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A Glossary of Terms
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>Glossary of Terms
A
Admin
Table - Area at a swim meet
where the Admin Referee, Clerk of Course, Timing System Operator, Timing
Judge, Recorder, and Announcer are located. Usually, all the
administrative functions of the meet are conducted here.
Age
Group - Division of swimmers
according to age, usually in two-year bands. In USA Swimming,
swimmers compete within their respective age groups, usually in the
following manner: 10&Younger, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18.
Most meets combine the two older age groups into a 15-18 age group.
A swimmer’s age at a meet is determined by the first day of the
competition.
Age
Group Swimming
- Program for swimmers aged 14 and younger.
Alternate
– In a Prelims and Finals (championship) format, the 19th and 20th/25th
and 26th (depending on size of the pool) swimmers are designated as
alternates and will compete only if one of the Bonus Finals swimmers is
unable to compete.
Alternate
Breathing
- In freestyle swimming, breathing to the right side then swimming three
strokes and breathing to the left side, then swimming three strokes and
breathing the to right side, etc. (See also Bilateral Breathing.)
Anaerobic
Training
- Training that improves your efficiency of your body’s energy producing
systems that do not require oxygen and can increase your muscular strength
and tolerance for acid-base imbalances (such as the production of lactic
acid) during high intensity effort.
Anchor
- The final swimmer in a relay. It is also the point in the stroke
pattern where the hand feels the most resistance and begins effective
propulsive movement.
Angle
of Attack - The position or
degree of angle that the hand enters the water.
Announcer
- The person who announces meet
American
Swim Coaches Association (ASCA)
- Professional organization for swim coaches.
Ascending
- Intervals or swims that increase in time (:55,
Assisted
Swimming
- Any form of swimming with assistance to swim faster, usually done with
fins and stretch cords.
Attached
- A registered swimmer who is attached to a registered USA Swimming swim
team.
B
BB/B/C
Meet
- A swim meet that requires swimmers to have no higher than a “BB”
time standard in the events they wish to enter.
Backstroke
- One of the four competitive racing strokes characterized by swimming on
the back (except the last stroke into the turns). Backstroke (or
Back) is swum as the first stroke in the Medley Relay and second stroke in
the Individual Medley.
Backstroke
Flags - Pennants that are
suspended over the width of each end of the pool approximately five
yards/meters from the wall that notify backstroke swimmers that they are
approaching the end of the pool, similar to a warning track in baseball.
The accomplished Backstroker will know how many strokes it takes to get
from the flags to the beginning of their turn.
Backstroke
Start
- In Backstroke and Medley Relay events, swimmers start the race in the
pool, facing the start end, with both hands in contact with the end of the
pool or the start block and both feet on the wall with toes below the
water surface.
Balance
- Refers to body position. Proper balance implies that your hips and
head position are equally close to the surface of the water as you swim,
as well as rolling equally to each side during the freestyle and
backstroke.
Beep
- The starting sound from an electronic timing system.
Bell
Lap - The last lap of a
distance Freestyle race. The Starter normally rings a bell over the
lane of the lead swimmer with one lap plus 5 yards to go.
Bilateral
Breathing
- In Freestyle swimming, breathing to the right side then swimming three
strokes and breathing to the left side, then swimming three strokes and
breathing the to right side, etc. Our young swimmers are taught to swim in
this manner because it helps with body position and helps reduce shoulder
injury. (See also Alternate Breathing.)
Blocks
- The starting platforms
located behind each lane. Blocks have a variety of designs and can be
permanent or removable. They also incorporate a bar to allow
swimmers to perform Backstroke starts.
Body
Position - The way your body
sits in the water during swimming. Ideal body position requires that
your body is as straight and long and as close the surface of the water as
possible.
Body
Roll - Refers to the proper
side-to-side rotation of the hips in Freestyle and Backstroke swimming.
Rolling from the left side of your body to the right side and back again
helps reduce drag and improve stroke length. Swimming "flat"
would be the sensation of swimming directly on your stomach/back all the
time.
Bottom
- The floor of the pool. In some pools these are adjustable to allow
variation in the depth and use of the pool.
Break-out
Stroke
- First stroke out of a start or off the walls on turns, very important
for establishing proper body position and stroke rhythm.
Breaststroke
- One of the four competitive racing strokes characterized by the
distinctive frog-like kick and undulating motion. The oldest of the
four competitive strokes, it is performed in a front prone position with
simultaneous and symmetrical leg kick and pull. Breaststroke (or
Breast) is swum as the second stroke in the Medley Relay and the third
stroke in the Individual Medley.
Breaststroker’s
Knee (Tendonitis)
- The Breaststroke kick is an unnatural motion for the knees, so sometimes
the knee can become tender and sore. In most cases, with proper care,
exercises, and stroke technique, even severe tendonitis can be controlled.
Broken
Swims -
Swimmers swim a 500 broken when they swim 200 and rest 10 sec, swim 150
and rest 10 sec, swim 100 and rest 10 sec, and swim 50 and finish.
Build-up
Swims
- Swimmers swim 3 X 50’s build up…i.e., with each 50 the swimmers
begin smooth and build to a fast finish.
Bull
Pen - A designated area where
swimmers (usually 8 & Under) report and are organized for their next
race.
Bulkhead
- A moveable wall structure in 50-meter pools that allows the pool to be
setup for Short Course (yards/meters).
Burn-out
- Burn-out is a catch word used when a swimmer is tired of swimming …
usually due to too much stress. The stress may be self-imposed, or
due to illness, psychological, school, family…many reasons.
Butterfly
- One of the four competitive
racing strokes characterized by the dolphin kick and over the water
recovery of the arms. The newest of the four competitive strokes (an
outgrowth from the breaststroke in 1956), it is performed in a front prone
position with simultaneous up and down leg kick and simultaneous and
symmetrical arms stroke. Butterfly (or Fly) is swum as the third
stroke in the Medley Relay and first stroke in the Individual Medley.
Button
- Part of the automatic/electronic timing system used by the Timers on
each lane to stop the clock at the end of a race.
C
Camp
- A short-term program for improving swimming technique and enthusiasm.
There are many types of training camps for just about every level of
swimmer sponsored by clubs/teams, LSCs, schools/colleges, and USA
Swimming.
Cap
- The silicone or latex
covering worn on the head of swimmers. The colors and team logos
adorning these caps are limitless.
Carbohydrates
- The main source of food energy used by athletes.
Cards
– In a pre-seeded meet, entry cards are usually passed out by he Clerk
of Course to the swimmer, who gives it to the Timer behind the lane.
The cards list the event number, event description, swimmer’s name, seed
time, the lane and heat number the swimmer will swim in, and includes a
place for the watch time(s) to be recorded. Each event has a
separate card. For relays, the card also lists the four
swimmers in the order they will swim.
Car
Pool
- A group of families that get together to share the responsibility for
driving swimmers to and from practice sessions.
Catch
- The point in the stroke pattern where the hand feels the most resistance
and begins effective propulsive movement.
Championship
Heat
- The Championship Heat (A Final) is the fastest heat (6 or 8 swimmers) of
Finals when multiple heats are held and is usually conducted last, after
the Bonus (C Final) and Consolation (B Final) heats.
Chlorine
- The chemical used by many pools to kill the bacteria in water and keep
it clear and safe to swim in. Some pools have switched to chloramines and
other chemical disinfectants that are less irritating to the swimmers.
Circle
seed - In a Prelims and Finals
(championship) format, the fastest three heats of each event in Prelims is
specially seeded: the fastest swimmer is in the fastest heat, the second
fastest swimmer is in the next heat, the third fastest swimmer is in the
next heat, the fourth fastest swimmer is in the fastest heat and so on
until the three heats are filled up. As opposed to the normal
slowest to fastest seeding in the rest to the heats (used in a Timed
Finals format).
Circle
Swim - When there are more than
two swimmers in a lane during practice/warm ups, swimmers swim up on the
right side, staying close to the lane line, and return on the other side
in the same fashion, always staying to the right of the black centerline.
Each swimmer leaves 5 seconds apart so there is space between each person
in the lane.
Clerk
of Course - The USA
Swimming-certified official responsible for deck seeding and organizing
swimmers into heats (usually, a parent-volunteer). Also, where
scratches and relay cards are turned in, and on-going meet
Concessions
- The snack concession at a swim meet. The club/vendor usually has
healthy (and sometimes not so healthy) snacks and drinks for sale.
Conforming
Times - In championship meets,
the qualifying times are often listed for each course (LCM, SCY, SCM).
The meet is seeded using entry times conforming to the course for the meet
(e.g., LCM) first, then non-conforming entry times (e.g., SCM/SCY) in the
first heats.
Consolation
Heat
- The Consolation Heat (B Final) is the second fastest heat of Finals when
multiple heats are held and are conducted before the Championship Heat (A
Final).
Converted
Time - A swimmer's time in an
event from one course converted to an equivalent time in that event in
another course (e.g., SCY times converted to LCM times), often done at the
beginning of a season for seeding purposes when swimmers don't have recent
times in the new course. There are several "accepted"
conversion formulas available for coaches to use.
Cool-down
- A slower and longer swim that swimmers perform after their race to help
rid the body of excess lactic acid. This is essential to the
prevention of injury.
Course
- Designated distance (length of pool) for swimming competition (i.e.,
Long Course (LCM) = 50 meters; Short Course (SCY/SCM) = 25
yards/meters).
Crossover
Turn - In the Individual
Medley, a type of turn used in the Backstroke to Breaststroke transition.
The swimmer approaches the wall on the back and executes a modified flip
turn such that as he/she reaches the wall at the vertical then rotates to
the breast and pushes off.
Cut
- A qualifying time for championship meets (e.g., Age Group Champs, Senior
Champs, National Champs).
D
Daktronics
- A brand of automatic/electronic timing system.
Deadline
- The date meet entries must be 'in' by, to be accepted by the meet
host/club. Making the meet deadline may not guarantee acceptance into a
meet since many meets are 'full' weeks before the entry deadline.
Deck
- The area around the swimming pool reserved for swimmers, officials, and
coaches. No one but an authorized person may be on the deck during a
swim competition (i.e. swimmer, coach, meet volunteer).
Deck
Level - A system of
re-circulating water in a pool where the side of the pool is at or just
below the level of the water. Water continuously flows out of the
pool and into the filtration system. This design is very successful
at preventing waves reflecting off the side of the pool.
Deck
Seeding
- The process of organizing swimmers into events, heats, and lanes
(usually by the Clerk of Course) at the meet as it progresses (as opposed
to pre-seeding by computer prior to the meet).
Dehydration
- The abnormal depletion of body fluids (water), the most common cause of
swimmers cramps and sick feelings.
Descending
- Intervals or swims that decrease in time (
Descend
- To swim each lap in a faster time than the previous. E.g., 4 x 50
yards on a 1-minute interval, swim #1 in 50 seconds, #2 in 48 seconds, #3
in 46 seconds, and #4 faster than 46 seconds.
Declared
False Start - An option for
swimmers in championship meets to opt out of a swim without penalty.
In Prelims, a swimmer notifies the Referee prior to the event that he/she
will declare a false start. The swimmer is disqualified and does not
report to the blocks or swim.
Developmental
Swimming - A program
designed for swimmers aged 8 and younger.
Disqualification
(DQ) - A swimmer’s
performance that is not counted because of a rules infraction (signified
by an official on deck raising one arm with open hand above his or her
head). The results sheet will reflect “DQ” and no time will be
recorded for the event.
Distance
Freestyle
– Freestyle events at distances greater than 200 yards/meters.
Distance
- How far a swimmer swims in an event. Distances for Sort Course are: 25
yards/meters (1 length), 50 yards/meters (2 lengths), 100 yards/meters (4
lengths), 200 yards/meters (8 lengths), 400 meters (16 lengths), 500 yards
(20 lengths), 800 meters (32 lengths), 1000 yards (40 lengths), 1500
meters (60 lengths), and 1650 yards (66 lengths). Distances for Long
Course are: 50 meters (1 length), 100 meters (2 lengths), 200 meters (4
lengths), 400 meters (8 lengths), 800 meters (16 lengths), 1500 meters (30
lengths).
Dive
- Entering the water head first at the start of the race.
Dolphin
Kick - An undulating,
simultaneous kick used in Butterfly. It is also commonly used in
Backstroke and Freestyle during the kick-out phase off the walls on starts
and turns.
Drag
suit
- A second, loose fitting swimsuit worn by swimmers in workout and warm-up
that adds weight and resistance to the flow of the water around the
swimmer.
Dropped
Elbow
- Opposite of the high elbow and ineffective for powerful propulsion
through the water.
Dropped
Time
- When a swimmer goes faster than their previous performance in an event,
they have 'dropped time' (also a Personal Best Time).
Dry
Land
- The program of exercises and various strength regimens swimmers do out
of the water.
Dual
Meet
- A competition between two teams.
E
Early
Take-off - In relays, an early
take-off occurs in an exchange when a relay team member leaves the
starting block before the previous team member in the water touches the
wall. The relay team is disqualified and notified of the
disqualification after the end of the race.
Electronic
Timing - Timing system operated
automatically. The timing system usually has touchpads in the water,
junction boxes on the pool ends with hook up cables, buttons for backup
timing, and a computer type console that prints out the results of each
race. Some systems are linked to a scoreboard that displays the
swimmers’ times.
Eligible
to Compete
- For sanctioned meets, swimmers that are registered with USA Swimming and
have met all the entry requirements of the meet (usually, age and time
standards or qualifying times).
Entry
- An individual swimmer or relay team listed to compete in an event at a
meet; how the hand enters the water at the beginning of the stroke
(freestyle, backstroke and butterfly).
Entry
Fees
- The amount per event a swimmer or relay is charged to compete. This
varies depending on the type of meet.
Entry
Limit - Some meets have a limit
of total swimmers that can be accepted before the meet will be closed and
all other entries returned. Swimmers also have a limit to the number
of events they can swim in a day and in the meet.
Entry
Time - Official Times used to
enter swimmers in meets. These times are the swimmer’s personal
best in a given event and must have been achieved at previous sanctioned
competitions.
Event
- A race of a stroke over a
given distance at a meet. In a Prelims and Finals (championship)
format, an event equals at least one prelims heat and its accompanying
final, or in a timed finals format, at least one heat. Events are
either individual (one swimmer per lane) or relay (four swimmers per
lane).
F
False
Start Rope
- A recall rope across the width of the racing course for the purpose of
stopping swimmers who were not aware of a false start.
False
Start - A violation of the
start rules, a false start occurs when a swimmer leaves the starting
block, or is moving on the block, before the Starter starts the race. The
swimmer is disqualified and is
Fatigue
- The whole idea of training is to fatigue the body, but to do it in a
manner so that when it is given rest, the body over compensates and
performs at a higher level.
15-Meter
Mark - Marks on the sides of the pool and on the lane lines 15 meters
from the ends of the pool. In Freestyle, Backstroke, and Butterfly
events the swimmer must surface at or before these marks.
FINA
-
Federation Internationale de National de Amateur, the international
governing body of competitive swimming, diving, water polo and
synchronized swimming.
Final
Results
- The printed copy of the results of each race of a swim meet.
Finals
- In a Prelims and Finals (championship) format, the fastest 12/16 or
18/24 swimmers (depending on the number of lanes in the pool) who, after
the Prelims swims, return to compete to determine final placement in the
event. There can be up to three heats: Bonus (C Final),
Consolation (B Final), and Championship (A Final).
Finish
- In a race, the legal touch at the end of the prescribed distance; the
final propulsive phase of the arm stroke before the hand leaves the water.
Fins
- Large rubber or other material fin type devices that fit on a
swimmer’s feet. Used in training to aid development of kick and ankle
flexibility.
Flip
Turn - One type of turn used in
Freestyle and Backstroke. Just as the swimmer approaches the wall,
they tuck their body into a somersault, quickly roll toward the wall and
push off with their feet.
Flutter
Kick - The alternating kick
used in freestyle and backstroke, usually six kicks per stroke cycle.
Forward
Start
- In Freestyle, Breaststroke, and Butterfly events swimmers start from the
start blocks, the edge of the pool, or in the water with a forward dive or
push off.
Four-Beat
Kick - Four leg movements per
arm stroke (both arms) in Freestyle for racing (usually, for middle
distance). Similarly, 2- and 6- beat kicks may be used.
Freestyle
- One of the four competitive racing strokes, usually the American Crawl.
Swimmers swim in a prone position, face down, and pull the arms
independently of each other and legs kick individually. In
competition, a swimmer can swim any stroke in a Freestyle event.
Freestyle (or Free) is swum as the fourth stroke in the Medley Relay and
fourth stroke in the Individual medley.
G
Goal
- Short- and long-range performance/achievement targets set by swimmers
and agreed to by their coaches.
Goggles
- Eyewear worn by swimmers in
the pool to protect the swimmers' eyes from the effects of chorine in the
water. Also improves vision underwater considerably!
Gravity
wave
- Wave action caused by the swimmers' bodies moving through the water.
Gravity waves move down and forward from the swimmer, bounce off the
bottom of the pool, and return to the surface in the form of turbulence.
Gutter
- The area at the edges of the pool in which water overflows and is
recirculated into the pool. Deep gutters catch surface wave and
don't allow them to wash back into the pool and affect races.
Alternatively, a pool may have no gutter and be deck level.
H
Heat
- A division of an event when there are too many swimmers to compete at
the same time.
Heat
Sheet - A printed order of
events by session with swimmers listed by heat and lane (with team and
entry times). Usually used at pre-seeded meets. Also, a Meet
Program.
High
Elbow
- Refers to the recovery phase of freestyle where keeping a high elbow
encourages better balance and body roll and to the pull phase of freestyle
where the elbow remains in a higher position over the hand, giving the
sensation of reaching over a barrel when pulling through the water.
High
Points Award
- At some championship meets, High Point Awards are presented to the
swimmer in each sex/age group and overall who accumulates the most points
(earned by placement in their events).
Horizontal
- Parallel to the water surface.
Horn
- A sounding device used in place of a gun. Used mainly with a fully
automatic timing system.
Hospitality
- An area set aside for Coaches and Officials at a swim meet. The
host club usually provides breakfast, lunch, sometimes dinner, and snack
items.
Host
Team - The USA Swimming club
assigned/awarded the responsibility to conduct a sanctioned meet.
The club secures the venue, organizes the competition and its support,
provides/arranges for volunteers and officials, and collects entries.
They also keep any profits earned.
Hypoxic
Breathing
- Breath control swimming such as underwater swimming or breathing every
fifth or seventh stroke in Freestyle.
Hypoxia
Training (breath control) -
Training with a decreased concentration of oxygen that causes the
constriction of blood vessels that, in turn, helps muscles work more
efficiently with what oxygen is available.
I
Individual
Medley (IM)
- An event in which the swimmer uses all four competitive strokes in the
following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle (in
this case, Freestyle means any stroke except one of the three previously
swam).
Insurance
- USA Swimming self-insures for liability. Accident coverage for
swimmers, coaches, and officials is part of USA Swimming membership
(covered in their annual registration fee). Parents and non-member
siblings are usually restricted from the deck at practice and meets
because they are not covered by this insurance.
Intermediate
- In the Individual Medley event, refers to the turns during each
stroke/leg (as opposed to transition turns at the change of strokes).
Interval
Training
- Consists of repeated rounds of moderate- to high- intensity activity
separated by brief rest periods of approximately 20-40 seconds.
Interval
- A specific elapsed time prescribed to complete a given distance, plus
rest, used during swim practice.
Intrasquad
Meet
- A competition for just one team.
Invitational
- A swim meet open only to teams invited to participate.
Usually, it's a Prelims and Finals (championship) format, qualifying times
are required, and entry fees are higher.
J
Junior
Age
Group Champs
- In New Jersey Swimming, one of the championship meets that precede the season-ending championship
meets for swimmers aged 14 and younger who meet the qualifying times.
Junior
Olympics (JO's)
- Term
for the end of the season championship meet for age group swimmers.
K
Kick
Board
- A flotation device used by swimmers during training when swimming with
legs only.
Kick
- The leg movements of a
swimmer that provide propulsion during execution of the stroke.
L
Lactic
Acid - In the absence of
oxygen, as with anaerobic training, your body will breakdown muscle sugar
(glycogen) using a process that produces an acidic by-product waste called
lactate acid. Your muscles may start to burn or ache as lactic acid
accumulates and your body can’t keep up with removing it from your
muscle stores.
Lane
Ropes / Lane Lines
- Continuous floating dividers attached to a cable stretched from the
start end of the pool to the turn end, used to delineate the individual
lanes. These dividers are made of individual finned disks that rotate on
the cable when hit by a wave. The rotating disks dissipate surface tension
waves in a competitive pool.
Lane
- The specific area in which a swimmer is assigned to swim (i.e., Lane 1
or Lane 2). For pools with starting blocks at only one end: as the
swimmers stand behind the blocks, lanes should be numbered from right
(Lane 1) to left (Lane 8).
Lap
Counter - The large numbered
cards (or the person turning the cards) used during the Freestyle events
of 16 or more lengths of the pool to help the competitor keep track of
their yardage. Other swimmers usually do the counting from the turn
end of the pool.
Lap
- Two lengths of the course (up and down the pool). Thus, 2 laps in
a 25-yard pool would be swimming up and down the pool twice, totaling 100
yards.
Late
Entries - Meet entries from a
club or individual that are received by the meet host after the entry
deadline. These entries usually can be accommodated, but the club /
individual must pay the late entry fee.
Lead-off
- The first swimmer (leg) in a relay.
Leg
- The part of a relay event swum by a single team member; a single stroke
portion of the IM.
Length
- Once up or down the pool.
Thus, 4 lengths in a 25-yard pool would be swimming the length of the pool
4 times, totaling 100 yards. Also, the extent of the competitive course
from end to end.
Log
Book
- A log of everything to do with swimming, including all training sessions
and event best times, kept by the swimmer.
Long
Course (LC) - A 50-meter pool.
The Olympic Games swimming competition, as well as all major international
swimming competitions, are conducted in long course. The swim year
is divided into two seasons: Short Course season, competed in
25-yard/meter pools during fall and winter, and Long Course season,
competed in 50-meter pools during spring and summer. See also Short
Course (SC).
Local
Swimming Committee (LSC) –
One of 59 administrative divisions of USA Swimming with supervisory
responsibilities within certain geographical boundaries designated by USA
Swimming. New Jersey Swimming, Inc. (NJS) is our LSC.
Lycra
- A stretch material used to make competitive swimsuits.
M
Marks
- A
swimmer’s starting position.
Marshal
- The officials (usually,
parent volunteers) who control the crowd and swimmer flow at a swim meet.
They are primarily responsible for safety in the venue.
Masters
Swimming - A program for
swimmers aged 19 and older who wish to continue swimming, but not
necessarily at the senior level. Age groups are in five-year
increments.
Medals
- Awards earned by swimmers at meets for finishing in the top places. They
vary in size and design and method of presentation.
Meet
- A series of swimming events held in one program, usually sanctioned by
VSI/USA Swimming.
Meet
Director
- The person in charge of the planning, preparation, and administration of
a swim meet (usually, a parent/volunteer).
Meet
Information
– Information on any particular swim meet provided by the host swim team
and always posted on the Cougar Aquatic Website (www.cougaraquatic.com).
Meet
Program - A compilation of the
meet’s Heat Sheets sold by the host club. Can also contain
important meet
Meet
Staff
- The volunteers who are responsible for conducting a swim meet.
Mini
Meet - A meet in which 25
yard/meter events are contested (usually for swimmers aged 8 and younger).
Mile
- The slang referring to the 1500-meter or the 1650-yard freestyle, both
of which are slightly short of a mile.
National
Qualifying Time (NQT)
- Time standard for entry in USA Swimming Championship meets.
No
Time (NT)
- Abbreviation used on a heat sheet to designate that the swimmer has not
swum that event before (does not have an official time of record).
Nationals
– USA Swimming’s national championship meets.
Negative
Split - The second half of the
swim is swum faster than the first half (e.g.,100- yard swim negative
splitting: if the first 50 yards is swum around 30 seconds, then the
second 50 yards must be swum faster than 30 seconds). Also, a race
strategy in the longer Freestyle events in which a swimmer covers the
second half of the race faster than the first half.
Non-Conforming
Times - In championship meets,
the qualifying times are often listed for each course (LCM, SCY, SCM).
The meet is seeded using entry times conforming to the course for the meet
(e.g., LCM) first, then non-conforming entry times (e.g., SCM/SCY) in the
first heats.
Novice
- A beginning swimmer or one who has limited experience.
O
Observed
Swim - In approved
season-ending High School/YMCA championship meets, USA Swimming Officials
observe the swims and report USA Swimming rules violations. Swimmers
whose legal swims conform to USA Swimming rules can use their times as
official times in USA Swimming-sanctioned meets.
Officials
- The USA Swimming certified adult volunteers, who execute the many facets
of a swim competition to ensure a fair and equitable competition for all
swimmers.
Official
Time - The swimmer’s time in
a given event, recorded to hundredth of a second (.01). The OT
usually comes from the automatic timing system.
Official
Results
- After all Official Times and Disqualifications for an event are
determined/recorded, the final Order of Finish (places) is published.
Olympic
Trials
- The USA Swimming sanctioned swim meet held the year of the Olympic Games
to decide which swimmers will represent the
Omega
- A
brand of automatic/electronic timing system.
Open
Turn – One type of turn used
in Butterfly and Breaststroke. The swimmer touches the wall with
both hands simultaneously, rotates, and pushes off with the feet.
Open
Water - Swim meets (usually,
distance freestyle events) contested in lakes, rivers, or the ocean (not
in pools).
Over
Fatigue - Over fatigue
(too much training) can be a problem with dedicated swimmers and leads to
poor performance. Many times the over fatigue is due to the lack of
sleep and poor eating habits.
Overhead
Starts - Start procedures at a
meet in which swimmers of the previous heat remain in the water, close to
the wall, during the start of the next heat. Usually used in senior
sessions/meets to save time and/or allow swimmers to rest before exiting
the pool.
P
Personal
Best (PB)
- The best time a swimmer has achieved so far in a given event.
Pace
- The swimmer swims at a certain speed that corresponds to a race
distance. Thus a swimmer may be swimming at a pace of 1:20 (or one minute
twenty seconds) per 100. Usually, the pace is expressed in terms of 100
yards/meters.
Pace
Clock - The large clocks with
highly visible numbers and second hands, positioned at the ends or sides
of a swimming pool so the swimmers can read their times during interval
training in warm-ups or swim practice. The red hand goes around every
minute (60 seconds). The 60 is sometimes referred to as the
"top" and the 30 as the "bottom". Swimmers who watch
the clock and know their times improve the most - they get feedback, learn
pace, and improve technique.
Paddle
- Colored plastic devices worn on the swimmers hands during swim practice
to increase resistance.
Pitch
- The angle position of the hands and forearms in all strokes and
the feet in breaststroke.
Plateau
- All swimmers, even the world’s best, will experience what are termed
“plateaus”. It refers to a period of time when a swimmer sees
little improvement in their best times. Many factors need to be
considered why swimmers experience plateaus, but usually perseverance and
patience will break through.
Points
- Points earned by swimmers at
a championship/scored meets for final place standings in each event and
totaled by team to determine the meet champion. Usually, 1-20 points
for the top 16 places in individual events and 2-40 points for the top 16
places in relay events).
Pool
- The
facility in which practice/training is conducted.
Practice
- The scheduled work-outs (training) a swimmer attends with their swim
team/club.
Prelims
- In a Prelims and Finals (championship) format, those races/heats during
which swimmers qualify to return for the Finals in each event. Prelims are
circle-seeded.
Prelims
and Finals - Competition in
which all the heats in an event are swum (Preliminaries) and the fastest
6, 8 or 10 swimmers (depending on the number of lanes) advance to Finals.
These fastest swimmers compete again to determine the final placing,
points and awards. Most championship and many invitational meets are
Prelims and Finals format.
Pre-seeding
- The process of organizing swimmers into events, heats, and lanes,
usually by computer, prior to the meet (as opposed to deck seeding at the
meet).
Proof
of Time
- Frequently required for entry times at a swim meet. Proof (Official
Results) that a swimmer officially achieved an entry time must be
presented by a coach or team representative if asked to do so by a meet
official.
Psych
Sheet - A printed order of
events by session with swimmers listed in order, usually fastest to
slowest according to their entry times. It does not show heats.
After scratches are turned in, the session is seeded and heat sheets are
printed. Normally used at senior, sectional, and national meets.
Also used at deck seeded meets, but heat sheets aren’t usually printed.
Pull
Buoy - A flotation device used
for pulling by swimmers in practice.
Q
Qualifying
Times (QTs) - Published times
that must be achieved during a given period in order to enter certain
meets.
R
Race
- Any single swimming competition (i.e., preliminary, final, timed final).
Ready
Room
- A room/area on or near poolside for the swimmers to report and relax
before they compete in Finals.
Recall
(false start) Rope
- A rope across the width of the racing pool used to stop swimmers who
were not aware of a false start when the Starter/Referee recalls the heat.
Recorder
- The USA Swimming-certified official responsible for recording the
swimmer’s Official Time and publishing the Official Results (usually, a
parent-volunteer).
Records
- Fastest all-time swims by course/sex/event/age group in an organization,
meet, or pool.
Recovery
- The phase of the arm stroke where the arm travels over the water prior
to the pull. Also, the body cannot work all-out all the time and
needs recovery time. Recovery swims are planned into workouts, and
need to be done after any all-out effort, whether at practice or meets.
The more a swimmer trains, the more rest he/she needs.
Referee
- The head USA Swimming-certified official at a swim meet responsible for
the conduct of the meet (usually, a parent-volunteer).
Registered
- Swimmers must be registered members of USA Swimming (with an ID number)
in order to compete in any sanctioned competition.
Relay
- A swimming event in which four swimmers (of the same sex, usually in the
same age group) participate as a relay team, each swimmer swimming an
equal distance of the race. There are two types of relays:
Medley Relay
- one swimmer swims Backstroke, one swimmer swims Breaststroke,
one swimmer swims Butterfly, one swimmer swims Freestyle, in that
order. Medley
Relays are conducted over 100y/m, 200y/m, and 400y/m distances.
Freestyle Relay - each
swimmer swims Freestyle. Freestyle relays are conducted
over 100y/m, 200y/m, 400y/m, and 800y/m distances.
Rest
Area - A designated area (such
as a gymnasium) that is set aside for swimmers to rest during a meet.
Results
- The official listing by place of finish of the competitors in an event.
It includes the Official Time and any Points scored, as well as
Disqualifications. Host Teams usually also include in the results
any Time Standards achieved by the swimmers. Results are usually
posted in the venue in an accessible location.
Safety
- The responsible and careful actions of those participating in a swim
meet.
Sanction
- A competition or time trial must be sanctioned (approved) by USA
Swimming (through the Local Swim Committee) for the times swum to count
and to be used in other sanctioned meets.
Scoreboard
- An electronic display of the times and place finish by lane of the
competitors in a heat. Some venues have scoreboards that also
display the event
Scratch
- To withdraw from an event after having declared an intention to
participate. In a Prelims and Finals (championship) format, swimmers
who qualify for finals usually have 30 minutes to withdraw if they don’t
wish to participate. Failure to participate in finals without
scratching normally results in disqualification from the rest of the meet.
In a timed finals format, there’s no penalty for missing an event
without scratching.
Sculling
- Skill drills performed with the hands and arms to help swimmers be more
aware of the sweeps and pitches of the hands and arms. Also, the
sculling motions of the feet are important in breaststroke kick.
Seed
- To assign the swimmers to
heats and lanes according to their submitted entry or preliminary times.
Senior
Champs
- In New Jersey Swimming, season-ending championship meets, one in each
course, for senior swimmers (usually, aged 15 and older) who meet the
qualifying times.
Senior
Meet
- A meet that is for senior level swimmers and is not divided into age
groups. Qualification times are usually necessary and will vary depending
on the level of the meet.
Senior
Swimming
- A program for swimmers generally,15 and over.
Session
- Portion of meet distinctly separated from other portions by time
(usually a morning or afternoon set of events for different age groups).
Set
- Swim workouts are divided into sets of swims in a particular stroke,
style, and distance, such as kick sets, pull sets, distance sets, sprint
sets, IM sets, etc with a particular purpose. Sets are given in
terms of the distance to be swum, calculated in yards or meters, depending
on the pool. Therefore, a "set" of "25’s"
means swimming one length of the pool before resting; "50's"
means two lengths, and so on.
Sharpie
- A
pen used to write the E/H/L (event/heat/lane)
Shave
- The removal of all arm, leg, and exposed torso hair, to decrease the
'drag' or resistance of the body moving through the water and to increase
the “feel” for the swimmer. Usually done only at very important
meets.
Short
Course (SC) - A 25-yard or
25-meter pool (or a 50-meter pool divided into a 25-yard/meter course by a
movable bulkhead). The swim year is divided into two seasons: Short
Course season, competed in 25-yard/meter pools during fall and winter, and
Long Course season, competed in 50-meter pools during spring and summer.
See also Long Course (LC).
Simultaneously
- A term used in the rules of butterfly and breaststroke, meaning at the
same time.
Six-Beat
Kick
- Six leg movements during one arm stroke (both arms) in Freestyle for
racing (usually, for sprinting). Similarly, 2- and 4- beat kicks may be
used.
Skill
Drills - Sets in training used
to develop and hone proper stroke techniques by isolating various
components of a specific stroke. Skill drills are used every day
with all swimmers.
Skinsuit
- A slang term for a swimsuit
designed to be very tight-fitting and to have minimum drag in the water.
While most swimmers use the traditional knitted lycra suit for regular
meets, many swimmers use the woven lycra, or "paper", suit
because of its texture. New body suits of improved fabric have
become popular recently. Also, championship suit.
Snack
Bar - The snack concession at a
swim meet. The club/vendor usually has healthy (and sometimes not so
healthy) snacks and drinks for sale.
Sports
Medicine and Science - A
comprehensive use of science and technology to develop better training
methods for athletes. In USA Swimming, the sports medicine and
science program deals with everything from blood and respiratory condition
to the biomechanics of the swimmer to proper nutrition.
Stand
Up -
The command given by the Starter to release the swimmers from their
starting position.
Starter
- The USA Swimming-certified official responsible for signaling the
beginning of a race and ensuring that all swimmers have a fair take-off
(usually, a parent/volunteer).
Start
- The beginning of a race; the dive used to begin a race. Just
before a swimmer’s heat, the Referee will blow a quick series of
whistles to
Start
Position - The swimmer must
take his mark by placing at least one foot at the front of the block.
The most common position is bent over, knees bent, feet shoulder width
apart, but the track start (one foot forward, one foot back) is becoming
popular. However, the swimmer is permitted any position as long as
one foot is at the front of the block and a motionless position is held
prior to the start signal.
Stations
-
Separate portions of a dry land or weight circuit.
Step
Down - The command given by the
Starter to have the swimmers move off the blocks. Usually, this
command is a good indication everything is not right for the race to
start.
Still
Water - Water that has no
current caused by a filtration/recirculation system or no waves caused by
swimmers.
Strategy
- An approach to a race.
The swimmer and coach discuss possible race strategies prior to the swim
... e.g., go out fast and hold it, go out slow and finish hard, build
steadily to a fast finish, race pace (splits), stay close to a certain
swimmer in another lane, etc.
Streamline
- The more swimmers can create a streamlined effect with their bodies, the
more efficient they will be in the water. It often refers to making
the body long and narrow (arms/hands together and outstretched, head down
between arms, feet together pointed back) in the glide off the starts and
walls, but it also applies to all aspects of the strokes.
Stroke
- There are four competitive techniques (strokes): Butterfly,
Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.
Stroke
Judge
- The USA Swimming-certified official positioned at the side of the pool,
walking the length of the course as the swimmers race, responsible for
observing the swim to ensure swimmers follow the stroke rules (usually, a
parent/volunteer).
Stroke
Length
- The length the body travels during one complete stroke cycle.
Stroke
Rate
- The amount of time taken for one complete stroke cycle.
Suit
- The racing costume worn by the swimmer, in the water, during
competition. The Team Suit is usually a standard tight Lycra suit, the
Championship Suit is usually a very tight "paper" suit, and the
Practice Suits are usually loose fitting Lycra suits.
Sweeps
- Refers to the direction and movement of arms through the water in all
strokes and to the legs in breaststroke. Terms such as upsweep,
downsweep, insweep and backsweep are used. Also, the Order of Finish
of a race recorded by the Starter/Sweep Judge.
Swimmer’s
Shoulder (Tendonitis) - Usually
refers to tenderness and soreness in the shoulders caused by repetitive
use (arm overhead). In most cases, with proper care, exercises, and
stroke technique, even severe tendonitis can be controlled.
Swim
Shop - The swim wear concession
at a swim meet. Vendors usually have suits, caps, goggles, t-shirts,
jackets, bags, towels, and other swimming apparel/items for sale.
Swim-Off
- In a Prelims and Finals (championship) format, a second race after the
scheduled event to break a tie between swimmers, in order to determine
which swimmer makes it into which finals heat or the order of the
alternates.
T
Taper
- The resting process in training for swimming competition. Reduced
training volume and intensity gives the body and mind a break from the
rigors of intense training. Coupled with quality rest, it allows the
swimmer’s body time to repair itself and to restore its energy reserves
to prepare for major competition. Studies have found tapering to
produce a marked increase in muscle strength. During the middle of
the swimming season, a swimmer works out several thousand yards/meters
each day. As major competition draws near, usually two to three
weeks out, the swimmer will "taper" off the distances swum each
day. A perfectly designed taper will enable the swimmer to compete
at their peak capability and is one of the most difficult aspects of swim
coaching.
Team
- A USA Swimming registered organization with the mission of providing a
competitive swim program. Also known as a Club.
Tethered
Swimming
- Any form of swimming with added resistance, such as drag suits, buoys,
tubes, and stretch cords.
Timed
Finals - Competition in which
all the heats in an event are swum and the final places, points, and
awards for the event are determined by the resulting times of all swimmers
in all heats. The slower times will be seeded in the first heats
with the fastest times in the last heat. Most age group meets are
timed finals.
Timer
- The
volunteers sitting behind the starting blocks/finish end of pool, who are
responsible for activating the backup buttons for the automatic timing
system and recording the time from a stopwatch.
Time
Standards - Set of times by
course, event, age group, and classification established by USA Swimming
for classifying swimmers for entry into meets (e.g., a 10 year-old girl
who’s best time in the 50y Freestyle is 32.05 seconds is classified as
an “A” swimmer and can’t compete in a BB/B/C/Mini meet in that
event). The time standards are updated every four years and are
based on the Top 16 times for each event/age group. Also, Qualifying
Times.
Time
Trial
- An event swum separate from the regular competition that gives swimmers
the chance to achieve an Official Time, usually in an effort to meet a
Qualifying Time. Time trials are races against time – no places are
determined and no awards are presented.
Timing
- In all strokes, correct timing or coordination of body, arms, legs, and
head is needed to perform at a highly efficient level.
Timing
Judge - The USA
Swimming-certified official responsible for determining the swimmer’s
Official Time (usually, a parent-volunteer).
Timing
System - The method used to
obtain times for races at a swim meet. There are 3 types of timing
systems:
1. manual (stopwatches)
2. semi-automatic - manually-operated buttons of an electronic
timing system
Timing
System Operator - The USA
Swimming-certified official responsible for the setup and operation of the
automatic/electronic timing system (usually, a parent-volunteer).
Top
16 - The top 16 performances in
each course/sex/event/age group published annually by USA Swimming.
Top 16 Reportable times are published at the beginning of the swim year so
that qualifying performances can be compiled and tabulated. The
final lists are published the following year and certificates are awarded
to the swimmers.
Touch
Pad - The removable plate (on
the end of pools) that is connected to an automatic timing system. A
swimmer must touch the touchpad at the end of a race to register a time.
Touch
- At the end of the prescribed distance, the finish of the race.
Transition
- In the Individual Medley event, refers to the turn where the swimmer
finishes one stroke and begins the next stroke (e.g., the transition from
Butterfly to Backstroke) (as opposed to the intermediate turns during each
stroke/leg).
Travel
Fund
- A sum of money set aside by some clubs / LSC’s to offset a portion of
the expenses for travel and entry fees to designated (usually, national
level) meets.
Trophy
-
Awards earned by swimmers / teams at meets for finishing in the top
places. They vary in size, design, and method of presentation.
Turn
Judge - The USA
Swimming-certified official positioned at the ends of the pool responsible
for observing the turn to ensure swimmers follow the turn rules (usually,
a parent/volunteer). Frequently, this official is a Stoke & Turn
Judge watching both the turns and the swim.
Turnover
- The
number of times a swimmer's arms pull/recover (cycle) in a given distance
or time during a race.
Two-Beat
Kick - Two leg movements during
one freestyle stroke (both arms) for racing (usually, in distance events).
Similarly, 4- and 6- beat kicks may be used.
U
Unattached
- A registered swimmer who is not attached to a registered
Underwater
Pullout
- Long, full arm stroke past the hips used in breaststroke out of the
start and off the walls on the turns.
Underwater
Recovery - In Butterfly, a
violation of the stroke rules when the arms fail to recover over the
water. Usually seen at the walls in the turns and the finish when
the swimmer miscalculates the distance to the wall and during the swim by
younger, inexperienced swimmers.
Uniform
- The various parts of clothing a swimmer wears at a meet. May
include: Team Parka, Team Warm-up suit, Team T-shirt, Team suit, Team cap,
goggles, Team bag, etc.
Unofficial
Time - The time displayed on a scoreboard or read over the PA system by
the announcer immediately after the race. After the time has been
checked and adjusted, if necessary, it will become the official time.
V
Venue
- The facility in which a swimming competition is conducted.
Vertical
- At a right angle to the horizontal plane (water surface).
Warm-up
- The stretching exercises and practice session a swimmer does before the
meet or their event to get their muscles loose and ready to race.
Essential to the prevention of injury.
Watch
- The hand held device (stopwatch) used by timers and coaches for timing a
swimmer’s race and taking splits.
Weights
- The various barbells, benches, machines, etc. used by swimmers during
their dry land training. Also, training sessions in the 'Weight
Room'.
Whistle
- The sound a Referee makes to signal for quiet before they give the
command to start the race.
Work
Out - The practice/training
sessions a swimmer attends.
X
No
Entries
Yardage
- The distance a swimmer races or swims in practice. Total yardage is
usually calculated for each practice session.
Z
Zone
- One of 4 administrative divisions of USA Swimming with supervisory
responsibilities within certain geographical boundaries designated by USA
Swimming. New Jersey Swimming is in the Eastern Zone.
Zones
- Eastern Zone All-Star Championship Meet contested twice a year at the
end of each season. In Short Course, the LSC teams consists of the
top two swimmers in each event/age group. In Long Course, swimmers
must meet qualifying times (usually AAA).
Zoomer - A special fin used for swimming and kicking.
Wet Floor
Water Polo
"Pain is weakness leaving the body."