Aging Up—In a swimmer’s life a birthday often means moving up to the next age group. Standard age groups are: 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18 (sometimes split 15-16, 17-18). At most meets swimmers age up on the first day of the meet. For multi-day meets the first day of the meet is the age-up day. Aging-up may also refer to moving a younger swimmer up to the next age group, often for completing a relay team.

Block—The starting platform. If your swimmer has not learned to dive yet, they may be starting the race from the pool deck.

Bullpen—A specified area at meets where swimmers are grouped by heats and sometimes lane. Often used with younger swimmers.

Circle Swimming—Swimming in an oval shaped path in a lane. Swimmers always swim on the right….up one side, back on the other (much like driving). This allows multiple swimmers to swim together in one lane. Used at practice and for warm-ups at meets. Diving or jumping into a lane which is being used by multiple swimmers is never allowed.

Course—Designated distance over which the competition is conducted. Long course (LCM) is swum in a 50 meter pool. Short course is 25 a yard pool (SCY) or a 25 meter pool (SCM). The Keene YMCA pool is a 25 yard pool(as are most pools we compete at in the winter).

Cut—Another term for qualifying time; a time standard necessary to attend a particular meet or event.

Disqualification(DQ)—You will hear swimmers talking about this and almost every swimmer has “DQ’ed” at one time or another. There will be Stroke and Turn Officials at every meet. They will determine if the swimmer has been disqualified from a race for a rule infraction. When a swimmer is disqualified, the official will raise his/her hand signaling a DQ. Reasons for a DQ range from false starts to illegal turns/touches to an illegal stroke. The coaching staff will work with the swimmers to understand these rules. If the swimmer is disqualified from a race the swimmer does not receive a reward, nor can the time be used as an official time, nor is the time posted. Once a swimmer has been DQ’ed from an event, they can still swim all other events for which they have entered.

Dual Meet—Meets conducted between two teams.

Dryland training—Training that is done out of the water that aids and enhances swimming performance, usually includes stretching and weight training. KYD also calls this Kinetics.

False Start—Occurs when a swimmer is moving before the starting tone has sounded. One false start will result in a disqualification.

Finish—The touch at the end of the race. Breast stroke and butterfly require 2 hand touches at the finish (and turns) or a DQ results.

Flags—Backstroke flags placed 5 yards (short course) or 5 meters (long course) from the each end of the pool. They enable backstrokers to execute a backstroke turn more efficiently by counting their strokes from the flag to the wall.

Heat—Each race conducted within a particular swim event. Several heats may be held in a particular event.

Heat Sheets—Printed listings of all swimmers at a meet showing event number, heat, and lane.

IM—(Individual Medley) Event in which a participant swims each stroke in the following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.

Lap/Length—In swimming, a lap may refer to either one or two lengths of the pool. A length is the distance from one side of the pool to the other, typically 25 yards or 50 meters. Coaches and swimmers communicate in terms of “lengths” rather than “laps” to eliminate any confusion over intended distances.

Lap Counter—A set of plastic display numbers used to keep track of laps during a distance race. Also, the person who counts for the swimmer, stationed at the opposite end from the start.

LCM or Long Course Meters—A pool which is 50 meters long. Since there are fewer flip turns in this type of pool, the longer events can be very challenging.

LCY or Long Course Yards—A pool which is 50 yards long.

Medley Relay—Where each swimmer swims a different stroke in the following order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Freestyle.

Middle Distance—Term used to refer to events 200 yard/meters and 400 yard/meters in length.

Official—A judge on the deck of the pool at a meet who enforces the Rules of USA Swimming. There are stroke and turn judges, administrative officials, starters, timers and referees.

NT or No Time—This simply means that the swimmer has no official time for a particular event. Swimmers with an NT will usually race in the first couple of heats. Once they establish a time they will be seeded accordingly at future meets. Heats are seeded from slowest to fastest and lanes assignments are assigned by times as well. Some meets require an entry time in which case the coach will assign an entry time based on times taken at practice.

Pace Clock—Large clock with a large second hand and a smaller minute hand, used to check pace or maintain intervals in practice, may also be digital.

Psych Sheets—List of everyone at the meet and their events, showing rank by time but not showing heat and lane assignments.

Qualifying Time—Officially recognized time necessary to compete in some meets. Also known as a cut.

Referee—The USA official who has the ultimate authority over all other officials at the meet. He makes all final decisions and ensures that the meet proceeds efficiently.

Relay—An event in which 4 swimmers compete together as a team to achieve one time.

SCM or Short Course Meters—A pool which is 25 meters long. Since meters are a little longer than yards, this is a longer distance than a Short Course Yards event and that should be accounted for when looking at times.

SCY or Short Course Yards—A pool which is 25 yards long. Since yards are a little shorter than meters, this is a shorter distance than a Short Course Meters event and that should be accounted for when looking at times.

Scratch—Removal of a swimmer from an event for any reason (absence, injury, etc)

Seed Times—The times a swimmer uses to enter a meet. These times, which were achieved at a

previous meet, appear on the heat sheets and are used to determine heat and lane assignments.

Sets—In workouts, a group of swims done on a given interval or time with a controlled (timed) rest. Short Course - A pool that is 25 yards or meters in length.

Split—The time for a portion of a race or swim. Also called “Split Time”. For example, the splits for a relay would list the times for each swimmer on the relay team.

Sprint—Describes the shorter events (50 and 100 yards). In training, it means to swim as fast as possible for a short distance.

Starter—The official who is in charge of starting the races.

Starts—In the start, the swimmer is called to the starting position by the starter who visually checks that all swimmers are motionless. When all swimmers are set, the starting horn is sounded to start the race. If the starter feels that one of the swimmers has moved, left early or gotten an unfair advantage, the guilty swimmer may be disqualified after the race for a false start. Under USA Swimming rules, one false start disqualifies the swimmer.

Streamline—The method of aligning the body so as to reduce resistance in the water. The position used to gain maximum distance during a start and/or push off from the wall in which a swimmer’s body is as straight as can be. Often referred to by the coaches when working on starts and coming out of turns.

Stroke and Turn Judge—A certified official, who determines the legality of swimmers’ strokes, turns and finishes and disqualifies those who do not conform to USA Swimming rules.

Touch Pad—A large sensitive board in the water at the start end of some pools. Times are electronically registered and sent to the computer. Back-up timers are also used in case the pad is not touched or malfunction.

Time Trial—A time-only meet which is not part of the regular meet. Frequently, these are held at the end of the scheduled events to accommodate swimmers who still need qualifying times to compete in up-coming meets.

Tri-Meet—Meets conducted between three teams.

Unattached (UN)—A swimmer who swims at a meet without being affiliated with any team.

USA Swimming—The national governing body for amateur competitive swimming in the United States.

USA ID Number—Unique number assigned to a swimmer when he/she joins United States Swimming. The ID # will be required to enter a USA competition.