Club Handbook

Grading System – Overview

A standardised approach for developing skills and monitoring progress.

Gradings are held every 4 months during regular sessions. Some time will be allocated at the start of the session to practise dives for the grading, then all LTD squads in that session will be assessed on the skills listed in the grade they are aiming for. The divers will perform the skills one at a time, and the coaches will score the dive out of 10. Certificates are awarded using the following classification system:

  • Fail: any dive scores below a 5
  • Pass: 5 ≤ average score < 6
  • Commended: 6 ≤ average score < 6.5
  • Highly Commended: 6.5 ≤ average score < 7
  • Distinction: average score ≥ 7

The grading will take place over 2 sessions, allowing some flexibility for people who may be away for one of their sessions. For divers able to attend both grading sessions, they will be allowed to redo all of their dives, and the highest score from the two sessions will count towards their grade.

All squads in the session will run the grading together, including divers going for different grades. The grading format will be in stations (for each board), so each diver completes all dives for their grade on each station before moving to the next one. There will be at least two judges (coaches), and the diver will be awarded the average score. If a diver is not ready to attempt the next diving award, the coach may allow them to redo a previous grade to improve their result or take one of the Swim England Diving Awards (https://www.swimming.org/learntoswim/swim-england-diving-awards/).

After both grading sessions are completed, the results will be sent out via email and certificates and badges will be presented to the divers in the following week.

Our grades take divers from complete beginners through to competent divers with the skills required to compete at national events. For a detailed review of the skills in each grade, please see our Grading System – Technical Details page.

Grade 1

  1. Forward tuck roll PS
  2. Forward pike roll PS
  3. Back tuck roll PS
  4. Back pike roll PS
  5. Back push and circle PS
  6. Forward jump straight (100A) with armswing 1m
  7. Back jump straight (200A) with armswing 1m
  8. Pike fall (10B) with hands grabbed 1m

Grade 2

  1. Forward jump tuck (100C) with armswing PS
  2. Forward pike wedge PS
  3. Falling back pike sit PS
  4. Back fall straight (20A) with hands grabbed 1m
  5. Forward tuck roll (11C) staying in tuck 1m
  6. Forward jump straight (100A) with armswing 3m
  7. Back jump straight (200A) with armswing 3m
  8. Pike fall (10B) with hands grabbed 3m

Grade 3

  1. Forward dive straight (101A) PS
  2. Back jump tuck (200C) PS
  3. 2-bounce forward jump straight (100A) 1m
  4. Forward jump pike (100B) with armswing 1m
  5. Back jump pike (200B) with armswing 1m
  6. Forward fall straight (10A) with arms in T 3m
  7. Forward tuck to pike roll (11C) 3m
  8. Forward jump straight (100A) with armswing 5m

Grade 4

  1. Forward jump pike (100B) with armswing PS
  2. Back pike sit with armswing PS
  3. Inward pike wedge PS
  4. 2-bounce forward jump pike (100B) 1m
  5. Forward dive tuck (101C) with armswing 1m
  6. Back sitting tuck roll (21C) to penguin 1m
  7. Back jump pike (200B) with armswing 3m
  8. Back fall straight (20A) with hands on thighs 3m

Grade 5

  1. Forward dive tuck (101C) PS
  2. Back dive tuck (201C) to penguin with armswing PS
  3. Hurdle step forward jump straight (100A) 1m
  4. Inward dive tuck (401C) with armswing 1m
  5. 2-bounce forward jump straight (100A) 3m
  6. Back crouching tuck roll (20C) 3m
  7. Pike fall (10B) 5m
  8. Forward jump pike (100B) with armswing 5m

Grade 6

  1. Reverse pike sit with armswing PS
  2. Forward armstand straight to feet (611A) PS (support optional)
  3. 2-bounce with hurdle snap down forward jump straight (100A) 1m
  4. 2-bounce forward dive tuck (101C) 1m
  5. Forward somersault tuck (102C) with armswing 1m
  6. Back dive tuck (201C) with armswing 1m
  7. Forward fall straight (10A) with arms in T 5m
  8. Back jump straight (200A) with armswing 5m

Grade 7

  1. 2-bounce forward 1½ somersaults tuck (103C) 1m
  2. Reverse dive tuck (301C) with armswing 1m
  3. Inward somersault tuck (402C) with armswing 1m
  4. Back dive tuck (201C) with armswing 3m
  5. Inward dive tuck (401C) with armswing 3m
  6. Forward twisting roll 5m
  7. Back crouching tuck roll (20C) 5m
  8. Forward somersault 1 twist (5122D) 1m OR back somersault ½ twist (5221D) 1m (optional)