Swimming

Distances

8 and under swimmers swim one lap (25 yards) in any stroke, except for the individual medley which is 25 yards of each stroke or 100 yards total. 9 and up swimmers swim two laps (50 yards) in any stroke, except for the individual medley (again 100 yards).

Turns

A swimmer who is swimming more than one length of the pool in an event must perform a legal turn at each wall to continue the race. Each stroke has its own turn requirements, which are taught in practice. Turns are needed in the individual medleys, and 50 yard distances for the older swimmers.

Relays

A swimming event in which four swimmers participate as a team. Each swimmer completes an equal distance of the race.

IM

A swimming event using all four of the competitive strokes on consecutive lengths of the race. The order must be: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle. Equal distances must be swam of each stroke. Distances offered: 100 yards, 200 yards/meters, 400 yards/meter.

Seed

Assign the swimmers heats and lanes according to their submitted or preliminary times.

Open Competition

Competition which any qualified club, organization, or individual may enter.

Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Freestyle.

What is the order of the strokes in a Medley relay?

BK or bk

What is the shorthand for backstroke?

BR or br or brst

What is the shorthand for breaststroke?

FL or fl

What is the shorthand for butterfly?

FR or fr

What is the shorthand for freestyle?

Anchor

The final swimmer in a relay.

Heat

When an event has more swimmers entered than available lanes, as is usually the case, there are multiple heats of the event.

Event

This is defined by the age group, sex and swimming stroke, such as Boys' 9-10 Backstroke. The number of these at each meet varies.

Finishes

This is how a swimmer ends the race by touching the wall in a legal way depending upon the stroke.

Starts

This is the entry into the water (generally a dive) or the beginning of the backstroke (push off back dive) at the sound of the starting gun.

Heat Sheet

This is the official schedule of swimmers in their assigned events, heats and lanes drawn up by the coaches. It is usually sold at the meet so that swimmers can see where they will swim.

Heat Winner

This is the person who comes in first in a particular heat of an event. This does not automatically mean that the swimmer has also won the event, since there are usually multiple heats for any event.

Seeding

This refers to the heat and lane assignment of the swimmer. Swimmers are arranged (seeded) by the best times, with the slowest swimmers in heat 1 and so forth. Further, the fastest swimmers are seeded in the middle of the pool outward.

Short Course

A 25-yard or 25-meter pool.

Long Course

A 50-meter pool.

Pull Buoy

A basic piece of swimming equipment used to improve a swimmer's power. Typically held between the thighs to float the hips and legs at the surface of the water. A flotation device used for pulling by swimmers in practice.

Heats

A division of an event when there are too many swimmers to compete at the same time. The results are compiled by swimmers time swum, after all heats of the event are completed.

Meet

A series of events held in one program.

Interval

A specific elapsed time for swimming or rest used during swim practice.

Freestyle relay

Each swimmer swims freestyle.

Lap

One length of the course. Sometimes may also mean down and back (2 lengths) of the course.

Medley relay

One swimmer swims Backstroke, one swimmer swims Breaststroke, one swimmer swims Butterfly, one swimmer swims Freestyle, in that order.

Streamline

Position a swimmer assumes at the start of a lap in which their body and arms are straight with the elbows behind the ears arms squeezing the back of the head.

Pulling

The action of swimming with a buoy. Only the arms are used for forward momentum.

Mark

The command to take your starting position.

Starter

The official in charge of signaling the beginning of a race and insuring that all swimmers have a fair takeoff.

Leg

The part of a relay event swum by a single team member. A single stroke in the IM.

Shave

The process of removing all arm, leg, and exposed torso hair, to decrease the "drag" or resistance of the body moving through the water. Used only by Seniors at very important (Championship) meets.

Mile

The slang referring to the 1500 meter or the 1650 yard freestyle, both of which are slightly short of a mile.

Medley and Freestyle

What are the two types of relays?

Individual Medley

What does IM stand for?

Four lengths of the pool

What is a 100?

One length of the pool

What is a 25?

Two lengths of the pool

What is a 50?

Three lengths of the pool

What is a 75?