Swimming Terminologies PDF

SWIMMING T ERMINOLOGIES  Age Group Division of swimmers according to age. The National Age Group divisions are: 10 -under, 11- 12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18. S ome LS Cs have divided the swimmers into more convenient division specific to their situations: (i.e.) 8-under, 13- over,15-over,...

SWIMMING T ERMINOLOGIES  Age Group Division of swimmers according to age. The National Age Group divisions are: 10 -under, 11- 12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18. S ome LS Cs have divided the swimmers into more convenient division specific to their situations: (i.e.) 8-under, 13- over,15-over, Junior, S enior.  A lt ernat es In a Prelims/Finals meet, after the finalist are decided, the next two fastest swimmers other than the finalist are designated as alternates. The faster of the two being the first alternate and the next being second alternate. If a finalist cannot participate, the alternates are called to take their place.  A quat ics water activities of all kinds: swimming, diving, skiing, surfing, scuba diving, water games, synchronized swimming, boating and sailing.  Arm Recovery Swinging the arm above the surface up to the initial start in the pool. Bobbing / Bubbling is a process of raising the head from beneath the surface and then submerging again in rhythmical pattern. To take air through the mouth above the surface of the water and breath out the air through the nose under water.  Backstroke One of the four competitive racing strokes, basically any style of swimming on your back. Backstroke is swum as the first stroke in the Medley Relay and second stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 5 0 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200yards/meter (LSCs with 8- under divisions offer the 25 yd backs).  Blocks The starting platforms located behind each lane. Minimum water depth for use of starting blocks is 4 feet. Blocks have a variety of designs and can be permanent or removable.  Buoyancy Property or tendency of the body that makes floating possible.  Breaststroke One of the four competitive racing strokes. Breaststrokes is swim as the second stroke in the Medley Relay and the third stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 5 0 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 2 0 0 yards/meter. (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yards breast.  Breathing means moving air into and out of the lungs.  Butterfly One of the four competitive racing strokes. Butterfly (nicknamed FLY) is swam as the third stroke in the Medley Relay and first stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 5 0 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and200 yards/meter. (LSCs with 8- under divisions offer the 25 yards fly).  Carbohydrates The main source of food energy used by athletes. Refer to a Nutritional Manual for more information.  Championship Finals The top six or eight swimmers (depending on the number of pool lanes) in a Prelims/Finals meet who, after the prelims are swum, qualify to return to the Finals. The fastest heat of finals when multiple heats are held.  Course Designated distance (length of pool) for swimming competition. (ie) Long Course= 5 0 meters/ Short Course= 25 yards or 25 meters.  Cy cle complete movement of both arms and legs in executing a total stroke.  Catch / Catch point It is the movement when the hand starts to exert pressure on the water during an arm stroke.  Deck The area around the swimming pool reserved for swimmers, officials, and coaches.  Dehydration The abnormal depletion of body fluids (water). The most common cause of swimmers cramps and sick feelings.  Dist ance How far a swimmer swims to other swimmers.  Disqualified A swimmer’s performance is not counted because of a rules infraction. A disqualification is shown by an official raising one arm with open hand above their head.  Diving Well A separate pool or a pool set off to the side of the competition pool. This pool has deeper water and diving boards/platforms. During a meet, this area may be designated as a warm-down pool with proper supervision.  Dolphin Kick A swimming kick used mainly in butterfly in which the legs are extended straight back and moved up and down in unison with a slight bend in the knees on the upward movement.  Dry land The exercises and various strength programs swimmers do out of the water.  Ent ry An individual, relay team, or club roster’s event list in a swim competition.  Entry Limit Each meet will usually have a limit of total swimmers they can accept, or a time limit they cannot exceed. Once an entry limit has been reached, a meet will be closed and all other entries returned.  Event A race or stroke over a given distance. An event equals 1 preliminary with its final, or 1timed final.  Exhale To breath out air through the nose.  False Start When a swimmer leaves the starting block before the horn or gun. One false start will disqualify a swimmer or a relay team, although the starter or referee may disallow the false start due to unusual circumstances.  False Start Rope A recall rope across the width of the racing pool for the purpose of stopping swimmers who were not aware of a false start. The rope is about ½ way on yard pools and about 5 0 feet from the starting end on meter pools.  F INA The international rules-making organization for the sport of swimming.  F lags P ennants that are suspended over the width of each end of the pool approximately 15 feet from the wall.  F loat To sustain the body position with little or no movement.  Flutter Kick To move the legs alternately downward, originating from the hips down to the toes which are slightly pointing toward or inward, while the knees and ankles are held flexible.  Freestyle One of the four competitive racing strokes. Freestyle (nicknamed FREE) is swum as the fourth stroke in the Medley Relay and fourth stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 5 0 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 2 0 0 yards/meter, 4 0 0 meter/500 yards, 8 0 0 meter/1000 yards, 1500 meter/165 0 yards(LS Cs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yards free)  Frog Kick This kick is a swimming action sometime used by scuba divers when they are swimming near a soft silty seabed or lakebed which they do not want to stir up damaging the visibility.  Gliding To move smoothly and continuously under water. Arrow- like-position as the body moves thru water with no leg action.  Goggles Glasses-type devices worn by swimmers to keep their eyes from being irritated by the chlorine in the water.  Heat Award A ribbon, coupon, or other prize given to the winner of a single heat at an age group swim meet.  Highest Point An award given to the swimmer scoring the most points in a given age group at a swim meet. All meets do not offer high point awards:check the pre meet information.  Illegal Doing something against the rules that is cause for disqualification.  I.M Individual Medley. A swimming event using all four of the competitive strokes on consecutive lengths f the race. The order must be: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle. Equal distances must be swim of each stroke. Distances offered: 100 yards, 200 yards/meters, and 4 0 0 yards/meter.  Inhale To take air through the mouth.  J ump An illegal start done by the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th member of a relay team. The swimmer on the block breaks contact with the block before the swimmer in the water touches the wall.  Kick It is the part of the stroke performed by legs and feet.  Kickboard A flotation device used by swimmers during practice.  Lane The specific area in which a swimmer is assigned to swim. (ie) Lane 1and Lane 2  Lane line Continuous floating markers attached to a cable stretched from the starting end to the turning end for the purpose of separating each lane and quieting the waves caused by racing swimmers.  Lap One length of the course. S ometimes may also mean down and back (2 lengths) of the course.  Medley A combination of strokes or distances in individual and relay events.  No Time NT- No Time. The abbreviation used on a heat sheet to designate that the swimmer has not swum that event before.  Officials The certified adult volunteers who operate the many facets of a swim competition.  Pace Clock The electronic clocks or 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 warm-ups or swim practice.  Paddle Colored plastic devices worn on the swimmers hands during swim practice.  Pull Buoy A flotation device used for pulling by swimmers in practice.  Qualifying Times A room pool side for the swimmers to relax before they compete in finals.  Recovery means movements which return the limb to the position from which they started.  Relay s A swimming event in which four swimmers participate as a team. Each swimmer completes an equal distance of the race.  2 Types of Relay Medley Relay- One swimmer swims Backstrokes, one swimmer swims Breaststrokes, one swimmer swims Butterfly, one swimmer swims Freestyles, in that order. Medley Relays are conducted over 2 0 0 yd/mtr and 400yd/mtr distances. Freestyle relay- Each swimmer swims Freestyle. Free relays are conducted over 2 0 0 yd/mtr, 4 0 0 yd/mtr, and 8 0 0 yd/mtr distances.  Sculling to propel oneself in water by using hands in figure eight.  St art er The official in charge of signaling the beginning of a race and insuring that all swimmers have a fair takeoff.  Stand Up The command given by the Starter or Referee to release the swimmers from their starting position.  Step - Down The command given by the Starter or Referee to have the swimmers move off the blocks. Usually this command is a good indication everything is not right for the race to start.  St roke There are 4 competitive strokes: Butterfly, Backstrokes, Breaststrokes and Freestyle  Swim - o f f In a Prelims/Finals type competition, a race after the scheduled event to break a tie. The only circumstance that warrants a swim-off is to determine which swimmer makes finals or an alternate, otherwise ties stand.  Touch Pad The removable plate (on the end of pools) that is connected to an automatic timing system. A swimmer must properly touch the touchpad to register an official time in a race.  T urn Turn around at the end of the pool or course.  Y ards The measurement of the length of a swimming pool that was built per specs using the American system. A short course yard pool is 25 yards (75feet) in length. Thank you!