Common Terms Used Around the Pool Deck

Distances – The Stone Mountain pool is 25 yards long but other pools might be 25 meters.

A ‘heat sheet’ or ‘meet program’ is the swim meet ‘schedule’ that identifies each event, and when and in which lane each swimmer will race. The home team usually sells a few of these schedules prior to each swim meet. Parents generally bring a pen or highlighter so it’s easier to keep track of your swimmers’ events.

Event: A race or stroke over a given distance (e.g. 50 Meters Freestyle). An event usually involves kids of the same gender and age (e.g. 9-10 Girls) but the meet officials sometimes merg/swim events together in order to save time.

Heat: A division of an event when there are too many swimmers to compete at the same time. Usually swimmers are grouped together in a heat by their seed time.

Relay: A swimming event in which 4 swimmers participate as a team. Each one swims an equal distance of the race. There are two types of relays: Medley Relay involves all strokes (order isbackstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle) and Freestyle Relay where everyone swims freestyle.

Leg: Each swimmer in a relay swims a leg of the event.

Warm-up: A planned session prior to a meet or practice. Usually swimmers must arrive at the pool one hour before the meet starts so they can warm-up.

Blocks: The starting platforms located behind each lane. Younger swimmers may not be prepared to start off the blocks initially, so they are allowed to start off the edge of the pool instead.

Backstroke flags: The triangle flags at each end of the pool, they are used primarily for backstroke, to let the swimmer know the wall is near.

DQ, or Disqualified: A swimmer 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 while the swimmer is in the water.

Stroke Judge: Official at the side of the pool, walking the length of the pool as the swimmers race. If the Stroke Judge sees something illegal, the swimmer may be disqualified.

Flip Turn: Used to transfer your momentum 180 degrees. Swimming into the wall then stopping and pushing off the wall is a waste of time and energy. A flip turn allows you to take all the speed you have into the wall then change direction while at the same time avoiding all the water you were pulling behind you as you push off under water. Picture a conveyor belt or a chain on a bike and how they change direction and distance from the ground. This turn is used for freestyle and backstroke for a 50 yard/meter swim or greater. Most levels will be taught this during the season, lower level groups will be taught later in the season.

Starts: When the beep goes off swimmers jump out as far as they can and are in a streamlined position while in the air to start their race.

Backstroke Starts: You start swimming backstroke in the water holding onto the wall or the starting blocks. Toes must be underwater.

False Start: A swimmer gets an unfair advantage by being in motion before the starting signal is given. Officials will recall the event for a proper start.If the same swimmer false starts a 2nd time, he/she will be disqualified to compete in that event.

Strokes:

Freestyle – Also known as the forward crawl. Swam on stomach. Reaching arms and small flutter kicks.

Backstroke – Swam on your back. Long strait arms and a small flutter kick. Belly up, head back.

Breaststroke – Swam on stomach, with a narrow “frog kick”. Breathe every stroke. All about timing and power.

Butterfly – Swam on stomach. Both arms and legs move together side by side. Imagine a butterflies wings, they look identical just as your wings (arms) should as they are swimming the stroke. Kick is like a mermaid or dolphin with feet, knees, and thighs staying together.

IM – Individual Medley– Individual means 1 or a single swimmer, Medley means a combination of things. The IM or Individual Medley is a race where the swimmer will swim EACH of the strokes.

IM Order – Fly, Back, Breast, Free. Ex. 100 IM is a 25 yard swim of Butterfly, 25 yard swim of Backstroke, 25 yard swim of Breaststroke, and a 25 yard swim of Freestyle, in that order.

Medley Relay Order– This is swam in a different order since you can’t dive in and swim backstroke. Back, Breast, Fly, Free.Individual Medley (IM): an event where the swimmer swims each stroke in this order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle