| Term |
Definition |
| Aerobic |
Pertaining to or presence of oxygen. |
| Anaerobic |
Pertaining to or lack of oxygen. |
| Backstroke |
Where the swimmer remains on his/her back from the start or push off from the wall to the turn through to the completion of the race. |
| Backstroke Start |
Swimmer starts in water, both hands hold onto block, both feet under waterline. |
| Bilateral Breathing |
Breathing both sides. In freestyle breathing every third stroke. |
| Body |
The torso, including shoulders and hips. |
| Breaststroke |
Stroke done completely on the horizontal plane with the swimmer's chest horizontal to the bottom of the pool. From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each turn, the body shall be kept on the breast. The arm and leg action is simultaneous. The kick takes place below the waterline. |
| Buoyancy |
This is the upward supportive force of water, counteracting the downward force of gravity. The force of buoyancy is determined by the density of the water; the greater the density the greater the buoyancy. Factors which affect a swimmer's buoyancy and floating position are: age, body build and bone size, muscular development and weight distribution, amount of fatty tissue, lung capacity and water density. |
| Butterfly |
Stroke performed completely on the horizontal plane. After the start and after each turn, the swimmer must remain on the breast and is permitted no more than two leg kicks per stroke cycle. Arm action is forward and simultaneous. Leg kick is simultaneous. |
| Catch |
Occurs with hand entry into water. The hand "catches" or "grabs" water. |
| Center line of body |
Imaginary line drawn down the long axis of the body. |
| Check List |
List of skills coach should be looking at within program. |
| Cool-Down |
Performed at end of training session. Helps remove waste products from body. |
| Coordination |
Consistent movement in water. Example: even leg kick in butterfly. |
| Course |
Designated distance over which the competition is conducted.
Long Course: 50 meters (55 yards to be recorded as 50 meters)
Short Course: 25 meters or 25 yards |
| Divisions/Divisioning |
Where athletes compete with other athletes of similar ability in equitable divisions. Variance between fastest and slowest time is no more than 10 percent. |
| Drill |
Skill used to develop and maintain stroke technique. |
| Dual Competition |
Competition between two clubs. |
| Efficient Stroke Technique |
Where the best results are obtained, using the least amount of effort. |
| Event |
Any race or series of races in a given stroke or distance. For competition limits, one event equals one preliminary or one preliminary plus its related final or one timed final. |
| Fatigue |
Short term sensation of tiredness and reduced performance. |
| Final |
Any single race which determines the final places and times in an event. |
| Finalist |
Athletes who swim in a final race. |
| Finals |
Where the final race of each event is competed. |
| Flutter Kick |
Fast freestyle or backstroke kicks. |
| Freestyle |
Stroke other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly. |
| Freestyle Relay |
All swimmers swim freestyle stroke. |
| Frontal Resistance |
This is the resistance to forward progress made by the water immediately in front of the swimmer or any part of the body. This resistance is caused by the swimmer's shape in the water. |
| Grab Start |
The swimmer stands on the block/edge, toes curled over edge, hands holding onto block. |
| Heats |
Division of an event in which there are too many swimmers to compete at one time. |
| Horizontal |
Parallel with the surface of the water. |
| Hypothermia |
Occurs when the body’s core temperature drops too low. |
| In-Water Start |
Swimmer starts in water, holds onto block with one hand, points the other in the direction of swim and pushes off wall with two feet. |
| Individual Medley |
Event where the swimmer shall swim the prescribed distance and strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. |
| Invitational Competition |
Competition in which all competitions and/or teams are invited by the host. |
| Lane Markings |
Guidelines on the bottom of the pool and in the center of the lanes, running from the starting end to the finishing/turning end of the pool. |
| Lateral |
Swimmer is on his/her side. |
| Length |
Extent of the course from one end to the other. |
| Log Book |
Record of swimmer's progress and activity. |
| Main Set |
Main training part of a program. New skills may be introduced, skills revised along with timed set work. |
| Medley Relay |
Four swimmers swim an equal distance in order of backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle |
| Meet |
Series of events held in one program. |
| Pace Clock |
Used by swimmers to check the time taken for each set distance. Counts off rest time before starting again. |
| Pool |
Physical facility in which the competition is conducted. |
| Pool Deck |
Area immediately around pool. |
| Preliminary |
Session of the meet in which heats are held; also called divisioning. |
| Prone Position |
Swimmer lies on front. |
| Propulsion |
This is the force that drives the swimmer forward and is created by the swimmer's arms and legs. |
| Qualifying Heats |
Competition in which a number of heats are swum to qualify the fastest simmers for the finals where final placing for the event will be determined. Can also be called divisioning. |
| Race |
Any single swimming competition; i.e., preliminary, final, timed final. |
| Relay Leg |
Order/position of a swimmer in a relay team event. |
| Relays |
Four swimmers on each team, each to swim one-fourth of the prescribed distance using any desired stroke. |
| Rotate/Rotation |
Moving in one line of the body's axis. |
| Scissor Kick |
Kick performed while on the side. |
| Seconds Rest |
Rest time given between sets. |
| Simultaneous |
Moving at the same time. |
| Streamline — Streamlining |
Body shape in the water which offers the least possible resistance. |
| Supine |
Swimmer lies on back. |
| Total Distance |
Total amount of meters covered in program. |
| Track Start |
Swimmer stands on block/edge, one foot in front with toes over edge, other foot behind, hands holding onto block. |
| Unified Sports Team |
Refers to a proportionate number of athletes and partners. |
| Warm-Up |
Series of exercises/drills used to prepare the body. On-land warm-up can consist of jogging and stretching. In-water warm-ups include slow, easy swims. |
| Whip Kick |
Description of leg action in breaststroke. |
