Aquatic Terminology
It makes a swim meet more interesting if you know what is going on. The following terms will help you get acquainted with swim team lingo.
Anchor: The final swimmer in a relay.
Backstroke: The primary rule is that a swimmer must be on his or her back. The swimmer is allowed to roll onto the chest before turning.
Breaststroke: This is the most formalized of the strokes. On starts and turns, the swimmer may pull in any fashion that always keeps the arms underwater and is simultaneous movement of both arms. The kick must sweep out, and then end with a “frog kick” motion in a simultaneous movement of both legs. The swimmer is not allowed to flutter or dolphin kick (any up and down motions with the feet). When touching the walls for turns and finishes, both hands must touch at the same time.
Butterfly: The butterfly is similar to the breaststroke in that all movements must be simultaneous. The swimmer must bring his arms over the top of the water when recovering from the last pull. The kick must be simultaneous, up and down movement of both legs and both hands must touch the wall at the same time.
Circle Swim: Done when there are two swimmers in a lane. Swimmers swim up on the right side staying close to the lane line and return on the other in the same fashion. Always stay to the right of the lane. This is referred to as lane etiquette, which includes other matters involving common courtesy.
Clerk of Course: Location where swimmers report to check-in and receive lane assignments.
DQ (Disqualified): A swimmer who commits a stroke violation or fails to touch properly.
False Start: Any swimmer who is not motionless when the starting whistle is blows or who leaves early, is charged with a false start. Any swimmer charged with two false starts is disqualified from the particular event.
Freestyle: In most cases, there are two rules to follow:
- Swimmer must touch the wall with some part of their body when making a turn. When executing a flip turn, the feet must touch the wall in the push- off.
- Swimmer may do anything to get from one end of the pool to the other. Nothing is barred, except pulling along lane lines, grabbing another swimmer or pushing off the bottom of the pool.
Heat: A division of an event in which there are too many swimmers to compete at one time.
Heat Sheet: Master printout of all swimmers by heat and lane in which they will swim.
I.M.: Slang for individual medley, an event in which the swimmer uses all four strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
Lane Lines: Continuous floating markers attached to a line stretched from the starting end of the pool to the turning end of the pool, for the purpose of separating each lane.
Leg (relay): The part of a relay event that is swum by a single team member.
Meet: Competition designed to be a learning experience. By implementing what has been learned in practice, the swimmer tests himself against the clock to see how he is improving.
NT: No time. The abbreviation used on a heat sheet to designate that the swimmer has not swam that event before.
Short Course: Usually a 25-meter pool.
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. Only at Championship Meet.
Relay: An event in which 4 swimmers compete together as a team to achieve one time.
Starting Block: The platform the swimmer stands on to begin a race.
Stroke and Turn Judges: Are usually on both ends of the pool and ensure swimmers follow the rules pertaining to each stroke style, turn and wall touch.
Warning Flags: Located 15 feet from each end of the pool and strung across the pool above the water, indicating to backstroke swimmers that they are nearing the end of the pool.
