South
Dearborn
Swimming
Swimming "Lingo"
Backstroke: One of the four competitive strokes. The swimmer must remain on the back, usually using an alternating armstroke and "flutter" kick.
Breaststroke: One of the four competitive strokes. The arms move simultaneously and recover underwater. The legs also move simultaneously in a "frog" kick movement.
Butterfly: One of the four competitive strokes. The arms move simultaneously and recover over the water. The pull is similar to a double crawl stroke. The legs move simultaneously in a "dolphin" kick movement.
Chief Judge: A meet official responsible for writing up "DQs" and notifying the swimmer of a DQ.
Clerk of Course: A meet official, and also, the area where this official works. In this area, the swimmers are organized before a race by being assigned a heat and lane for their event and will usually pick up a lane card containing this information to give to the timer.
Carbo loading: Eating foods with a high level of complex carbohydrates before a major competition so that the swimmer's energy supply is well-stocked. Often pasta, breads, and salad constitute a typical meal during this time.
Consolation heat,Consolation Final: The second fastest group of swimmers (usually 6 or 8) who qualify from the preliminary heats. The final 7th-12th or 9th-16th places are determined from this heat.
Cuts: A cut is a time standard that serves as a goal for the swimmer to strive for and/or a level a swimmer must reach to qualify for a particular meet, such as semi-state or the state championships. Indiana has its own set of cuts, as does USAS. Cut sheets are posted on the bulletin board and given to each family at the start of the season.
Cycle: The time in which a swimmer must swim a given distance and rest before leaving on the next repeat during a practice set.
Disqualification (DQ): A violation of the rules during a meet, which results in being barred from an event, or in disallowing that swimmer's event result. DQs are determined by a meet official.
Drag: A training technique. Wearing more than one suit and/or hose in practice increases the drag, or resistance, of the water and builds strength and endurance.
Final heat: Also, championship final. The fastest 6 or 8 swimmers as determined by the preliminary heats. The final 1st-6th or 1st-8th places are determined by this heat.
Freestyle: One of the four competitive strokes. The swimmer may do any stroke and kick he/she wishes, though usually the swimmer will use an alternating arm stroke and "flutter" kick.
Heat: One of several single races within an event.
Heat sheet: A meet program which lists each event and the swimmers entered in that event. It will usually cost several dollars to purchase a heat sheet.
I.M (Individual Medley): The I.M. is a race in which the swimmer will swim all four competitive strokes.
Medicine balls: Soft, weighted balls used in various dryland drills to build strength and flexibility.
Prelims: Preliminaries. In meets run with prelims and finals, all swimmers entered in an event swim in the prelims. The fastest swimmers return to swim in the finals.
Referee: The meet official in charge of the overall conduct of the meet; the official who has jurisdiction over the rest of the officials.
Scratch: If a swimmer cannot swim an event, the swimmer or the coach may need to "scratch" that event. This is especially important when a swimmer has qualified for finals after prelims.
Seed time: The time submitted when entering a meet; used to "rank" the swimmer when assigning the heat and lane for that event.
Set: A part of the workout; consists of a series of swims, usually on a set time or cycle.
Split: A split is a time for one segment of a race. For example, a 100 yard time may consist of four splits, one for each 25 yard segment of the race.
Starter: The meet official in charge of starting each race.
Streamlining: Making the body position as compact and aerodynamic as possible; desirable off the start and the turns because it decreases drag.
Taper: A gradual reduction of workout yardage and intensity at the end of the season to provide the swimmer with more rest for peak performance.
Touchpad: The black pad that is placed across the lane at the finish end and is used to record the exact finish time; connected to the timing system computer.
Timed final: A method of conducting races in a meet. All entrants swim the event and final placing is determined by time.
Timer: A meet official responsible for timing the races in a lane.
Turnover: The speed of a swimmer's armstroke.