Natare Terminology

Age group swimming

1. a structure of the U.S. Swimming organization where children break up into groups according the their age and ability and work on swimming technique and endurance with the help of a trained coach
2. nationally recognized age groups are 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15- 16, 17-18 and 15-18; local swim meets may include events for 8 and under

Anchor

last swimmer in a relay

Backstroke flags

see flags

Block

starting platform

Bulkhead

a wall constructed to divide a pool into different courses such as a 50-meter pool into two 25-yard courses

Circle Swimming

performed by staying to the right of the black line when swimming in a lane, to enable more swimmers to swim in each lane

Code of Conduct

agreement signed by a swimmer prior to travel stating that the swimmer will abide by certain behavioral guidelines

Coping

deck tile, usually about one foot wide, at the edge of the pool

Course

designated distance over which the competition is conducted; standard is 25 meters for summer league meets, 50 meters for Olympic competition, and 25 yards for regular year-round and college competition

Cut

1. slang for qualifying time
2. time standard necessary to attend a particular meet or event

Distance

events over 400 meters/500 yards

DIVING BOARD

recreational mechanism for entering a swimming pool, consisting of a semi-rigid board that derives its spring from a fulcrum mounted below the board and attached to the deck

Divisionals

championship meet of the summer league season

DQ

disqualification from an event

Drill

an exercise involving a portion or part of a stroke, used to improve technique

Dryland Training

training done out of the water that aids; enhances swimming performance

Dual Meet

competition between two clubs

Finals

championship heat of an event in which the top six or eight swimmers from the preliminaries compete

Flags

1. colorful vinyl pennants spaced and sized to meet competitive swimming requirements; generally placed five yards (short course) or five meters (long course) from the end of the pool
2. enables backstroke swimmers to execute a backstroke turn more efficiently by counting their strokes

Failed Swim

where a meet calls for proof of a time standard and the swimmer fails to meet that standard in a particular race

False Start

swimmer moving before the start of a race

Gutter

overflow trough at pool edge; also called a perimeter or recirculation system

HEATS

see prelim

IM

1. individual medley
2. event in which the swimmer uses all four strokes in the following order

lane line

a rope with buoys that extends across the pool is to section off the water into long straight "lanes" so that swimmers do not bump into one another

Lane Rope

floating markers attached to a line that stretches from the starting end to the turning end of the pool to separate each lane

Lane

specific area in which the swimmer is assigned to swim

Lap Counter

1. set of plastic display numbers used to keep track of laps during a distance race
2. the person who counts for the swimmer stationed at the opposite end from the start

Lap swimming

designated time when swimmers may use the distance of the pool at their own pace

Leg

part of a relay event swum by one individual swimmer

Lifeline

rope line across a pool to designate a change in slope in the pool bottom, or the beginning of deep water; usually supported by regularly spaced floats

Long Course

pool 50 meters in length

Long Distance

1. any freestyle event over 1500 meters, normally conducted in a natural body of water, such as a lake, river or ocean
2. also known as marathon swimming

LSC

1. Local Swimming Committee
2. governing body for swimming on a local level

masters swimming

structured and supervised swimming period, where groups of adults participate in a set program; techniques and drills are utilized to improve performance

Meet

equivalent to a "game"

Middle Distance

events 200-400 yards/meter in length

Negative Split

swimming the second half of the race equal to or faster than the first half

National Age Group Time Standard

1. time standards derived from the previous years’ results; broken down by age and sex as well as B, A, AA, AAA, AAAA divisions; these designations are and may be used for qualifying purposes; many LSCs have their own time standards

National Age Group Top 16

time standards set for both short and long course based on previous years’ achievements; only times meeting these standards may be submitted for consideration each year

Official

a judge on the deck of the pool at a sanctioned competition who is there to enforce rules; there are stroke and turn judges, administrative officials, starters, timers and referees

open swimming

see recreational swimming

open water swimming

an organized swim event in the ocean, lake or river; distances tend to be longer

Pace Clock

large clock with a large second hand and a smaller minute hand, used to check pace or to maintain intervals in practice; may also be digital

Prelims

1. preliminaries, also called heats or trial
2. races in which swimmers qualify for the championship and consolation finals in events

Proof of Time

a requirement at some meets to make certain that all swimmers have legally met time standards for that meet

Q-Time

qualifying time necessary to compete in a particular event and/or competition

Recreational swim team

swim team run by a club, or municipality or county

Recreational swimming

1. also called open swimming
2. set time when swimmers of all ages may come to the pool; no lane lines are in the water; the water is "open"

Referee

1. official who has the authority over all other officials at a meet
2. makes all final decisions and sees to the efficient running of the meet

Relay

an event in which four swimmers compete together as a team to achieve one time

Starter

the official at a meet responsible for starting each heat and calling the next heat to the blocks

Streamline

position used to gain maximum distance during a start and/or push off from the wall in which the swimmer’s body is as tight as it can be

Stroke & Turn Judge

synchronized swimming

Scratch

to withdraw from an event

Seed

to distribute the swimmers among the heats and lanes according to their times; in most cases, the fastest swimmers are in the final heat of an event

Seeding Times

time a swimmer uses to enter a meet; this time, which is written on the entry card, determines ones position and lane in a particular meet

Senior Swimming

program which provides fair and open competition in national swimming championships; it is designed to afford maximum opportunity for participation, provide an educational experience, enhance physical and mental conditioning and develop a pool of talented athletes for international competition; there are no age restrictions in senior competition

Set

combined group of drills to form a complete practice

Short Course

a pool 25 yards or 25 meters in length

Split

1. 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
2. under certain conditions, splits may also be used as official times

Sprint

1. describes the shorter events (50 and 100)
2. in training, to swim as fast as possible for a short distance

Taper

final preparation phase prior to major competition; an older more experienced swimmer will shave his entire body to reduce resistance in the water

Time Trial

a time-only swim, not part of a regular meet

Touch Pad

large sensitive board at the end of each lane where a swimmer’s touch is registered and sent electronically to the timing system

Tri-Meet

any competition between three clubs

trial

see prelims

U.S. swim team

age group program authorized by the U.S. Swimming organization

USA Card number

unique number assigned to a swimmer when they join United States of America Swimming

USA Swimming

1. United States of America Swimming, Inc.
2. national governing body for amateur competitive swimming in the United States

Warm Down

low intensity swimming used by swimmers after a race or main practice; it rids the body of excess lactic acid and gradually reduces heart rate and respiration

Warm Up

used by a swimmer prior to a main practice, set or race; loosens and warms muscles and gradually increases heart rate and respiration

Water Aerobics

see water exercise

Water Ballet

see synchronized swimming

water exercise

1. also called water aerobics
2. an exercise routine in the water

Water polo

high endurance sport with soccer-like strategy played in the pool; forward, backs and goalies try to throw a ball into the opponent’s net; players are not allowed to touch the bottom of the pool while playing