Swimming Terms
A lot of everyday words take on a specific meaning at a swim meet. This list is far from complete, but it includes the words we use most frequently in our summer league. For Stingrays, see Champion.
BODY – the torso, including shoulder and hips.
CLOSED COMPETITIONS – competition open only to the members of one organization or group.
COURSE – designated distance over which the competition is conducted. (25 yards or meters for summers league meets; 50 meters or yards for year round competition and Olympic competition.)
COPING – the deck tile, approximately one foot wide, at the edge of the pool. The front of the coping is the line where the tile meets the water; the back of the coping is the line where the tile meets the deck.
DECK – the surface running between the pool and the fence.
DUAL COMPETITION – (DUAL MEET) competition between two clubs.
EVENT – any race or series of races in a given stroke and distance for a specific age group and sex. For example, the following are three different events: 1. Girls 8 & under 25 meter freestyle; 2. Boys 8 & under 25 meter freestyle; 3. Girls 9-10 50 meter breaststroke (see also heats)
FORWARD START – a forward entry facing the course.
FOUL – an instance of obstruction, interference, collision, or equipment malfunction which prevents the successful completion of the race.
HEATS – a division of an EVENT in which there are too many swimmers to compete at one time. An event with 30 swimmers in a 6 lane pool would require 5 heats.
HORIZONTAL – parallel to the surface of the water.
LANE – a specific area in which the swimmer is assigned to swim (lane 1, lane 2, etc.)
LANE LINE – continuous floating markers attached to a line stretched from the starting end to the turning end for the purpose of separating each lane.
LANE MARKINGS – the guide lines at the bottom of the pool in the center of each lane, running from the starting end to the turning end.
LEG – (relay) the part of the relay event swum by one swimmer.
MANUAL START – the start of a timing device by an individual in response to the same starting signal give to the swimmers.
MARK – (take your) the swimmer’s starting position. In our league, we require at least one foot at the front of the coping when a forward start is required.
MEET – the complete series of events. In our league, a meet is conducted in a single day.
ON LINE – the swimmer’s position immediately prior to taking their MARK. In our league, the swimmer must have both feet placed so their toes are at the back of the coping.
PROPULSIVE – having the power to propel.
REFEREE – the official in charge of the meet. The final authority in all matters concerning the conduct of the meet.
SCISSOR – use of the top of the instep of one foot and bottom of the other foot in the propulsive part of the kick.
SCRATCH – withdraw from an event.
SEED – distribute the swimmers among the heats and lanes according to their times.
SEEDING (SEEDED ON DECK) – swimmers are called to report to the bull pen coordinator for their event. After scratches are determined, they are seeded in the proper heats.
SHALL – mandatory
SIMULTANEOUSLY – occurring at the same time.
SPLIT TIME – time from a start to some part of the distance within a longer event.
STROKE AND TURN JUDGE – trained, certified swim officials, assigned by and working for the referee to judge swimmers’ conformance with the rules for the event being swum. Nonconformance, frequently referred to as disqualification or DQ is report to the swimmer and to the referee. The swimmer is not DQ’d until the stroke and turn judge’s report is accepted by the referee.
TRI COMPETITION (Tri Meet) – competition with three clubs.
VENUE – the area located on the sides and ends of the pool, spectator area, team areas, locker rooms and such other areas as may be designated by the host club. Within the venue, there can be no smoking, alcohol, or abusive or disruptive behavior. The referee is the sole authority determining acceptable behavior within the venue.
