An Update on the Junior Competitive Season Beginning in 2026

USA Diving’s Board of Directors has approved the addition of East/Central/West Junior Championship events beginning with the 2026 season. These new events will replace what has been the preliminary component of the Junior National Championships.

Full details will be communicated as soon as possible, but a summary of the new competitive format is below.

Region Championships (Mid-April to early May) – Only Group A & B divers will be required to attend region meets to advance to zones. The top 15 divers will advance. Group C & D events may be held as exhibition events, and platform events will continue to be exhibition as well. Region Championships will be a two-day event.

Zone Championships (Late May to early June) – Groups A, B, C & D (1-meter, 3-meter and platform)
The top 3 on each event will qualify directly to the Junior National Championships. Places 4-18 will advance to the corresponding East/Central/West Championships. The Zone Championships will be a three-day event.

East/Central/West Championships (Late June/Concluded by July 3) – Groups A, B, C & D (1-meter, 3-meter and platform)
The top 3 on each event will qualify to the Junior National Championships. These meets will be four-day events.

Junior National Championships (Late July to early August) – Groups A, B, C & D (1-meter, 3-meter and platform)
The top 3 from each zone and the top 3 from each east/central/west meet, plus any prequalified divers, will compete in preliminaries. There will no longer be a semifinal. Divers will advance from prelims to finals. We anticipate this meet being six or seven days.

For questions, please email Mike Retcher.