Coaching Framework

Skill Levels
& Progression

A six-level roadmap our coaches use to evaluate divers and decide when they're ready for the next step — from first jumps off the side to full optional lists on tower.

Evaluation Rubric

How we score
each skill.

Coaches mark every skill on a 0–4 scale during evaluations. To progress to the next level, a diver needs to demonstrate each required skill at a Good level or above — two times in a row.

Scoring Scale

4
Excellent
3
Very Good
2
Good
1
Needs Work
0
Not Tried Yet
To advance: Diver must demonstrate each required skill at a Good level or above two times in a row.
01
Foundations

First jumps & entries Beginner

What's new
Divers learn to jump and enter the water safely from all three boards — standing forward and back jumps, plus their first head-first entry from the side of the pool.
1MBOARD
1 Meter
Springboard
5Skills
  • Forward Jump StraightForward100A
  • Forward Jump TuckForward100C
  • Back Jump StraightBack200A/C
  • Forward Entry Straight / PikeForward001A/B
  • Forward Dive TuckForward101C
Coach Notes
  • All jumps and dives performed from the standing position, with or without an arm circle.
  • For 001A/B, starting arm position may be open or closed.
3MBOARD
3 Meter
Springboard
5Skills
  • Forward Jump StraightForward100A
  • Forward Jump TuckForward100C
  • Back Jump Straight / TuckBack200A/C
  • Forward Entry Straight / PikeForward001A/B
  • Forward Entry TuckForward001C
Coach Notes
  • All jumps from standing, with or without an arm circle. 001B may be standing or seated (open or closed arm position). 001C must be performed from the seated position.
PF3M · 5M
Platform
Tower
4Skills
  • Forward Jump StraightForward100A
  • Forward Jump TuckForward100C
  • Inward Jump Straight / TuckInward400A/C
  • Forward Entry Straight / TuckForward001A/B
Coach Notes
  • 100A/C and 400A/C must be performed with no arm circle. 001B may be standing or seated, with starting arm position open or closed.
02
Building the approach

First dives in all four categories Novice

What's new
Divers add their first head-first dives in all four directions — forward, back, reverse, and inward — and start using a traditional approach instead of standing only.
1MBOARD
1 Meter
Springboard
5Skills
  • Forward Jump Straight / TuckForward100A/C
  • Back Jump Straight / TuckBack200A/C
  • Forward Entry Straight/Tuck or Back Entry StraightMixed001A/B or 002A
  • Forward Dive TuckForward101C
  • Inward Dive TuckInward401C
Coach Notes
  • Jumps & dives may be performed from standing (with or without an arm circle) or with a traditional approach.
  • Forward category may use a double bounce. 101C and 401C may have a straight-line or pike-out comeout.
3MBOARD
3 Meter
Springboard
5Skills
  • Forward Jump Straight / TuckForward100A/C
  • Back Jump Straight / TuckBack200A/C
  • Forward Entry Straight / Tuck / PikeForward001A/C/B
  • Back Entry Straight / TuckBack002A/C
  • Forward Dive Tuck or Inward Dive TuckMixed101C or 401C
Coach Notes
  • Jumps & dives may be performed from standing or with a traditional approach.
  • Forward category may use a double bounce. 101C and 401C may have a straight-line or pike-out comeout.
PF3M · 5M
Platform
Tower
5Skills
  • Reverse Jump Straight / TuckReverse300A/C
  • Back Jump Straight / TuckBack200A/C
  • Forward Entry Straight / PikeForward001A/B
  • Back Entry Straight / TuckBack002A/C
  • Forward Dive Tuck or Inward Dive TuckMixed101C or 401C
Coach Notes
  • 300A/C and 200A/C must be performed with an arm circle. 101C and 401C may have a straight-line or pike-out comeout.
03
Adding rotation

First somersaults Developing

What's new
Divers add full somersaults in tuck position — forward 1ss, back 1ss, reverse 1ss, and inward 1ss — the first dives with full rotation.
1MBOARD
1 Meter
Springboard
6Skills
  • Back Jump Tuck / PikeBack200C/B
  • Back Entry StraightBack002A*
  • Forward Dive Tuck or Inward Dive TuckMixed101C or 401C
  • Back Dive Tuck or Reverse Dive TuckMixed201C or 301C
  • Forward 1ss Tuck · Forward 1.5ss Tuck · Inward 1ss TuckForward102C / 103C / 402C
  • Back 1ss Tuck or Reverse 1ss TuckMixed202C or 302C
Coach Notes
  • All dives can be performed from standing or with a traditional approach.
  • Front and reverse categories can use a double bounce.
  • *002A may be competed either standing or jumping.
3MBOARD
3 Meter
Springboard
6Skills
  • Back Jump Tuck / PikeBack200C/B
  • Forward Entry Tuck / PikeForward001C/B
  • Back Entry Straight / TuckBack002A/C
  • Forward Dive TuckForward101C
  • Inward Dive TuckInward401C
  • Back Dive Tuck or Reverse Dive TuckMixed201C or 301C
Coach Notes
  • All dives can be performed from standing or with a traditional approach.
  • Front and reverse categories can use a double bounce.
PF5M · 7.5M
Platform
Tower
6Skills
  • Forward Jump Straight / Tuck / PikeForward100A/C/B
  • Forward Entry Straight / Tuck / PikeForward001A/C/B
  • Back Entry Straight / Tuck / PikeBack002A/C/B
  • Forward Dive TuckForward101C
  • Inward Dive TuckInward401C
  • Back Dive Tuck or Reverse Dive TuckMixed201C or 301C
Coach Notes
  • 100A/C/B must be performed with a running approach (min. 1 step). 001C must be performed with a pike-out comeout.
04
Position variety

Pike & straight positions Intermediate

What's new
Divers expand into pike and straight positions, add the forward 1.5ss and inward 1.5ss, and begin armstand work on platform.
1MBOARD
1 Meter
Springboard
7Skills
  • Forward Dive Tuck / PikeForward101C/B
  • Back Dive TuckBack201C
  • Reverse Dive TuckReverse301C
  • Inward Dive Tuck / PikeInward401C/B
  • Forward 1ss Straight or Back 1ss StraightMixed102A* or 202A
  • Forward 1.5ss Tuck / PikeForward103C/B
  • Back 1ss Tuck/Pike or Reverse 1ss Tuck/PikeMixed202C/B or 302C/B
Coach Notes
  • All dives can be performed from standing or with a traditional approach.
  • Front and reverse categories can use a double bounce.
  • *102A can be performed either in the open pike or straight position.
3MBOARD
3 Meter
Springboard
6Skills
  • Forward Dive Tuck / PikeForward101C/B
  • Back Dive TuckBack201C
  • Reverse Dive TuckReverse301C
  • Inward Dive Tuck / PikeInward401C/B
  • Forward 1.5ss TuckForward103C
  • Inward 1.5ss TuckInward403C
Coach Notes
  • All dives can be performed from standing or with a traditional approach.
  • Front and reverse categories can use a double bounce.
PF5M · 7.5M
Platform
Tower
6Skills
  • Forward Dive Tuck / PikeForward101C/B
  • Back Dive TuckBack201C
  • Reverse Dive TuckReverse301C
  • Inward Dive Tuck / PikeInward401C/B
  • Forward 1.5ss TuckForward103C
  • Armstand Entry Straight or Armstand 1ss Tuck/PikeArmstand600A or 612C/B
Coach Notes
  • Armstand work introduced at this level.
  • All dives performed with a proper entry setup and clean comeout.
05
Twisting & 2ss

Twists, doubles & platform work Advanced

What's new
Divers add twisting dives, the forward 2ss, and back/reverse 1.5ss — plus full platform rotation up to 10M.
1MBOARD
1 Meter
Springboard
8Skills
  • Forward Dive Tuck / PikeForward101C/B
  • Back Dive Tuck / PikeBack201C/B
  • Reverse Dive Tuck / PikeReverse301C/B
  • Inward Dive Tuck / PikeInward401C/B
  • Forward 1ss 1 Twist · Back 1ss ½ Twist · Back 1ss 1½ TwistTwister5122D / 5221D / 5223D
  • Forward 1.5ss Tuck/Pike or Forward 2ss Tuck/PikeForward103C/B or 104C/B
  • Back 1.5ss Tuck or Reverse 1.5ss TuckMixed203C or 303C
  • Inward 1.5ss TuckInward403C
Coach Notes
  • All dives can be performed from standing, with a double bounce, or with a traditional approach.
  • All dives must be done with a proper arm circle.
3MBOARD
3 Meter
Springboard
8Skills
  • Forward Dive Tuck / PikeForward101C/B
  • Back Dive Tuck / PikeBack201C/B
  • Reverse Dive Tuck / PikeReverse301C/B
  • Inward Dive Tuck / PikeInward401C/B
  • Forward 1.5ss 1 Twist or Back 1.5ss ½ TwistTwister5132D or 5231D
  • Forward 1.5ss Tuck / PikeForward103C/B
  • Back 1.5ss Tuck or Reverse 1.5ss TuckMixed203C or 303C
  • Inward 1.5ss Tuck / PikeInward403C/B
Coach Notes
  • All dives can be performed from standing, with a double bounce, or with a traditional approach.
  • All dives must be done with a proper arm circle.
PF5M–10M
Platform
Tower
8Skills
  • Forward Dive Tuck / PikeForward101C/B
  • Back Dive Tuck / PikeBack201C/B
  • Reverse Dive Tuck / PikeReverse301C/B
  • Inward Dive Tuck / PikeInward401C/B
  • Armstand 1ss Tuck / PikeArmstand612C/B
  • Forward 1.5ss 1 Twist or Back 1.5ss ½ TwistTwister5132D or 5231D
  • Forward 1.5ss Tuck / PikeForward103C/B
  • Inward 1.5ss Tuck / PikeInward403C/B
Coach Notes
  • Full platform rotation (5M, 7.5M, 10M) introduced at this level, including armstand work and twisting skills.
06
Meet-ready optionals

Full optional lists Elite

What's new
Divers train complete championship optional lists — including the forward 2.5ss, 1.5ss with twists, and full straight-position dives in every category.
1MBOARD
1 Meter
Springboard
9Skills
  • Forward Dive Tuck/Pike/Straight or Forward 1.5ss Tuck/PikeForward101C/B/A or 103C/B
  • Back Dive Tuck / Pike / StraightBack201C/B/A
  • Reverse Dive Tuck / Pike / StraightReverse301C/B/A
  • Inward Dive Tuck / Pike / StraightInward401C/B/A
  • Forward 1.5ss 1 Twist · Back 1.5ss ½ Twist · Reverse 1.5ss ½ TwistTwister5132D / 5231D / 5331D
  • Forward 2ss Tuck/Pike or Forward 2.5ss Tuck/PikeForward104C/B or 105C/B
  • Back 1.5ss Tuck / PikeBack203C/B
  • Reverse 1.5ss Tuck / PikeReverse303C/B
  • Inward 1.5ss Tuck / PikeInward403C/B
Coach Notes
  • All dives can be performed from standing, with a double bounce, or with a traditional approach.
  • All dives must be done with a proper arm circle.
3MBOARD
3 Meter
Springboard
9Skills
  • Forward Dive Tuck/Pike/Straight or Forward 1.5ss Tuck/PikeForward101C/B/A or 103C/B
  • Back Dive Tuck / Pike / StraightBack201C/B/A
  • Reverse Dive Tuck / Pike / StraightReverse301C/B/A
  • Inward Dive Tuck / Pike / StraightInward401C/B/A
  • Forward 1.5ss 1 Twist · Back 1.5ss ½ Twist · Reverse 1.5ss ½ TwistTwister5132D / 5231D / 5331D
  • Forward 2.5ss Tuck / PikeForward105C/B
  • Back 1.5ss Tuck / PikeBack203C/B
  • Reverse 1.5ss Tuck / PikeReverse303C/B
  • Inward 1.5ss Tuck / PikeInward403C/B
Coach Notes
  • All dives can be performed from standing, with a double bounce, or with a traditional approach.
  • All dives must be done with a proper arm circle.
PF5M–10M
Platform
Tower
9Skills
  • Forward Dive Tuck/Pike or Forward 1.5ss Tuck/PikeForward101C/B or 103C/B
  • Back Dive Tuck / PikeBack201C/B
  • Reverse Dive Tuck / PikeReverse301C/B
  • Inward Dive Tuck / PikeInward401C/B
  • Armstand 1ss Tuck / PikeArmstand612C/B
  • Forward 1.5ss 1 Twist or Back 1.5ss ½ TwistTwister5132D or 5231D
  • Forward 2.5ss Tuck / PikeForward105C/B
  • Back 1.5ss Tuck/Pike or Reverse 1.5ss Tuck/PikeMixed203C/B or 303C/B
  • Inward 1.5ss Tuck / PikeInward403C/B
Coach Notes
  • Full optional-list training for championship meets, including armstand, twisters, and multi-somersault skills.
For current divers & families

Curious where your diver stands?

Talk to your coach to learn about evaluation windows. Coaches will walk you through your diver's current scores, what's needed to advance, and which skills to focus on next.

Email your coach → Evaluation checklist (PDF)
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Tri-Valley Divers · Las Positas College Aquatics Center · 2025–2026 Season
Last updated April 2026