One swimming glossary

times achieved by four individuals in separate starts which are added together to arrive at a relay time for entry purposes.

the alternating movement of the legs, commonly known as the flutter kick, is the up-and-down propulsive motion of the legs where one limb moves in the opposite direction of the other at the same time.

that part of the body that extends from the shoulder to the wrist.

the torso, including shoulders and hips.

designated distance over which the competition is conducted.

50 meters.

25 yards or 25 meters.

designated wall for racing turns and finishes.

any race or series of races in a given stroke and/or distance. For competitive limits, one event is inclusive of preliminary heat(s) plus its related final(s), or one timed final, or one time trial.

a session of a meet in which the concluding heats of an event are contested which may include championship, consolation, or bonus finals. • Championship (A) Final — the fastest heat of swimmers competing in Finals • Consolation Final(s) — the second fastest and subsequent heats of swimmers competing in Finals for which team selection, scoring points and/or prize money are awarded • Bonus Final(s) — any finals heat in which no points or placement prizes are awarded

the instant that a swimmer touches the wall at the end of the prescribed distance.

an entry made while facing the course.

an instance of obstruction, interference, collision, or equipment malfunction which prevents the successful completion of a race.

a division of an event in which there are too many swimmers to compete at one time. (See Preliminary Heats and Timed Final Heats)

parallel to the surface of the water.

that first portion of a race for which an official time may be recorded but which is not in itself a completed event.

continuous floating markers attached to a line stretched from the starting end to the turning end of the course for the purpose of separating each lane.

extent of the course from end to end.

position of the body when the shoulders are past vertical towards the back.

position of the body when the shoulders are at or past vertical towards the breast.

competition in which a number of heats are swum to qualify the fastest swimmers for the Finals.

having power to propel.

a race in which four eligible team members each swim a specified portion of the course.

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

use of the top of the instep of one foot and the bottom of the other foot in the propulsive part of the kick.

occurring at the same time.

competition in which only heats are swum and final placings are determined by the times achieved in the heats.

contact with the end of the course.

a point where the swimmers reverse or change direction.

perpendicular to the water surface.

vertical portion of the pool, contiguous surfaces of the deck and overflow gutter, the front portion of the starting block or platform, or the touchpad at the end of the course.

a bell, whistle, air horn, or other appropriate audible device.

withdraw an entry from competition.

termination of an open water event prior to its completion due to safety considerations.

boats or paddle boards used in open water competition for the swimmers’ safety and logistical support.

an open water event in which each swimmer is required to have an escort craft accompany the swimmer throughout the race.

a mechanical implement used by coaches or support personnel to deliver fluid and/or food to open water swimmers during the race.

the physical location where an open water race terminates.

the boat used as a course guide for open water swimmers.

an experienced OW referee who oversees the operations of the entire OW swim meet and ensures that all safety plans, rules, and regulations are followed, and who makes final decisions on any procedure, modification, dispute, or protest to ensure a safe, fair, and equitable competition.

any swimming competition that takes place in rivers, lakes, or oceans.

an attempt by a person not participating in an open water race to enter the water with the intent of providing moral support or otherwise assisting a swimmer in setting the tempo of the race.

a person on a paddle board or manually propelled craft who supports an open water swimmer or group of swimmers.

swimming behind or next to another open water swimmer or support craft for the purpose of taking advantage of the reduced water resistance created by the former’s wake.

persons in an open water swimmer’s escort craft who provide for feeding, navigating, coaching, and other supporting activities.

an open water event where swimmers compete without a designated support craft.

the area located on the sides and ends of the pool, spectator area, team areas within the pool facility (e.g., portion of the building designated for teams and swimmers, or fenced area around an outdoor pool), locker rooms, and such other areas as may be specifically designated by the host club or organization, meet director, or referee. In open water competition, the geographical area and environs where the meet is conducted.

at an open water event, a second or subsequent start used if the start area cannot accommodate all contestants at the same time.

a swimsuit made of material providing thermal insulation.

Referee who performs the duties of an Administrative Official under 102.14 at a prelims-finals meet. The Administrative Referee should have the experience and knowledge to be able to assume the role of the Meet Referee any time during the meet, if necessary.

a permit issued by an LSC for meets conducted in conformance with USA Swimming technical rules in which both members and non-members may compete.

• Competition exclusively among members of a single club • Competition or series of competitions within an independent organization open only to members of that organization, such as: º YMCA competition º Summer league competition º Conference competition • Closed competition does not include representing a group within USA Swimming such as LSC, Zone, Region, or Section, nor does it include dual meets, invitationals, or other meets where only certain clubs are invited to participate.

time achieved in a course that corresponds to the meet competition course.

the deck level Referee who may be assigned by the Meet Referee to perform specific duties as enumerated under 102.11 during a session.

random selection by chance.

competition between two teams.

day on which the first competitive swimming event is conducted.

any athletic competition between any athlete(s) or member organization(s) of USA Swimming, either individually or as part of a team, and any athlete(s) or member organization(s) (e.g., clubs) representing any foreign country.

a competition exclusively among members of a single club.

the start of any timing device by an individual in response to the same starting signal given to the swimmer(s).

document setting forth information of the meet events, schedule, and procedures.

unless otherwise specified in the meet announcement, the Meet Committee shall consist of the Meet Director, Meet Referee, and coach and athlete members as appropriate.

an experienced referee who oversees the entire swim meet and ensures that all rules and regulations are followed by making final decisions on any procedure, modification, dispute, or protest for a fair and equitable competition.

meet in which events of Age Group and Junior, Senior, or any other classification are offered.

an official time that qualifies as one of the fastest for a given age group as defined in the SWIMS portion of the Operating Policy Manual.

entry time achieved in a course which does not correspond to the course in which the meet will be conducted.

a swim observed by assigned USA Swimming officials for conformance with USA Swimming technical rules in a meet conducted under other than USA Swimming rules.

a time achieved in a USA Swimming sanctioned or approved competition or in an observed swim in accordance with USA Swimming technical rules.

competition that is not otherwise defined as a closed competition in which any qualified club, organization or individual may enter.

an event in which any qualified individual may compete, regardless of age.

official assigned to record the order of finish of all swimmers by lane in each heat.

the order of events, including starting times and intermissions in a meet or portion thereof (See Session), sequentially listed by class of competition, sex, age group, distance, and stroke as set forth in the meet announcement.

a permit issued by an LSC to a USA Swimming group member to conduct a meet in conformance with all USA Swimming rules in which all participating swimmers are athlete members of USA Swimming, except as provided in Article 202.5.1.

to distribute the swimmers among the required number of heats and/or lanes, according to their submitted or preliminary times.

swimmers are required to check in for their events on the day of the meet. After scratches are determined, events are seeded.

all entrants are seeded prior to the day of competition.

any portion of a meet distinctly separated from other portions by locale, time, or type of competition, i.e., preliminaries and finals; morning and evening; Senior and Age Group, etc.

the time a swimmer must have previously achieved in order to compete in that event at a designated competition.

an event conducted within or independently of a meet where the swimmer races against the clock to establish an official time.

a competition held at multiple venues.

an athlete who has represented the United States in a Delegation Event, World Championships, or another event designated by the USOPC (together with the USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council) and USA Swimming (together with USA Swimming’s Athletes’ Advisory Council) as an elite-level event for purposes of this definition, within the previous 10 years.

an athlete who has represented the United States in a Delegation Event, World Championships, or another event designated by the USOPC (together with the USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council) and USA Swimming (together with USA Swimming’s Athletes’ Advisory Council) as an elite-level event for purposes of this definition, but not within the previous 10 years.

an athlete who has been actively engaged within the 24 months prior to election/selection in a USA Swimming-sanctioned competition (as defined by the USA Swimming Athletes’ Advisory Council and approved by the USA Swimming Athlete Representation Working Group [as defined in the USOPC Bylaws]), which may include events that categorize entrants in age restricted classifications.

an athlete who qualifies as a 10-Year or 10-Year+ Athlete representative, or who has been actively engaged in 24 months prior to election/ selection in a USA Swimming-sanctioned competition (as defined by the USA Swimming Athletes’ Advisory Council and approved by the USA Swimming Athlete Representation Working Group [as defined in the USOPC Bylaws]), which may include events that categorize entrants in agerestricted classifications.

the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act (1998) (or as applicable, the Amateur Sports Act of 1978), as amended from time to time.

status of an athlete member who represents a member club in competition after having met the requirements of Article 203.

unless otherwise noted, shall mean the USA Swimming Board of Directors.

an organization which has been accepted for membership in USA Swimming.

stated as men or women for the purpose of athlete swimming eligibility, competition, selection and records. An athlete’s stated competition category shall be referred to as “gender.”

individually or collectively as applicable, the Olympic Games, the Olympic Winter Games, the Paralympic Games, the Paralympic Winter Games, the Pan American Games, and the Parapan American Games.

a member of a board or committee serving by virtue of some other office or position held (whether in USA Swimming, in an Allied or Affiliate Member, or otherwise), or by virtue of an appointment to such committee or board pursuant to the Bylaws of USA Swimming. Ex-officio members have full rights of membership including the right to vote (unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws or Policy Manual). Ex-officio members without the right to vote are not counted to establish a quorum (unless expressly provided otherwise in the Bylaws).

an athlete member of a World Aquatics member-country federation, other than USA Swimming, or an athlete member of USA Swimming who is not eligible to represent the United States in international competition due to World Aquatics sports citizenship requirements. (See Sports Citizen)

an administrative division of USA Swimming with supervisory responsibilities within certain geographic boundaries designated by USA Swimming.

a written communication notifying about a scheduled meeting of a committee, board or other governing body or group, or other fact or occurrence, required to be made by law, bylaw, rule or regulation. To be considered written, the communication must be addressed, using the last known address on file with the LSC or in SWIMS, to the intended or required recipient(s) and delivered by hand, first class mail, overnight or second day delivery by a national delivery service, facsimile transmission, electronic mail or text message.

document maintained by the President/CEO that specifies operating policies and procedures not contained in Rules & Regulations. New policies adopted shall be vetted and approved by the Board of Directors and appropriate committee chair.

a reduced-fee category of athlete membership for under-represented and/or economically disadvantaged swimmers.

unless otherwise noted, the President and Chief Executive Officer of USA Swimming.

return of all or limited rights of membership in USA Swimming.

an individual athlete membership in USA Swimming which may be offered at the option of the LSC for one or two periods of not more than 150 days in a registration year pursuant to the Corporate Bylaws Article 2.4.

an organization which has been accepted for membership in USA Swimming and which operates within a period of time specified by the LSC.

an individual who (prior to the election to the Board of Directors) has not been a member of a House of Delegates at the national level, but who at present or in the past, has/had an obvious connection to swimming as a swimmer, parent of a swimmer, coach, official, etc.

an athlete who has represented a nation other than the United States in international competition is a sports citizen of that nation and is considered ineligible to represent the United States until World Aquatics requirements for changing sports citizenship (sport nationality) have been met. (See Foreign Swimmer)

a corporation, club, federation, union, association, or other group organized in the United States which sponsors or conducts any athletic competition.

deprivation of all rights of membership in USA Swimming.

a single integrated database system which includes USA Swimming membership data and a databank of achieved times that are considered official and are recognized for proof of entry and recognition programs.

practices where a swimmer who is not a member of USA Swimming participates with a USA Swimming member club for a period not to exceed thirty (30) consecutive days in a twelve (12) month period to determine the swimmer’s interest in becoming a member of USA Swimming.

status of a member who does not represent a club or World Aquatics member Federation in competition.

USA Swimming, Inc., a Colorado corporation.

a permanent physical or cognitive disability that substantially impacts one or more major life activities.

an individual who assists an athlete requiring help with activities of daily living and preparation for athletic participation. A Personal Assistant provides support unique to the needs of the athlete(s) in their care. This support may include, but is not limited to, mobility guidance, assistance with transfer, entering/exiting the pool, dressing, showering, toileting, medication administration, and communication. Some athletes require a Personal Assistant to enable successful participation in the sport, while others need help to assure personal safety in practice and meet environments.

Personal Assistant who uses a pole with a soft-tipped end to tap a blind or visuallyimpaired swimmer as notification of turns and finish.

sufficient in extent to be recognized.

changing, in whole or in part, into or out of a swimsuit when wearing just one suit in an area other than a permanent or temporary locker room, bathroom, changing room or other space designated for changing purposes.

USA Swimming’s office in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

permissive, not mandatory.

the instruction of swimming techniques, skills, knowledge, conditioning, aptitude and motivation.

mandatory.

recommended but not mandatory.

natural and/or synthetic, individual and non-consolidating yarns used to constitute a fabric by weaving, knitting, and/or braiding, or as further defined under current World Aquatics swimwear rules.

the official site maintained by USA Swimming on the internet (usaswimming.org).