Glossary of Swimming Terms

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To see a more extensive glossary, visit the USA Swimming website at: www.usaswimming.org

"A" Time Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Time Standard "A". "A" time is .01 seconds faster than the "BB" time standard and .01 slower than the "AA" time standard. See the NAGT published chart.

"AA" Time Time classification for a swimmer. .01 faster than "A" time standard.

A-Meet Swim meet which requires swimmers to have previously achieved an "A" time standard in the events they wish to enter.

A/B Meet Swim meet that offers separate competition for both "A" swimmers and "B" swimmers, usually with medals for the "A" swimmers and ribbons for the "B" swimmers. Swimmers compete in separate brackets against other swimmers of their own ability. Usually only "A" swimmers can score individual event team points.

C/B/A Meet Swim meet similar to the A-B meet except that there are 3 divisions. This type of meet includes every ability level of swimmer from Novice to very experienced. All swimmers "A" time or faster compete in the "A" division, and all swimmers "C" and down compete in the "C" division. The "B" division is the most limited with both top (.01 slower than "A") and bottom (.01 faster than "C") limitations.

Age Group Division of swimmers according to age. The National Age Group divisions are: 10-under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16,17-18. Some LSCs have divided the swimmers into more convenient divisions specific to their situations: (i.e.) 8-under, 13-Over, 15-Over, Junior, Senior.

Approved Meet A meet conducted with sufficient USA Swimming officials to certify conformance to USA Swimming rules. The meet may include competitors who are not USA Swimming members. The meet may be a competition sanctioned at the LSC level with the added approval of USA Swimming because both member and non-member athletes will be competing.

"B" Time Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Time Standard "B". "B" time is .01 seconds faster than the "C" time standard and .01 slower than the "BB" time standard. See the NAGT published chart.

"BB" Time Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Time Standard "BB". "BB" time is .01 seconds faster than the "B" time standard and .01 slower than the "A" time standard. See the NAGT published chart.

Check-In The procedure required before a swimmer swims an event in a deck seeded meet. Sometimes referred to as positive check in, the swimmer must mark their name on a list posted by the meet host.

Deck The area around the swimming pool reserved for swimmers, officials, and coaches. No one but an "authorized" USA Swimming member may be on the deck during a swim competition.

Deck Entries Accepting entries into swimming events on the first day or later day of a meet.

Deck Seeding Swimmers report to a bull pen or staging area and receive their lane and heat assignments for the events.

Distance How far a swimmer swims. Distances for short course are: 25 yards (1 length), 50 yards (2 lengths),100 yards (4 lengths), 200 yards (8 lengths), 400 yards (16 lengths), 500 yards (20 lengths), 1000 yards (40 lengths), 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).

Disqualified A swimmers 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.
Dive Entering the water head first. Diving is not allowed during warm-ups except at the designated time, in specific lanes that are monitored by the swimmers coach.

Dual Meet Type of meet where two (2) teams/clubs compete against each other.

Dropped Time When a swimmer goes faster than the previous performance they have "dropped their time".

Dryland The exercises and various strength programs swimmers do out of the water.

Entry Fees The amount per event a swimmer or relay is charged. This varies depending on the LSC and type of meet.

Entry Limit Each meet will usually have a limit of total swimmers they can accept, or a time limit they can not exceed.Once an entry limit has been reached, a meet will be closed and all other entries returned.

Electronic Timing Timing system operated on DC current (battery). The timing system usually has touchpads in the water, junction boxes on the deck with hook up cables, buttons for backup timing, and a computer type console that prints out the results of each race. Some systems are hooked up to a scoreboard that displays swimmers.

Eligible to compete The status of a member swimmer that means they are registered and have met all the requirements.

Equipment The items necessary to operate a swim practice or conduct a swim competition.

Event A race or stroke over a given distance. An event equals 1 preliminary with its final, or 1 timed final.

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.

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 swam, after all heats of the event are completed.

Heat Award A ribbon or coupon given to the winner of a single heat at an age group swim meet.

Illegal Doing something against the rules that is cause for disqualification.

IM Individual Medley. A swimming event using all 4 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.

Insurance USA Swimming offers "accident insurance coverage" which is automatic when swimmer, coach, official, pays their USA-S membership fee. Many restrictions apply, so check with your club for detailed information.

Invitational Meet Type of meet that requires a club to request an invitation to attend the meet.

J.O. Meet Junior Olympics. An age group championship meet conducted by the LSC.

Juniors Meet A USA-S Championship meet for swimmers 18 years old or less. Qualification times are necessary. This meet is scheduled to resume in August of 2005.

Lane Lines 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. Sometimes may also mean down and back (2 lengths) of the course.

Lap Counter The large numbered cards (or the person turning the cards) used during the freestyle events 500 yards or longer. Counting is done from the end opposite the starting end. The numbers on the cards are "odd numbers" only with the final lap being designated by a bright orange card.

Late Entries Meet entries from a club or individual that are received by the meet host after the entry deadline. These entries are usually not accepted and are returned to sender.

Long Course A 50 meter pool.

Meet A series of events held in one program.

Nationals USA Swimming National Championship meet conducted in March/April and August.

Observed Meet A meet that is not conducted according to USA Swimming rules (high school, YMCA) where a request for observation has been processed and approved in advance. Sufficient USA Swimming officials are present to certify that the athletes' swims are in compliance with USA Swimming technical rules.

Officials The certified, adult volunteers, who operate the many facets of a swim competition.

Olympic Trials The USA-S sanctioned long course swim meet held the year of the Olympic Games to decide what swimmers will represent the USA on our Olympic Team. Qualification times are faster than Senior Nationals.

OT Official Time. The swimmers event time recorded to one hundredth of a second (.01).

OTC Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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

Parka Large 3/4 length fur lined coats worn by swimmers. Usually are in team colors with logo or team name.

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.

Prelims Session of a Prelims/Finals meet in which the qualification heats are conducted.

Prelims-Finals Type of meet with two sessions. The preliminary heats are usually held in the morning session. The fastest 6 or 8 (Championship Heat) swimmers, and the next fastest 6 or 8 swimmers (Consolation Heat) return in the evening to compete in the Finals. A swimmer who has qualified in the Consolation Finals may not place in the Championship Finals even if their finals time would place them so. The converse also applies.

Pre-seeded A meet conducted without a bull pen in which a swimmer knows what lane and heat they are in by looking at the Meet heat sheet or posted meet program.

Qualifying Times Published times necessary to enter certain meets, or the times necessary to achieve a specific category of swimmer. See "A" "AA" (etc.) times.

Race Any single swimming competition. (Ie) preliminary, final, timed final.

Referee The head official at a swim meet in charge of all of the "Wet Side" administration and decisions.

Registered Enrolled and paid as a member of USA-S and the LSC.

Relays A swimming event in which 4 swimmers participate as a relay team each swimmer swimming an equal distance of the race. There are two types of relays: 1.) 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 200 yd/mtr and 400 yd/mtr distances. 2.) Freestyle relay - Each swimmer swims freestyle. Free relays are conducted over 200 yd/mtr, 400 yd/mtr, and 800 yd/mtr distances.

Sanction A permit issued by an LSC to a USA-S group member to conduct an event or meet.
Sanction Fee The amount paid by a USA-S group member to an LSC for issuing a sanction.

Sanctioned Meet A meet that is approved by the LSC in which is is held. Meet must be conducted according to USA Swimming rules. All participants, including coaches, athletes and officials, must be USA Swimming members.

Scratch To withdraw from an event after having declared an intention to participate. Some meets have scratch deadlines and specific scratch rules, and if not followed, swimmer can be disqualified from remaining events.

Sectionals Nickname for Speedo Championship Series (see below).

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

Seeding Deck Seeding - swimmers are called to report to the Clerk of the Course. After scratches are determined, the event is seeded. Pre Seeding - swimmers are arranged in heats according to submitted times, usually a day prior to the meet.

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 A USA-S National Championship meet for swimmers of any age as long as the qualification times are met.

Session Portion of meet distinctly separated from other portions by locale, time, type of competition, or age group.

Short Course A 25 yard or 25 meter pool.

Splash The USA Swimming magazine that is mailed bi-monthly. A benefit of being a member of USA Swimming.

Split A portion of an event, shorter than the total distance, that is timed. (ie) A swimmers first 50 time is taken as the swimmer swims the 100 race. It is common to take multiple splits for the longer distances.

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.

Stroke There are 4 competitive strokes: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.

Stroke Judge The official positioned at the side of the pool, walking the length of the course as the swimmers race. If the Stroke Judge sees something illegal, they report to the referee and the swimmer may be disqualified.

Submitted Time Times used to enter swimmers in meets. These times must have been achieved by the swimmer at previous meets.

Team USA-S Registered club that has the right to compete for points.

Team Records The statistics a team keeps, listing the fastest swimmer in the clubs history for each age group/each event.

Timed Finals Competition in which only heats are swum and final placings are determined by the those times.

Time Standard A time set by a meet or LSC or USA-S (etc) that a swimmer must achieve for qualification or recognition.

Timer The volunteers sitting behind the starting blocks/finish end of pool, who are responsible for getting watch times on events and activating the backup buttons for the timing system.

Time Trial An event or series of events where a swimmer may achieve or better a required time standard

Tri-meet A meet with 3 team competing for points to see who places 1st-2nd-3rd.

Unattached An athlete member who competes, but does not represent a club or team. (abbr. UN)

Unofficial Time The time displayed on a read out board or read over the intercom by the announcer immediately after the race. After the time has been checked, it will become the official time.

USA-S The governing body of swimming--USA Swimming.

USA Swimming The national governing body of the sport headquartered in Colorado Springs.

Warm-down The recovery swimming a swimmer does after a race when pool space is available.

Warm-up The practice and "loosing" up session a swimmer does before the meet or their event is swum.
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Yards 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 (75 feet) in length.

Yardage The distance a swimmer races or swims in practice. Total yardage can be calculated for each practice session.

Zones The country is divided up into 4 major zones: Eastern - Southern - Central - Western. At the end of the long course season (in August) the Zone Administration sponsors a championship age group meet.