes

• ⚠ Using the wrong voluntary category
• ⚠ Placing voluntary dives incorrectly
• ⚠ Missing required dive groups
• ⚠ Chasing DD before consistency
• ⚠ Skipping legality checks

Final Coach Check

• ✓ Voluntary legality confirmed
• ✓ Group coverage complete
• ✓ Dive numbers and DD verified
• ✓ Athlete confidence confirmed

How to Qualify for State

State qualification requirements for high school diving are determined at the state level and can vary significantly. There is no universal standard, so coaches must verify the specific rules for their state or governing association.

Common qualification pathways include:

• ① Score-based qualification.
  Some states require divers to achieve a minimum qualifying score in a six-dive and/or eleven-dive meet. These requirements may also include minimum degree of difficulty thresholds.
• ② Placement-based qualification.
  Other states qualify divers based on finishing position at a conference, sectional, district, or regional meet, regardless of score.
• ③ Hybrid or alternate systems.
  Some states use a combination of score requirements and placement, or apply different rules depending on class size or region.