Copy of `Swimalberta - Swimming glossary`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

Swimalberta - Swimming glossary Category: Sport and Leisure > Swimming Date & country: 02/12/2013, CA Words: 146

Prelim/Final
Type of meet with two sessions. The preliminary heats are usually held in the morning session.

Pre-seeded
A meet conducted without a bull pen in which a swimmer knows what lane and heat they are in by looking at the heat sheet or meet programme.

Proof of Time
An official meet result. Swimmers/Coaches must present proof of time with some entries.

Psyche Sheet
An entry sheet showing all swimmers entered into each individual event. Sometimes referred to as a heat sheet or meet programme.

Pull Buoy
A floatation device used for pulling by swimmers in practice.

Qualifying Time
Qualifying time necessary to compete in a particular event and/or competition.

Race
A single swimming competition event.

Referee
The head official in charge of a swim meet.

Registered
Enrolled and paid member of Swim Alberta.

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

Ribbons
Awards in a variety of sizes, styles, and colours given at some swim meets.

Safety Procedure
Safety procedures are designed to prevent accidents, and must be followed to the letter.

Sanctioned Meet
All competitions in which records may be set and official times may be obtained, must be sanctioned (= approved officially) by Swim Alberta.

Scratch
To withdraw from an event in a competition.

Seed
Assign the swimmers to heats and lanes according to their submitted or preliminary times.

Session
Portion of a meet distinctly separated from other portions by time.

Short Course or SC
A 25 metre long pool in which most competitions during the winter are held.

Split
A swimmer

Sprint
Describes the shorter events (50 and 100m); in training, to swim as fast as possible for a short distance.

Stand up
The command given by the starter or referee to release the swimmers from their starting position.

Start
The beginning of a race. The dive used to begin a race.

Starter
The official in charge of signaling the beginning of a race and insuring that all swimmers have a fair takeoff.

Step down
The command given by the starter or referee to have the swimmers move off the blocks. Usually this command is a good indication that everything is not right for the race to start.

Streamline
The position used to gain maximum distance during a start and/or push-off from the wall in which the swimmer

Stroke
There are four competitive strokes, butterfly, backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke.

Stroke Judge
The official positioned at the side of the pool, walking the length of the course as the swimmers race. If the stroke judge sees something illegal they report to the referee and the swimmer may be disqualified.

Suit
The racing uniform worn by the swimmer, in the water, during competition. The four most popular types of suits worn are Nylon, Lycra, Paper, and Fastskin.

Swim-off
In a prelims/finals type competition a race after the scheduled event to break a tie. The only circumstance that warrants a swim-off is to determine which swimmer makes finals or an alternate, otherwise the tie stands.

Taper
The final preparation phase. As part of this phase, and prior to major competitions, older and more experienced swimmers will shave their entire body to reduce resistance and heighten sensation in the water.

Team
Swim Alberta club that is eligible to compete for points.

Team Records
The statistics a team keeps, listing the fastest swimmer in the clubs history for each age group/each event.

Time Card
The card issued to each swimmer prior to each race, on which splits and the final time are recorded.

Time Standard
A time set by a provincial association that a swimmer must achieve for qualification or recognition.

Time Trial
A practice race which is not part of a regular competition. Time trials may be sanctioned and used to qualify for specific meets.

Timed Final
Competition in which only heats are swum and final placings are determined by those times.

Timer
The volunteers sitting behind the starting block/finish end of the pool, who are responsible for getting watch times on events and activating the backup buttons for the timing system.

Touch Out
To reach the touch pad and finish first in a race.

Touch Pad
A large sensitive board at the end of each lane where a swimmer

Transfer
The act of leaving one club and going to another. 30 days of unattached status is required before the swimmer can represent the new club.

Travel Fund
A sum of money set aside for a swimmer to use for travel expenses and entry fees to specified meets.

Tri-meet
A meet with three teams competing for points.

Unofficial Time
The time displayed on a read out board or read over the intercom by the announcer immediately after a race. After the time has been checked, it will become official.

Warm-down
Low intensity swimming used by swimmer after a race or main practice set to rid the body of excess lactic acid, and to gradually reduce heart rate and respiration.

Warm-up
Low-intensity swimming used by swimmers prior to a main practice set or a race to get muscles loose and warm, and to gradually increase heart rate and respiration.

Watches
Stopwatches used to time swimmers during a competition. When totally automatic timing equipment is used, watches serve as a back-up method.

I.M.
Slang for individual medley, an event in which the swimmer uses all four strokes in the following order