Swimming Vocabulary, Information & Videos

STROKE EVENTS

FREESTYLE Video Link: Freestyle Technique

In freestyle (nicknamed Free) events, the competitor may swim any stroke, but the fastest is what is often called the crawl, which is characterized by the alternate stroking of the arms over the water surface and an alternating (up-and-down) flutter kick. On turns and finishes, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. Most swimmers do a flip turn.

JV swims only the individual 50 Free event while Varsity swims four distance individual freestyle events: 50, 100, 200 and 500.

Freestyle is swum as the fourth stroke in the Medley Relay and fourth stroke in the Individual Medley.

BACKSTROKE Video Link: Backstroke Technique

Backstroke consists of an alternating motion of the arms with a flutter kick while on the back. On turns, swimmers may turn onto the stomach and do a flip turn (they cannot glide into the wall and then turn). Some part of the swimmer must touch the wall at the turn. The swimmer must finish on the back.

Backstroke is swum as the first stroke in the Medley Relay and second stroke in the Individual Medley.

JV swims only the individual 50 Backstroke event while Varsity swims the 100.

BREASTSTROKE Video Link: Breaststroke Technique

The breaststroke requires simultaneous movements of the arms on the same horizontal plane. The hands are pushed forward from the breast. In the return of the arms, the hand cannot go part the waist. The kick is a simultaneous somewhat circular motion similar to the action of a frog. On turns and at the finish, the swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously, but the hands cannot overlap each other. One of the hardest parts of the breaststroke is the start. After the dive, while still underwater, the swimmer can (but doesn’t have to) do one arm pull where the hands can go past the waist, one dolphin kick, and then another arm pull-with a breaststroke kick - to bring them to the surface.

JV swims only the individual 50 Breaststroke event while Varsity swims the 100.

Breaststroke is swum as the second stroke in the Medley Relay and the third stroke in the Individual Medley.

BUTTERFLY Video Link: Butterfly Technique

Some consider the butterfly (nicknamed Fly) to be the most beautiful of the strokes. It features a simultaneous movement of the arms over the water combined with an undulating dolphin kick. In the kick, the swimmer must keep both legs together and may not flutter, scissor or breaststroke kick. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously on the turns and the finish.

JV swims only the individual 50 Fly event while Varsity swims the 100.

Butterfly is swum as the third stroke in the Medley Relay and first stroke in the Individual Medley.

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY (IM)

The individual medley, commonly referred to as the IM, features all four strokes. In the IM, the swimmer begins with the butterfly, then changes after one fourth of the race to backstroke, then breaststroke and finally freestyle. The rules of each stroke apply to that leg of the IM.

JV swims only the 100 IM while the Varsity swims the 200.

MEDLEY RELAY

In the medley relay, all four strokes are swum. The first swimmer swims backstroke, the second breaststroke, the third butterfly, and the final swimmer anchors the relay with freestyle.

Both JV and Varsity swim the 200 Medley Relay.

FREESTYLE RELAY

The freestyle relay events consist of four swimmers, each swimming one quarter of the total distance of the event.

JV swims the 200 Free Relay while Varsity swims two distance Free Relays: the 200 and the 400.

STARTS AND TURNS VOCABULARY

START Video Link: Forward Start Tecnique Video Link: Backstroke Start Technique Article: The Swim Start

The beginning of a race. This is the entry into the water (generally a dive) or the beginning of the backstroke (push off back dive) at the sound of the starting horn. For a swim start that involves the freestyle, breaststroke or butterfly as the first stroke of the race, the swimmer must assume their starting position with at least one foot at the front of the block. In the case of a backstroke start, the swimmers start the race in the water. The swimmers line up in the water facing the starting end with both hands placed on the gutter or on the starting grips. The swimmer may not stand in or on the gutter nor curl the toes over the lip of the gutter prior to the start.

TURN

A swimmer who is swimming more than one length of the pool in an event must perform a legal turn at each wall to continue the race. Each stroke has its own turn requirements, which are taught in practice. Turns are needed in the individual medleys and any event with a distance of 50 yards or more.

BACKSTROKE FLIP TURN Video Link: Backstroke Flip Turn Technique

One type of turn used in Backstroke. Just as the swimmer approaches the wall, they tuck their body into a somersault, quickly roll towards the wall and push off with their feet.

CROSSOVER TURN Video Link: IM Crossover Turn Technique

A type of turn used during an Individual Medley when switching from backstroke to breaststroke. This turn is more advanced since you get less air on the turn but it is faster. It is recommended for shorter distance IMs, 100 and 200, where quickness is more important.

FLIP TURN Video Link: Freestyle Flip Turn Technique

A type of turn used in freestyle. As the swimmer is approaching the wall, they flip forward in a continuous motion (a somersault), pushing off the wall with their feet to start the next lap.

OPEN TURN Video Link: Open Turn Technique

A type of turn used in breaststroke, butterfly and IM when switching strokes. Open turns involve touching the wall with one of two hands depending on the requirement for the stroke (two for both breaststroke and butterfly), then reversing direction by bringing legs to the wall in tuck-like position, then turning on the wall to face the opposite end of the pool and pushing off in a streamline to begin a new lap.

TWO-HAND TOUCH TURN Image: Legal Two-Hand Touch

A finish where the swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously. A two-hand touch is required for finishes and turns in Breaststroke and Butterfly. At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water level.

GENERAL SWIMMING VOCABULARY

BACKSTROKE FLAGS

Pennants that are suspended over the width of each end of the pool approximately 15 feet from the wall. These are not for decorations, swimmers use them to determine their distance from the wall when swimming backstroke.

BEST TIME

A best time is achieved when a swimmer exceeds their own previous "best time" in an event - it shows that a swimmer has improved over their own time, regardless of how other swimmers finish.

BLOCKS

The starting platforms located behind each lane. Some pools have blocks at the deeper end of the pool, and some pools have blocks at both ends. Blocks have a variety of designs and can be permanent or removable.

CUT OR QUALIFYING TIME

A time standard that a swimmer must meet or exceed to be included in a specific competition such as State and Sectional meets.

DISTANCE

How far a swimmer swims. High School swimmers swim the following distances: 50 (2 lengths), 100 (4 lengths), 200 (8 lengths), 400 (16 lengths), 500 (20 lengths). For the 100 IM, a swimmer swims 1 length for each stroke. For the 200 IM, it is 2 lengths for each stroke. For the 200 Medley Relays/Free Relays, each swimmer swims 2 lengths. For the 400 Free Relay, each swimmer swims 4 lengths.

DQ Article: USA Swimming Rules Primer Article: What can get you disqualified?

A disqualification (DQ) will result if a a swimmer commits an infraction of the rules that is observed by an official. A disqualification is shown by an official raising one arm with open hand above their head. If the disqualification occurs while an event is taking place, the swimmer continues to swim but the disqualification is duly noted by the official. If a swimmer is disqualified, a swimmer's performance for the corresponding event is not counted. DQ does not mean that a swimmer cannot swim in further events or meets.

DRYLAND

Exercises or stretches that are conducted out of the pool in order to warm up, build strength and increase flexibility.

DUAL MEET

A meet where only two teams go head-to-head.

EVENT

For high school co-ed meets, this is defined by the team level (JV or Varsity) and the swimming stroke for a particular distance. For example: JV 50 Backstroke, Varsity 200 IM.

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.

HEAT

A division of an event when there are too many swimmers to compete at the same time. The results are compiled by a swimmer's finish time, after all heats of the event are completed.

HEAT SHEET

This is the official schedule of swimmers in their assigned events, heats and lanes drawn up by the coaches.

LAP COUNTER

The large numbered cards (or the person turning the cards) used during the freestyle event that is 500 yards or longer. Counting is done from the end opposite the starting end. The numbers on the cards are odd numbers only with the final lap being designated by a bright orange or red card.

LENGTH

The extent of the competitive course from end to end.

SCRATCH

To withdraw from an event after having declared an intention to participate. Some meets have scratch deadlines and specific scratch rules, and if not followed, swimmers can be disqualified from remaining events.

SEED TIME

Your best guess at what time you can swim a particular event. In a swimming competition, your seed time is used to match you with others of similar times and abilities.

SPLIT

The time for one lap or set distance of a race consisting of more than one lap. The splits add up to the total time. For example, times for a 200-yard swim can be divided into four 50-yard splits.

STREAMLINE

Position a swimmer assumes at the start of a lap in which their body and arms are straight with the elbows behind the ears squeezing the back of the head.

TIMER

A volunteer who uses a stopwatch to record a swimmer's time during a swim meet or is a backup timer for a touchpad system.

TOUCH PAD

The removable plate at the pool wall that is connected to an automatic timing system. A swimmer must properly touch the touch pad to register an official time in a race.

NOTE: Definitions extracted from multiple swim sites: Roxbury High School Swim Team websites, USA Swimming, Nutmegaquatics.