Swimming Terms
Glossary of Swimming Terms
Age Group Swimming: This is the program through which Swimming-Natation Canada (SNC) provides fair and open competition for under 18 years of age members. It is designed to encourage maximum participation, provide an educational experience, enhance physical and mental conditioning.
Backstroke: A type of swimming stroke in which the swimmer swims while on their back using alternating, circular arm movements and flutter kicks.
Block: The starting platform.
Breaststroke: This is a type of swimming stroke in which a swimmer’s body is facing down, and their arms move in a half-circular motion as they kick their legs simultaneously in a frog kick. It is a slow stroke that allows the swimmer to swim with their head above water.
Bulkhead: A wall constructed to divide a pool into different courses, such as a 50m pool into two 25m pools.
Butterfly: A swimming technique similar to breaststroke with the swimmer facing the water. The stroke involves moving one’s arms in unison forward and above the water while performing dolphin kicks with their legs.
Circle Swim: A method of sharing a single lane with multiple swimmers by staying on the right side of the swim lane and moving in a counterclockwise direction.
Distance Event: Term used to refer to events over 400 metres.
Distance per stroke: Distance per stroke measures how far a person has traveled, in meters or yards, based on the number of forward strokes they have performed.
Dolphin Kick: A swimming technique in which swimmers move their legs together in an up-and-down movement, similar to the swimming movements of a dolphin. This type of kick is part of the butterfly stroke.
DQ (Disqualified): This occurs when a swimmer has committed an infraction of some kind (e.g. one handed touch in breaststroke). A disqualified swimmer is not eligible to receive an award, nor will there be an official time in that event.
Dry-land Training: Training done out of the water that aids and enhances swimming performance; usually includes stretching, callisthenics, and/or weight training.
False Start: Occurs when a swimmer is moving at the start prior to the signal.
Flags: Backstroke flags placed 5 metres from the end of the pool. They enable backstrokers to execute a backstroke turn more efficiently through being able to count the number of strokes into each wall.
Flutter Kick: A type of kick in which the swimmer uses short yet fast, up-and-down movements of the legs. The swimmer alternates legs with the direction of the kick, starting at the hip.
Flip Turn: A fast and efficient technique in which a swimmer changes their direction at the end of a lane by executing a somersault underwater and pushing off the wall.
Freestyle: A swimming category in which the swimmer can choose any stroke, except for backstroke in a triathlon or medley.
Front Crawl: Front crawl is a fast stroke that involves alternating strokes and flutter kicks. While swimming, the swimmer faces downward and turns their head to the side to breathe. The term is commonly associated with freestyle.
Glide: A period where the swimmer propels themselves smoothly forward while maintaining a streamlined form and without kicking arm strokes or movement of the head or body.
Goggles: Eyewear protects a swimmer’s eyes from chlorine or other irritants. Goggles may also improve the swimmer’s vision underwater and may have polarized lenses to protect from sun glare when swimming outdoors.
I.M.: Individual medley, an event in which the swimmer uses all four strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle.
Kickboard: This training aid is beneficial in helping swimmers adjust to being in the water with kick exercises and hip positioning.
Kick: The moving of a swimmer’s legs to create propulsion.
Lane lines: These are the dividers between swimming lanes to keep swimmers separated and prevent accidental collisions.
Lap Swimming: Swimming up and down the length of the pool with one lap equaling the length.
Long Course or LC: a 50m long pool.
Negative Split: Swimming the second half of the race faster than the first half.
Official: A judge on the deck of the pool at a sanctioned competition who enforces SNC rules.
Official Split: The first portion of the full distance of an event raced at a sanctioned meet. Example – a 50 or 100 within a 200 meter event.
Pace: The often pre-determined speed with which a swimmer completes each segment of a race (e.g. 25m, 50m).
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).
Scratch: To withdraw from an event in a competition. There can be a monetary penalty for a late scratch.
Short Course or SC: A 25 meter long pool.
Split: A swimmer’s intermediate time in a race. Splits are registered every 50m and are used to determine if a swimmer is on a planned pace. Under certain conditions, initial splits may also be used as official times.
Streamline: The position used to gain maximum distance during a start and/or push-off from the wall in which the swimmer’s body is as tight and straight as it can be.
Swim Cap: A form-fitted cap that protects the swimmer’s hair from chlorine and helps to reduce drag.
Tech Suit: This form-fitted swimsuit that swimmers wear during competitions to improve performance and reduce drag.
Touch Pad: A large sensitive board at the end of each lane where a swimmer’s touch is registered and sent electronically to the timing system.
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.