Swimming Terminology

CLERK OF COURSE:

The Clerk of Course checks the swimmers each for each event and gets them in the correct order and correct lane according to the heat sheet. This is also the designated area where swimmers go to be pre-staged for the upcoming events; swimmers are usually placed on benches in the order they will swim.

DQ (Disqualified):

A swimmer who commits a stroke violation or fails to touch properly. No time is recorded and no points scored for that swimmer for that event.

EVENT:

Any race or a series of races, in a given stroke and distance.

EVENT LENGTHS:

25 meters or one pool length, 50 meters or two pool lengths, 100 meters or 4 pool lengths

FALSE START:

Any swimmer who is not motionless when the starting gun is fired or who leaves the starting blocks before the gun is fired is charged with a false start. A swimmer charged with 2 false starts is disqualified from the particular event.

HEAT:

A division of an event in which there are too many swimmers to compete at one time. A pool usually has 6 lanes for each race. If there are more racers than lanes, multiple heats may be swum for a single event to allow all swimmers a chance to swim that event.

HEAT SHEET:

A booklet that lists the event, heat, and assignment for each swimmer.

I.M. (Individual Medley):

An event in which the swimmer uses all four strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. This event is not swum at the meet, but is often done in practice.  

LANE:

The specific area, marked by lane lines, in which a swimmer is assigned to swim.

LANE LINES:

Continuous floating markers attached to a line stretched from the starting end of the pool to the turning end of the pool, for the purpose of separating each lane.

LEG (Relay):

The part of a relay event that is swum by a single team member.

MEET:

Competition designed to be a learning experience. By implementing what has been learned in practice, swimmers test their time against the clock and other swimmers to see how they are improving.

MEDLEY:

Race consisting of all four strokes (free, back, butterfly and breast stroke)

FREE RELAY:

An event in which several swimmers compete together as a team to achieve one time.

STROKES:

Freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breast stroke

SCRATCH:

To withdraw from an event in a competition.

STARTING BLOCK:

The platform the swimmer stands on to begin a race.

BACKSTROKE FLAGS:

Located 15 feet from each end of the pool and strung across the pool above the water, indicating to backstroke swimmers that they are nearing the end of the pool.