TEAMGOLDUSA · FREE FAMILY GUIDES
Swimming Terminology
A plain-language glossary of swimming events, courses, meet procedures, and race terms.
Public guide · Free to read
Common terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| SCY | Short Course Yards: competition in a 25-yard pool. |
| LCM | Long Course Meters: competition in a 50-meter pool. |
| Seed Time | The entry time used to place an athlete into a heat. |
| Heat | One group of athletes racing the same event. |
| Finals | A later qualifying round used to determine final placing. |
| Split | A recorded time for part of a race. |
| DQ | Disqualification for a rule violation. |
| NT | No Time: the athlete does not have an entry time for that event. |
| Cut | A qualifying time standard. |
| Relay | A team event in which multiple athletes each swim a segment. |
| Positive Check-In | A required confirmation that an athlete intends to swim certain events. |
| Scratch | Withdrawal from an event according to meet procedures. |
Questions families ask
Where do we confirm changing details?
Use the current meet announcement, your club’s calendar, and the latest coach communication. Ask the coach to resolve conflicting information before making plans.
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