2008 USA DIVING RULES
2008 USA DIVING RULES
United States Diving is the Olympic governing body for the sport of diving in the USA. Competing in US Diving competitions is the only way to advance to international competitions, World and Olympic Trials. Advancement to US Diving National Championship is the greatest tool used by collegiate diving coaches to determine divers they will recruit. US Diving is split into three levels of competition: Novice, Junior, and Senior. There are National competitions for both Junior and Senior levels. Our elite divers will be requested to become members of U.S. Diving and compete in Regional, Zone, East National, and both Junior and Senior National Championships based on qualification.
These meets are typically held in spring-time, between March and April and in the summer-time, during late June through early August.
U.S. Diving Meet Descriptions and Qualifications:
Spring Regional Championship (Occurs during Spring): US Diving is split into ten regions throughout the country. These regional competitions are held once in the Spring for advancement to the East or West Nationals and once in the summer for advancement to the Zone Championship, and hopefully onto a National Championship. During Spring competition, the top 6 divers in each age-group (11&Under, 13&Under, 14-15, and 16-18) from the five eastern regions will advance to the East National Championships.
Summer Regional Championship (Occurs during Summer): US Diving is split into ten regions throughout the country. These regional competitions are held once in the Spring for advancement to the East or West Nationals and once in the summer for advancement to the Zone Championship, and hopefully onto a National Championship. During Summer competition, the top 15 divers in each age-group (11&Under, 13&Under, 14-15, and 16-18) will advance to their assigned Zone Championships. If a diver in the top 15 places cannot attend this meet, the meet director will contact the runners-up all the way to 18th place. No one placing below 18th at the Regional Championship will be eligible to compete at the Zone Championship.
All divers attending Regions I & II will attend Zone A; Regions III & IV to Zone B; Regions V & VI to Zone C; Regions VII & VIII to Zone D; and Regions IX & X to Zone E. The choice of which Regional Championship to attend is at the coaches discretion, but the Zone Championship must align with the attended Region.
Regional Alignment
Region I: Connecticut, New England, New Jersey
Region II: Lake Erie, Northern New York, Pennsylvania, Southern New York
Region III: Carolinas, Potomac Valley, Southern Virginia
Region IV: Indiana, Ohio, Michigan
Region V: Illinois, Iowa, Missouri Valley, Wisconsin
Region VI: Minnesota, Nebraska/Dakotas, Rocky Mountain
Region VII: Florida, Florida Gold Coast, Georgia, Southeastern
Region VIII: Arkansas, Gulf, Northwest Texas, Oklahoma, South Texas, Southern
Region IX: Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Southern Pacific
Region X: Alaska, Central California, Montana, Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Utah/Idaho
Zone Alignment
Zone A: Connecticut, Lake Erie, New England, New Jersey, Northern New York, Pennsylvania, Southern New York
Zone B: Carolinas, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Potomac Valley, Southern Virginia
Zone C: Central, Iowa, Missouri Valley, Minnesota, Nebraska/Dakotas, Rocky Mountain, Wisconsin
Zone D: Arkansas, Florida, Florida Gold Coast, Georgia, Gulf, Oklahoma, Northwest Texas, South Texas, Southeastern,
Zone E: Alaska, Arizona, Central California, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern California, Oregon
Southern Pacific, Utah/Idaho, WashingtonZone Championships (Occurs during Summer Only): This competition is only held in the summer. In order to compete in this event, you must have placed top 12 at the Regional Championship. From this event, the top 6 from each Zone will compete at the U.S. Speedo National Championship, and the 7th-12th place finishers will qualify for The U.S. Age-group Junior National Championship.
East Nationals (Occurs during Spring Only): For the Winter/ Spring season, US Diving splits the country into East and West National competitions. The top 30 divers (top 6 in each Region) in each age-group from Spring Regional will compete at this meet. This competition is held only in the spring and it is the ultimate junior competition for juniors during the Winter/ Spring season.
Age-Group Junior Nationals (Occurs during Summer Only): This competition is the 2nd tier National Championship. Divers placing 7th-12th in the Zone championship qualify for this event. If a diver in the 7th-12th places cannot attend this meet, the meet director will contact the runners-up all the way to 15th place. No one placing below 15th at the Zone Championship will be eligible to attend. Should a diver qualify to this meet on one board, and the Speedo Junior Nationals on another board, they have the option to compete both boards at this meet, which is the lesser meet (Age-Group Junior Nationals), but not move up and compete both boards at the Speedo Junior Nationals. The diver is also eligible to travel to and compete at both meets on the board qualified.
Speedo Junior National Championship (Occur during Summer Only): This competition is the best 30 Junior divers (6 from each of the 5 Zone meets) in each age-group competing for the honor of being named a National Champion. Placing high at this competition opens up possibilities to compete at the Junior World Championships and other international competitions. Regardless of divers inability to attend or compete, no one except the the top 6 divers from the Zone meet will be eligible to compete. Should a diver qualify to this meet on one board, and the Age-Group Junior Nationals on another board, they have the option to compete both boards at the lesser meet (Age-Group Junior Nationals), but not move up and compete both boards at the Speedo Junior Nationals. The diver is also eligible to travel to and compete at both meets on the board qualified.
Senior Zone Championships (Occurs during Spring and Summer): This meet is the qualifying competition for the divers that are attempting to compete against the best divers in the country regardless if age. There are four of these competitions throughout the country. In order to compete in this meet, there are Degree of Difficulty requirements. These D.D. requirements are: Women on 1-meter is 11.4, and on 3-meter is 13.1. Men on 1-meter is 15.4, and on 3-meter is 16.8. The top 6 divers on each board from from each Zone qualifies to compete at the Senior National Championships on that board.
Senior National Championships (Occurs during Spring and Summer): This competition is the best divers, regardless of age, competing for the honor of a National Championship as well the ability to be selected for US Diving training camps, international competitions, and Olympic trial selection. The divers are selected from the Senior Zone meet and must meet the D.D. minimums.