Calculate Diving Scores

Have you ever watched the Olympics and wondered how they come up with the scores for the diving competition? It takes several steps to get from the judge ratings to the final scores, and the announcers are rarely eager to explain it. Pick up your calculator and a pad of paper, and you can calculate it yourself.

Steps

Individual and Team Events

1. Write down the execution scores. Each judge rates the dive from 0 ("completely failed") to 10 ("excellent"), using half-point increments. This is based on how well the diver performs, from his starting position to entry into the water. The judges do not take difficulty into account for this score.
   • Example: a diver receives execution scores of 6.5, 7.0, 7.0, 7.5, 7.5, 8.0, and 8.0.
2. Cross out the outliers. This step depends on how many judges there are:
   • Seven judges: Cross out the two highest and the two lowest scores.
   • Five judges: Cross out the highest and lowest scores.
   • Three judges: Use all three scores.
   • Example: There were seven judges, so cross out two scores on each end: 6.5, 7.0, 7.0, 7.5, 7.5, 8.0, and 8.0.
3. Add the rest together. Find the sum of the remaining scores.
   • Example: 7.0 + 7.5 + 7.5 = 22.0
4. Multiply by the degree of difficulty (DD). Each attempted dive has a degree of difficulty calculated in advance. This is based on many factors, such as the number of twists and somersaults and the take-off and entry positions. Multiply your last sum by the degree of difficulty to get the final score for this dive.
   • Example: Let's say the diver attempted an inward 2½ somersault dive in the 10 meter competition, in the pike position. This has a difficulty score of 2.8. Multiply this by the execution score to get the final score: 22.0 x 2.8 = 61.6.
5. Add final scores as the event continues. Calculate each dive's final score using the same system. To determine an athlete's score for the whole event, add the final score for each dive.
   • Example: If a diver dives three times with scores of 61.6, 50.9, and 54.3, the diver's score for the event is 61.6+50.9+54.3=166.8.

Synchronized Events

1. Write down the execution scores. In synchronized diving events, a separate panel of judges scores each diver's execution. These scores are based on the diver's form during take-off, dive, and entry. This score is not (yet) adjusted for difficulty of the dive or how well the two divers synchronized.
   • Depending on the event, there may be three scores for each diver, or two.
   • Example: Diver A receives execution scores of 7.0, 7.0, and 8.0. Diver B receives 7.5, 7.5, and 7.5.
2. Discard the outliers. In order to reduce the effect of bias or unusual decisions, some of the highest and lowest scores are discarded. This depends on how many judges are at the event:
   • 11 judges (3 execution scores per diver): Cross out Diver A's highest and lowest score. Cross out Diver B's highest and lowest score.
   • 9 judges (2 execution scores per diver): Cross out the highest score and lowest score of the four, no matter which diver(s) they belong to.
   • Example: Since there are three scores each, cross out the highest and lowest scores for each diver: 7.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 7.5, 7.5, 7.5.
3. Note the synchronization scores. An additional five judges each award a score for synchronization, or how well the divers coordinate during take-off, dive, and entry.
   • Example: the same divers received synchronization scores of 6.0, 6.5, 6.5, 7.0, and 7.5.
4. Discard the highest and lowest synchronization scores. Unlike the execution scores, this system is used for both 11-judge and 9-judge events.
   • Example: Ignore the lowest and highest results: 6.0, 6.5, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5
5. Add all remaining scores together. Add together both divers' execution scores, as well as the synchronized scores. Ignore all crossed-out results.
   • Example: Remaining scores are 7.0 (Diver A execution), 7.5 (Diver B execution), 6.5, 6.5, and 7.0 (synchronization). Add them together: 7+7.5+6.5+6.5+7=34.5.
6. Multiply by the degree of difficulty (DD). Each attempted dive has a difficulty rating assigned in advance according to specific rules. Even if the divers did not manage to complete the dive perfectly, their score is multiplied by this degree of difficulty.
   • Example: Let's say the attempted dive had a 2.6 degree of difficulty. Multiply your last result by this number: 34.5 x 2.6 = 89.7.
7. Multiply by 0.6. To get the final score, multiply your answer by 0.6 (or 3/5). This makes up for the fact that synchronized divers receive 5 judge scores (after discarding outliers), while individual divers only receive 3. After this adjustment, scores from both types of events fall in the same range.
   • Example: Multiply 89.7 * 0.6 to get 53.82, the final score for that dive.
8. Add the scores for each attempt by the same pair of divers. Calculate the score for each attempt using the same process. As the event continues, add the scores for each dive from the same pair.

Tips

• If a diver does a different dive than the one they selected beforehand, it is considered a "failed dive" which receives 0 points.
• On twisting dives, the diver can be deducted points if they are over or under twisted within 90 degrees. If the diver enters the water past the 90 degrees either direction the dive may be considered a failed dive (at discretion of judges and meet referee).
• Know what the dive numbers mean. Dives are listed as a number, indicating the direction of the dive and how many somersaults are in the dive, followed by a letter A-D indicating position of the diver (such as A for straight or C for tuck). There are five main categories denoted by the first digit:
  • 1: front dives
  • 2: backs
  • 3: reverse/gainer
  • 4: inward
  • 5: twister
• If you're watching older Olympics games with seven judges, they may use an older scoring system, though the scores are usually similar:
  • Cross out the highest and lowest execution scores.
  • Add the remaining 5 scores and multiply by the Degree of Difficulty.
  • Multiply by 0.6 to adjust for the extra scores. (This brings down the score to the equivalent that a 5-judge or 3-judge panel would award.)
• In extreme cases, the referee can declare a maximum execution score for a dive. All execution scores above that maximum are lowered to that maximum before the final score is calculated. For example, if a diver's arms are not stretched beyond the head in a head-first entry, the maximum judge score is 4.5.
• If a diver stops mid take-off and begins again, the referee should declare a restart. All judge scores are lowered by 2 for this dive.

Sources and Citations

• Scoring system obtained from FINA Rules & Regulations except where noted.

See also

• Use the Slope Intercept Form (in Algebra)
• Start Working with Continued Fractions
• Convert a Quadratic Formula to Roots Form by Completing the Square
• Factor Second Degree Polynomials (Quadratic Equations)
• Understand Linear Equations
• Understand Slope (in Algebra)
• Prove That the Square Root of Two Is Irrational
• Stay Underwater Longer
• Stay Underwater in a Swimming Pool
• Swim the Breaststroke

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