Glossary
Age Group Swimming
The program through which USA provides fair and open competition for its younger members. It is designed to encourage maximum participation, provide an education experience, enhance physical and mental conditioning, and develop a rich base of swimming talent. Nationally recognized age groups are: 10 & Under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 and 15-18. Local meets may also include events for 8 & Unders.
Anchor
The swimmer to swim the last leg of a relay.
Backstroke
The name of a swimming stroke executed on the back consisting of alternating circular arm pulls and a flutter kick.
Backstroke Flags
A string of pennants stretched over the pool so that when performing the backstroke, swimmers will know how far away the wall is in order to successfully execute their turns and finishes.
Block
The starting platform used at the commencement of a race in competition.
Breaststroke
The name of the swimming stroke executed in a prone position by extending both arms in front of the head beneath the water surface while drawing the knees forward and outward and then sweeping the arms back with palms out while kicking outward and backward. To be performed legally, the arms must remain above the waist and there can be no flutter in the kick. The kick appears easy, but is difficult for young swimmers to master.
Bulkhead
An upright removable partition designed to divide a pool into different sized pools (or “courses”), such as dividing one 50-meter pool into two 25-yard pools.
Butterfly
The name of the swimming stroke executed in a prone position by simultaneously moving both arms in a circular motion above the water surface while kicking the legs up and down simultaneously (i.e., a dolphin-like kick). This stroke requires a great deal of proper timing and strength. To be performed legally, both arms must go above the water at the same time and both legs (with the angles held together) must kick together.
Check-In
A swimmer or parent must validate their presence at a meet prior to and/or during warm-up in order to not be withdrawn from the scheduled events, check-in is mandatory for USA meets, required at Dual meets and maybe required by host team of YMCA Invitationals. Check-in is often located at marshalling or on-deck at a specific table.
Circle Seeding
A method of “seeding” swimmers in a swimming event that enables the fastest swimmers entered in that event to compete in the center lanes in order to experience less resistance (drag) in the water. Entrants in the event with the fastest times are placed in the two center lanes of each heat; entrants in the event with the next fastest times are then placed in the two outside adjacent lanes of the center lanes of each heat, etc. This seeding method is most often utilized in championship meets with a prelim/final format.
Circle Swimming
A method of swimming in one lane shared by more than one swimmer. Traffic flow within the lane is controlled by each swimmer swimming in a circle within the same lane.
Code of Conduct
An agreement signed by a swimmer, stating that the swimmer will abide by certain behavioral guidelines.
Cut
Slang terminology describing a qualifying time cut. A time standard necessary to enter a particular swim meet or event.
Deck Entry
Entry into a swim meet on the pool deck on the day of the meet. Due to paperwork difficulties, this sometimes may mean that the swimmer must swim in the slowest heat and may be ineligible for awards, depending upon the format established prior to the meet.
Deck Seeding
A method of “seeding” swimmers in a swimming event that categorizes swimmers into heats according to each swimmer’s best time, from slowest to fastest (i.e., the slowest swimmers compete in the first heat and the fastest swimmers compete in the last heat of the swimming event). Entrants are “reseeded” on the pool deck at the swim meet, if necessary, based upon those entrants who are actually present at the time of the meet in order to eliminate entrants from the heats who are not present.
Disqualification (DQ)
A swimmer is disqualified as a result of a violation of the rules governing strokes, starts, turns, etc. A disqualified swimmers’ time is not counted for place or points. Examples are:
• One handed touch at the wall in Breaststroke or Butterfly
• Rolling onto the stomach during any part of the Backstroke other than turn
• False start or starting before the gun sounds in an individual event
• Leaving the blocks or wall in a relay before the prior swimmer touches the wall
• Performing a flutter kick during the Butterfly
• Performing a scissor kick during the Breaststroke
• Pulling hands down past the breast line in the Breaststroke except at start
• Taking more than one underwater stroke at the start or after the turn in Breaststroke
• Head not breaking the waterline with each stroke during the Breaststroke
Drag
Resistance in the water that retards motion.
Drill
A swimming exercise or specific maneuver, sometimes performed in the water, involving a portion of a stroke, used to improve technique.
Dry Land Training
Exercise training performed out of the water (i.e., on dry land) that assists in developing strength and endurance to aid and enhance swimming performance; usually includes stretching, calisthenics and/or weight training.
Dual Meet
A swim meet between two teams which depending on the number of competitors will last about 4 hours, not including warm-up time.
Electronic Timing
An electronic timing system existing partially in and partially out of the water utilized to accurately record each swimmer’s time for a race. The electronic timing system is used in conjunction with computer software to facilitate the most accurate compilation of the “official results” of the meet (i.e., times and placement for all events swum). Large “touch pads” are placed slightly beneath water level that register each swimmer’s time immediately upon contact with some portion of the swimmer’s body at the conclusion of the race. Young swimmers are notorious for not touching the pads hard enough, so often three back-up timers are used to record their times.
Entry Form
A form on which pertinent information regarding a swimmer is completed and used to enter a swim meet. Usually includes name, age group, USA Identification number, sex, event number and fastest time swum in the past for each event.
Exhibition
An exhibition swimmer is one who competes in an event where their time is recorded but whose finish position is not scored for points, common in dual meets. Exhibition times do count as qualifying times toward meets such as State and Zone. Coaches still need times from these events, so swimmers should put forth their best effort.
False Start
An illegal start at the commencement of a race that occurs when a swimmer is moving, in any way, prior to the sound of the official “start” of the race (signified by the starting gun or the “beep” from the electronic timing system). At a USS swim meet, swimmers are allowed only one false start which results in disqualification from the race. At some other swim meets, swimmers are allowed two false starts before disqualification occurs.
Final
The championship heat of an event in which the top six or eight qualifying swimmers (depending upon the number of lanes in the pool) from the preliminary meet compete.
Finish
Signified by swimmers touching the wall at the end of a race.
Flip Turn
A somersault turn, the fastest turn used in freestyle.
Free or Freestyle
The name of a competitive swimming event in which the competitor is given more latitude than in related events (i.e., the swimmer is “free” to swim a stroke of their choice). However, the term is more commonly used to describe the competitive swimming stroke otherwise known as the “front crawl” or “crawl.”
Heat
A group of swimmers comprising a portion of those swimmers entered in a single event of a swim meet. Often more swimmers enter one event than can compete simultaneously due to pool size limitations. In other words, if twenty swimmers enter Event No. 20 and the venue consists of an eight-lane pool, not all swimmers may race at the same time. The entrants are then divided into “heats” based on speed. Typically, the slowest swimmers will compete in the first heat and the fastest swimmers in the last heat. Times swum for each participant in that event are then analyzed determining placement (finish order) in the event.
Heat Sheet
Slang terminology describing a printed “program” for a swim meet that indicates the type and order of occurrence of each swim event (including the participants’ names and fastest time swum in the past) listed in order of appearance by “heat.” These listings allow participants and spectators to see where each swimmer is “seeded” in an event. Sometimes swimmers’ ages as well as specific lane assignments are included, making it easier to follow the meet and locate certain swimmers. Often other pertinent information is included in the heat sheet, such as a listing of the teams participating in the meet, the names of the head coach for each team and number of swimmers entered from each team; qualifying times for various championship meets; and various advertisements.
I.M.
Slang terminology describing a swim event called the Individual Medley. Participants in this event are required to swim each of the four swimming strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
Interval
A specific time interval determined by the coaching staff within which swimmers are required to perform specific maneuvers or stroke drills during a training session. Interval training is a technique used to assist in gaining endurance and overall conditioning of the swimmers.
Invitational
A meet sponsored by a team in which three or more teams are invited to participate.
Junior Nationals
National level swim meets held in both short-course and long-course seasons; one of each to be held on the eastern side of the United States and one of each to be held on the western side of the United States, limited to swimmers 18 years of age and under. Qualifying standards must be met, and swimmers are limited to entry in four individual events and three relays.
Lap Counter
A set of plastic display numbers that is used to facilitate in counting the number of a swimmer’s laps swum during a long distance race. Also can be used to refer to the person stationed at the “turn end” of the pool, who is performing the duty of selecting the appropriate plastic display number and submerging it beneath water level in order to communicate with the swimmer and assist in counting the number of laps swum.
Long Course
A swimming pool that is 50 meters in length. USA conducts most of its outdoor summer competition in long course pools.
Marshalling
A process utilized in age group swimming to facilitate the flow of swimmers to the starting blocks promptly and in an orderly fashion in order to keep the meet moving along at a reasonably quick pace. Upon arrival at a swim meet, parents and swimmers should immediately familiarize themselves with both the marshalling area and procedure utilized by the host swim club to inform participants when events are being marshaled. When a swimmer’s event number is being “marshaled,” the swimmer should go directly to the marshalling area and check in. Swimmers are then organized by lane and heat and escorted to the starting blocks by workers of the host club at the appropriate time.
Meet
Slang terminology referring to a swim meet.
National Age Group “Top 16” Times
A set of time standards set for both short- and long-course swim meets based upon previous years’ achievements. Only times meeting these standards may be submitted to USS each year for consideration of a national “Top 16” ranking.
National Age Group Time Standards
A set of time standards (qualifying times) derived from previous years’ results that are broken down by age and sex, as well as by “B,” “A,” “AA,” “AAA,” and “AAAA” divisions. These time designations are national in nature and may be used for entry or qualifying purposes at various swim meets.
Negative Split
A technique or strategy of swimming the second half of a race at a time which is equal to or faster than the time swum in the first half of the race.
Official
A judge who patrols the deck of the pool at a sanctioned swim competition who enforces the set of rules chosen to govern that particular swim meet.
Open Turn
A turn in which the swimmers head is kept above the surface of the water allowing a breath to be taken during the turn. This turn is used in the breaststroke and butterfly.
Pace Clock
A large clock containing a large “second” hand and a smaller “minute” hand that is used to check swimmers’ pace or maintain time intervals at swim practice (may also be digital in nature).
Pre-Seeding
A method of “seeding” swimmers in a swimming event that categorizes swimmers into heats according to each swimmer’s best time, from slowest to fastest (i.e., the slowest swimmers compete in the first heat and the fastest swimmers compete in the last heat of the swimming event). This method differs from “deck seeding” in that entrants are not “reseeded” on the pool deck at the swim meet, if necessary, based upon those entrants who are actually present at the time of the meet in order to eliminate entrants from the heats who are not present. Those lanes
Prelims
Slang terminology referring to the preliminary races, heats or trials in which swimmers qualify for the championship and consolation final races of an event.
Proof of Times
Some championship meets require that entry times for swimmers be proven prior to competition. This is done by providing the officials at the championship meet with a copy of the official meet results (signed by the meet referee) from the meet in which the entry time was attained.
Q-Time
Slang terminology referring to a qualifying time necessary to be achieved in order to enter and compete in a particular event and/or competition.
Relay
A swimming event in which four swimmers compete together as a team achieving one time.
Scratch
To withdraw from a swimming event in a swim competition.
Seed
One’s ranking among a group of competitors in a sporting event (i.e., in one event of a swim meet). There are three different methods utilized such as Circle Seeding, Deck Seeding and Pre-Seeding]
Short Course
A pool consisting of 25 yards or 25 meters in length. USA and YMCA conducts most of their winter competition in short course pools.
Split
A swimmer’s intermediate time in a race. Splits are registered every 50 yards or meters and are used to determine if a swimmer is on record pace according to a goal. Under certain conditions, splits may also be counted as official times. In a relay, the time swum for one of the four individuals comprising the relay team.
Streamline
A position in which the swimmer’s body is as straight and tight as it can possibly be. The arms are positioned above the head with elbows locked, hand over hand. The head is tucked down between the arms and the legs are held together tightly with knees locked and toes pointed. This technique is used to reduce drag, gaining maximum distance beneath the water during a “start” and/or “push off” from the wall.
Swim Meet
A sporting event organized by a swim team or swimming body in which certain swimming events are designated and established for swimmers to enter and compete. Some swim meets employ the use of qualifying times required for entry. Competition is designed to serve as a learning experience and to serve as a measure of improvement for swimmers. By implementing what has been learned and achieved in practice, swimmers test themselves against the clock in an effort to achieve certain goals established by the swimmer in conjunction with the coaching staff.
Taper
A process utilized in training in which workout intensity is gradually reduced just prior to championship competition to allow the swimmer’s body and mind to rest and recover from rigorous training (facilitating the process of rebuilding and increasing muscle mass).
Time Trials
A special event held after a meet that allows a swimmer to try to qualify for a Championship meet. A fee is usually charged per time trial event.
Touch Pad
A large sensitive board placed slightly beneath water level on the wall at the “finish end” of the pool that registers each swimmer’s time immediately upon contact with some portion of the swimmer’s body at the conclusion of a race. Touch pads are used in conjunction with computer software to facilitate the most accurate compilation of each swimmer’s “official” time.
USA
An abbreviation for United States of America Swimming, Inc., the national governing body for amateur competitive swimming in the United States.
Warm Down
A technique constituting the final phase of a training session in which low intensity swimming is used by swimmers in order to rid the body of excess lactic acid, and to gradually reduce heart rate and respiration. May also be utilized immediately after competing in a race.
Warm-up
A technique constituting the initial phase of a training session in which low intensity swimming is used by swimmers prior to the middle phase of a training session to warm muscles and loosen muscle tone and gradually increase heart rate and respiration. It is also utilized immediately prior to competition.
