A glossary of those strange and wacky words we use in the sport of swimming. You may or may not find these words in the English Dictionary, and if you do, their definitions will probably be radically different than the ones listed in this Glossary. Relax and take your time reading. Soon youll be understanding and maybe even speaking some swim slang. 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. Alternate In a Prelims/Finals meet, after the finalists are decided, the next two fastest swimmers other than the finalists are designated as alternates. The faster of the two being the first alternate and the next being second alternate. If a finalist cannot participate, the alternates are called to take their place. Anchor The final swimmer in a relay. Also a term coaches use for the beginning of all four strokes indicating the “high elbow”, “catch,” or “early vertical forearm.” 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. ASCA The American Swim Coaches Association. The professional organization for swim coaches throughout the nation. Certifying coaches and offering many services for coaches education and career advancement. Backstroke One of the four competitive racing strokes, basically any style of swimming on your back. Backstroke is swum as the first stroke in the Medley Relay and second stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200 yards/meter (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yd back). Blocks The starting platforms located behind each lane. Minimum water depth for use of starting blocks is 4 feet. Blocks have a variety of designs and can be permanent or removable. BOD Board of Directors of the Local Swim Committee (LSC) or USA Swimming (USA-S). Breaststroke One of the four competitive racing strokes. Breaststroke is swam as the second stroke in the Medley Relay and the third stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200 yards/meter. (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yd breast) Butterfly One of the four competitive racing strokes. Butterfly (nicknamed FLY) is swam as the third stroke in the Medley Relay and first stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200 yards/meter (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yard fly). Camp A swimming function offered by USA-S, your LSC, or a USA-S coach. There are many types of camps for just about every level of swimmer. When selecting a camp, ask for your coachs advice as to what will be the best for the swimmer, or call USA-S swimming for details on the many camps they offer. Carbohydrates The main source of food energy used by athletes. Refer to a Nutritional Manual for more information. Championship Meet The meet held at the end of a season. Qualification times are usually necessary to enter meet. Championship Finals The top six or eight swimmers (depending on the number of pool lanes) in a Prelims/Finals meet who, after the prelims are swum, qualify to return to the Finals. The fastest heat of finals when multiple heats are held. 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. Circle Seeding A method of seeding swimmers when they are participating in a prelims/finals event. The fastest 18 to 24 swimmers are seeded in the last three heats, with the fastest swimmers being in the inside lanes. (i.e.) Lane 4 in the final three heats. See rule book for exact method for seeding depending on the lanes in the pool. Clinic A scheduled meeting for the purpose of instruction. (i.e.) Officials clinic, Coachs clinic. Closed Competition Swim meet which is only open to the members of an organization or group. Summer club swim meets are considered to be Closed Competition. Club A registered swim team that is a dues-paying member of USA-S and the local LSC. Code of Conduct A Code of Conduct that both swimmers and coaches are required to sign at certain USA-S/LSC sponsored events. The Code is not strict and involves common sense and proper behavior. Colorado Timing System A brand of automatic timing system. Consolation Finals After the fastest six or eight swimmers, the next six or eight swimmers (depending on the number of pool lanes) in a Prelims/Finals meet who, after the prelims are swum, qualify to return to the Finals. Consolations are the second fastest heat of finals when multiple heats are held and are conducted before the Championship heat. Convention United States Aquatic Sports annual, week long, meeting where all rules changes are decided and working committees are established. Representatives are sent by each LSC to make up the voting body. Course Designated distance (length of pool) for swimming competition. (Ie) Long Course = 50 meters / Short Course = 25 yards or 25 meters. Deadline The date meet entries must be postmarked by, to be accepted by the meet host. Making the meet deadline does not guarantee acceptance into a meet since many meets are full weeks before the entry deadline. 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 Heat and lane assignments are posted after swimmers have checked in have “scratched” (indicated they will not participate in the event.) Dehydration The abnormal depletion of body fluids (water). The most common cause of swimmers cramps and sick feelings. Developmental A classification of meet or competition that is usually held early in the season. The purpose of a developmental meet is to allow all levels of swimmers to compete in a low-pressure environment. 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. Diving Well A separate pool or a pool set off to the side of the competition pool. This pool has deeper water and diving boards/platforms. During a meet, this area may be designated as a warm-down pool with proper supervision. Division I-II-III NCAA member colleges and universities are assigned divisions to compete in, depending on the schools total enrollment. Division I being the large universities and Division III being the smaller colleges. Dual Meet Type of meet where two teams/clubs compete against each other. Dryland The exercises and various strength programs swimmers do out of the water. Dry Side That part of the Code book (rule book) that deals with the Administrative Regulations of Competition. Entry An individual, relay team, or club rosters event list in a swim competition. Entry Chairperson The host clubs designated person who is responsible for receiving, and making sure the entries have met the deadline. 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 cannot 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. 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.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 22:59:36 +0000
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