Swimming Terminology
Age Group Swimming - the program through which MSSL provides fair competition for its swimmers. It is designed to encourage maximum participation, provide an educational experience, enhance physical and mental conditioning, and develop swim strokes. MSSL age groups are: 6 & U, 7-8, 9-10, 11‑12, 13‑14, and 15‑17.
Backstroke - The name of a swimming stroke executed on the back consisting of alternating circular arm pulls and a flutter kick.
Backstroke Flags - A string of pennants stretched over the pool so that when performing the backstroke, swimmers will know how far away the wall is in order to successfully execute their turns and finishes.
Block - The starting platform used at the commencement of a race in competition.
Breaststroke - The name of the swimming stroke executed in a prone position by extending both arms in front of the head beneath the water surface while drawing the knees forward and outward and then sweeping the arms back with palms out while kicking outward and backward. To be performed legally, the arms must remain above the waist and there can be no flutter in the kick. The kick appears easy, but is difficult for young swimmers to master.
Butterfly - The name of the swimming stroke executed in a prone position by simultaneously moving both arms in a circular motion above the water surface while kicking the legs up and down simultaneously (i.e., a dolphin-like kick). This stroke requires a great deal of proper timing and strength. To be performed legally, both arms must go above the water at the same time and both legs (with the angles held together) must kick together.
Circle Swimming - A method of swimming in one lane shared by more than one swimmer. As the name suggests, traffic flow within the lane is controlled by each swimmer swimming in a circle within the same lane.
Coach - A person who instructs or trains athletes in the fundamentals of a competitive sport and directs team strategy.
Code of Conduct - An agreement signed by a swimmer prior to the season, stating that the swimmer will abide by certain behavioral guidelines.
Crawl - The name of a competitive swimming stroke consisting of alternating overarm strokes and a flutter kick performed while in the prone position on one’s stomach.
Deck Entry - As the name suggests, entry into a swim meet on the pool deck on the day of the meet.
Deck Seeding - A method of “seeding” swimmers in a swimming event that categorizes swimmers into heats according to each swimmer’s best time, from slowest to fastest (i.e., the slowest swimmers compete in the first heat and the fastest swimmers compete in the last heat of the swimming event). As the term suggests, entrants are “reseeded” on the pool deck at the swim meet, if necessary, based upon those entrants who are actually present at the time of the meet in order to eliminate entrants from the heats who are not present.
DQ - Slang terminology describing being disqualified from a swimming event after the race has occurred due to swimming rule violations with regard to such things as the swimmer’s start, stroke technique, turn or finish. The time achieved will be considered null and void, just as if the swimmer had never swum the race and no points will be attributed to the Team’s score, if the swim meet is being scored. The letters “DQ” will appear, rather than the time achieved, on the official results of the meet. Some rule violations must be seen by two officials in order to declare a “DQ.” As difficult as it may sometimes be, this should be viewed as a learning experience.
Distance - A term used to refer to swim events 50 meters/50 yards or greater in distance.
Drag - Resistance in the water that retards motion.
Drill - A swimming exercise or specific maneuver, sometimes performed in the water, involving a portion of a stroke, used to improve technique.
Dryland Training - Exercise training performed out of the water (i.e., on dry land) that assists in developing strength and endurance to aid and enhance swimming performance; usually includes stretching, calisthenics and/or weight training.
Electronic Timing - An electronic timing system existing partially in and partially out of the water utilized to accurately record each swimmer’s time for a race. The electronic timing system is used in conjunction with computer software to facilitate the most accurate compilation of the “official results” of the meet (i.e., times and placement for all events swum). Large “touch pads” are placed slightly beneath water level that register each swimmer’s time immediately upon contact with some portion of the swimmer’s body at the conclusion of the race. Young swimmers are notorious for not touching the pads hard enough, so often back‑up timers are used to record their times.
False Start - An illegal start at the commencement of a race that occurs when a swimmer is moving, in any way, prior to the sound of the official “start” of the race (signified by the starting gun or the “beep” from the electronic timing system). At a MSSL swim meet, swimmers are allowed only one false start which results in disqualification from the race.
Finish - Signified by swimmers touching the wall at the end of a race.
Freestyle - The name of a competitive swimming event in which the competitor is given more latitude than in related events (i.e., the swimmer is “free” to swim a stroke of their choice). However, the term is more commonly used to describe the competitive swimming stroke otherwise known as the “crawl.” (See “crawl”.)
Goal - A specific time achievement a swimmer sets and strives for.
Gutter - The area along the edge of the pool in which water overflows and is recirculated through the filtration system.
Heat - A group of swimmers comprising a portion of those swimmers entered in a single event of a swim meet. Often more swimmers enter one event than can compete simultaneously due to pool size limitations. In other words, if twenty swimmers enter Event No. 20 and the venue consists of a six-lane pool, not all swimmers may race at the same time. The entrants are then divided into “heats” based on speed. Typically, the slowest swimmers will compete in the first heat and the fastest swimmers in the last heat. Times swum for each participant in that event are then analyzed determining placement (finish order) in the event.
Heat Sheet - Slang terminology describing a printed “program” for a swim meet that indicates the type and order of occurrence of each swim event (including the participants’ names and fastest time swum in the past) listed in order of appearance by “heat.” These listings allow participants and spectators to see where each swimmer is “seeded” in an event. Lane assignments are included, making it easier to follow the meet and locate certain swimmers.
I.M. - Slang terminology describing a swim event called the Individual Medley. Participants in this event are required to swim each of the four swimming strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
Interval - A specific time interval determined by the coaching staff within which swimmers are required to perform specific maneuvers or stroke drills during a training session. Interval training is a technique used to assist in gaining endurance and overall conditioning of the swimmers.
Long Course - A swimming pool that is 50 meters in length.
Negative Split - A technique or strategy of swimming the second half of a race at a time which is equal to or faster than the time swum in the first half of the race.
Official - A judge who patrols the deck of the pool at a swim competition who enforces the set of rules chosen to govern that particular swim meet.
Pace Clock - A large clock containing a large “second” hand and a smaller “minute” hand that is used to check swimmers’ pace or maintain time intervals at swim practice (may also be digital in nature).
Pre-Seeding - A method of “seeding” swimmers in a swimming event that categorizes swimmers into heats according to each swimmer’s best time, from slowest to fastest (i.e., the slowest swimmers compete in the first heat and the fastest swimmers compete in the last heat of the swimming event). This method differs from “deck seeding” in that entrants are not “reseeded” on the pool deck at the swim meet, if necessary, based upon those entrants who are actually present at the time of the meet in order to eliminate entrants from the heats who are not present. Those lanes assigned to entrants that are not present will remain empty during the competition.
Program - [See “Heat Sheet”]
Relay - A swimming event in which four swimmers compete together as a team achieving one time.
Safety - The condition of being safe and secure from danger, harm or evil. Safety procedures are designated to prevent accidents or injury.
Scratch - To withdraw from a swimming event in a swim competition.
Short Course - A pool consisting of 25 yards or 25 meters in length.
Short Distance - A term referring to events equal in distance to at least 50 yards/meters but not greater than 100 yards/meters. Also may be referred to as a “sprint” event.
Split - A swimmer’s intermediate time in a race. Under certain conditions, splits may also be counted as official times. In a relay, the time swum for one of the four individuals comprising the relay team.
Sprint - A term used to describe short distance events. In training, to swim as fast as possible for a short distance.
Streamline - A position in which the swimmer’s body is as straight and tight as it can possibly be. The arms are positioned above the head with elbows locked, hand over hand. The head is tucked down between the arms and the legs are held together tightly with knees locked and toes pointed. This technique is used to reduce drag, gaining maximum distance beneath the water during a “start” and/or “pushoff” from the wall.
Swim Meet - A sporting event organized by a swimming body in which certain swimming events are designated and established for swimmers to enter and compete. Competition is designed to serve as a learning experience and to serve as a measure of improvement for swimmers. By implementing what has been learned and achieved in practice, swimmers test themselves against the clock in an effort to achieve certain goals established by the swimmer in conjunction with the coaching staff.
Touch Pad - A large sensitive board placed slightly beneath water level on the wall at the “finish end” of the pool, that registers each swimmer’s time immediately upon contact with some portion of the swimmer’s body at the conclusion of a race. Touch pads are used in conjunction with computer software to facilitate the most accurate compilation of each swimmer’s “official” time.
Warm Down - A technique constituting the final phase of a training session in which low intensity swimming is used by swimmers in order to rid the body of excess lactic acid, and to gradually reduce heart rate and respiration.
Warmup - A technique constituting the initial phase of a training session in which low intensity swimming is used by swimmers prior to the middle phase of a training session to warm muscles and loosen muscle tone and gradually increase heart rate and respiration. It is also utilized immediately prior to competition.
