Alternate In a Prelims/Finals meet, after the finalist are decided, the next two fastest swimmers other than the finalist are designated as alternates. The faster of the 2 being first alternate and the next being second alternate. If a finalist cannot participate, the alternates are called to take their place, often on a moments notice.

Anchor The final swimmer in a relay.

Approved Meet A meet conducted with sufficient USA Swimming officials to certify conformance to USA Swimming rules. The meet may include competitors who are not USA Swimming members. The meet may be a competition sanctioned at the LSC level with the added approval of USA Swimming because both member and non-member athletes will be competing.

Backstroke One of the 4 competitive racing strokes, basically any style of swimming on your back. Backstroke is swam as the first stroke in the Medley Relay and second stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200 yards/meter. (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yd back)

Blocks The starting platforms located behind each lane. Some pools have blocks at the deeper end of the pool, and some pools have blocks at both ends. Blocks have a variety of designs and can be permanent or removable.

Breaststroke One of the 4 competitive racing strokes. Breaststroke is swam as the second stroke in the Medley Relay and the third stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200 yards/meter. (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yd back)

Butterfly One of the 4 competitive racing strokes. Butterfly (nicknamed FLY) is swam as the third stroke in the Medley Relay and first stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, and 200 yards/meter. (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yard back)

Cards A card that may either be handed to the swimmer in the marshalling area or given to the timer behind the lane. Cards usually list the swimmers name, USA-S number, seed time, event number, event description, and the lane and heat number the swimmer will swim in. Backup times are written on these cards. Each event may have a separate card.

Carbohydrates The main source of food energy used by athletes. Refer to a Nutritional Manual for more information.

Championship Meet The meet held at the end of a season. Qualification times are usually necessary to enter meet.

Championship Finals  The top 6 or 8 swimmers (depending on the # of pool lanes) in a Prelims/Finals meet who, after the Prelims swim, qualify to return to the Finals. The fastest heat of finals when multiple heats are held. Big Finals.

Check-In The procedure required before a swimmer swims an event in a deck seeded meet. Sometimes referred to as positive check in, the swimmer must mark their name on a list posted by the meet host.

Check-Out The parents job at the motel. This is listed here to remind parents to request "Late Check Out" times if offered at no charge by the motel. This makes the last day of the meet a little less hectic.

Circle Seeding A method of seeding swimmers when they are participating in a prelims/finals event. The fastest 18 to 24 swimmers are seeded in the last three heats, with the fastest swimmers being in the inside lanes. (Ie) Lane 4 in the final 3 heats. See rule book for exact method for seeding depending on the lanes in the pool.

Consolation Finals After the fastest 6 or 8 swimmers, the next 6 or 8 swimmers (depending on the # of pool lanes) in a Prelims/Finals meet who, after the Prelims swim, qualify to return to the Finals. Consolations are the second fastest heat of finals when multiple heats are held and are conducted before the Championship heat.

Course Designated distance (length of pool) for swimming competition. (Ie) Long Course = 50 meters / Short Course = 25 yards or 25 meters.

Deadline The date meet entries must be "postmarked" by, to be accepted by the meet host. Making the meet deadline does not guarantee acceptance into a meet since many meets are "full" weeks before the entry deadline.

Deck The area around the swimming pool reserved for swimmers, officials, and coaches. No one but an "authorized" USA Swimming member may be on the deck during a swim competition.

Deck Entries Accepting entries into swimming events on the first day or later day of a meet.

Deck Seeding Swimmers report to a bull pen or staging area and receive their lane and heat assignments for the events.

Dehydration The abnormal depletion of body fluids (water). The most common cause of swimmers cramps and sick feelings.

Distance How far a swimmer swims. Distances for short course are: 25 yards (1 length), 50 yards (2 lengths),100 yards (4 lengths), 200 yards (8 lengths), 400 yards (16 lengths), 500 yards (20 lengths), 1000 yards (40 lengths), 1650 yards (66 lengths). Distances for long course are: 50 meters (1 length), 100 meters (2 lengths), 200 meters (4 lengths), 400 meters (8 lengths), 800 meters (16 lengths), 1500 meters (30 lengths).

Disqualified A swimmers performance is not counted because of a rules infraction. A disqualification is shown by an official raising one arm with open hand above their head. Also known as DQ’d

Dual Meet Type of meet where two (2) teams/clubs compete against each other.

Dropped Time When a swimmer goes faster than the previous performance they have "dropped their time".

Dryland The exercises and various strength programs swimmers do out of the water.

Entry An Individual, Relay team, or Club roster's event list into a swim competition.

Entry Chairperson The host clubs designated person who is responsible for receiving, and making sure the entries have met the deadline, or returning the entries if the meet is full. This person usually will find discrepancies in the meet entries and notify the entering club to correct any errors.

Entry Fees The amount per event a swimmer or relay is charged. This varies depending on the LSC and type of meet.

Entry Limit Each meet will usually have a limit of total swimmers they can accept, or a time limit they can not exceed.Once an entry limit has been reached, a meet will be closed and all other entries returned.

Electronic Timing Timing system operated on DC current (battery). The timing system usually has touchpads in the water, junction boxes on the deck with hook up cables, buttons for backup timing, and a computer type console that prints out the results of each race. Some systems are hooked up to a scoreboard that displays swimmers.

Eligible to compete The status of a member swimmer that means they are registered and have met all the requirements.

Equipment The items necessary to operate a swim practice or conduct a swim competition.

Event A race or stroke over a given distance. An event equals 1 preliminary with its final, or 1 timed final.

False Start When a swimmer leaves the starting block before the horn or gun. One false start will disqualify a swimmer or a relay team, although the starter or referee may disallow the false start due to unusual circumstances.

False Start Rope A recall rope across the width of the racing pool for the purpose of stopping swimmers who were not aware of a false start. The rope is about 1/2 way on yard pools and about 50 feet from the starting end on meter pools.

Fastest to Slowest A seeding method used on the longer events held at the end of a session. The fastest seeded swimmers participate in the first heats followed by the next fastest and so on. Many times these events will alternate one girls heat and one boys heat until all swimmers have competed.

Finals The final race of each event. See "Big Finals", "Consolation Finals", "Timed Finals", etc.

Final Results The printed copy of the results of each race of a swim meet.

Fine The monetary penalty assessed a swimmer or club when a swimmer does not achieve the necessary time required to swim in an event, and cannot prove they have done the time previously.

Fins Large rubber fin type devices that fit on a swimmers feet. Used in swim practice, not competition.

Flags Pennants that are suspended over the width of each end of the pool approximately 15 feet from the wall.

Format The order of events and type of swim meet being conducted.

Fund Raiser A money making endeavor by a swim team/club usually involving both parents and swimmers.

Freestyle One of the 4 competitive racing strokes. Freestyle (nicknamed Free) is swam as the fourth stroke in the Medley Relay and fourth stroke in the I.M. Racing distances are 50 yards/meter, 100 yards/meter, 200 yards/meter, 400 mtr/500 yd 800 mtr/1000 yds, 1500 mtr/1650 yds. (LSCs with 8-under divisions offer the 25 yd free)

Goals The short and long range targets for swimmers to aim for.

Goggles Glasses type devices worn by swimmers to keep their eyes from being irritated by the chlorine in the water.

Gun/Bell Lap The part of a freestyle distance race (400 meters or longer) when the swimmer has 2 lengths plus 5 yards to go. The starter fires a gun shot or rings a bell over the lane of the lead swimmer when swimmer is at the backstroke flags.

Heats A division of an event when there are too many swimmers to compete at the same time. The results are compiled by swimmers time swam, after all heats of the event are completed.

Heat Award A ribbon or coupon given to the winner of a single heat at an age group swim meet.

Heat Sheet The pre-meet printed listings of swimmers seed times in the various events at a swim meet. These sheets vary in accuracy, since the coaches submit swimmers times many weeks before the meet. Heat sheets are sold at the admissions table and are used mainly to make sure the swimmer has been properly entered in all the events they signed up for. Parents enjoy looking at the seedings prior to the race plus swimmers can tell the order the events will be conducted and get a rough idea how long the meet sessions will last.

High Point An award given to the swimmer scoring the most points in a given age group at a swim meet. All meets do not offer high point awards; check the pre meet information.

Illegal Doing something against the rules that is cause for disqualification.

IM Individual Medley. A swimming event using all 4 of the competitive strokes on consecutive lengths of the race. The order must be: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle. Equal distances must be swam of each stroke. Distances offered: 100 yards, 200 yards/meters, 400 yards/meter.

Interval A specific elapsed time for swimming or rest used during swim practice.

Invitational Type of meet that requires a club to request an invitation to attend the meet.

J.O. Junior Olympics. An age group championship meet conducted by the LSC.

Jump An illegal start done by the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th member of a relay team. The swimmer on the block breaks contact with the block before the swimmer in the water touches the wall.

Kick Board A flotation device used by swimmers during practice. A lightweight object used with great accuracy by coaches.

Lane The specific area in which a swimmer is assigned to swim. (ie) Lane 1 or Lane 2. Pools with starting blocks at only one end: As the swimmers stand behind the blocks, lanes are numbered from Right (lane 1) to Left (Lane 6).

Lane Lines Continuous floating markers attached to a cable stretched from the starting end to the turning end for the purpose of separating each lane and quieting the waves caused by racing swimmers.

Lap One length of the course. Sometimes may also mean down and back (2 lengths) of the course.

Lap Counter The large numbered cards (or the person turning the cards) used during the freestyle events 500 yards or longer. Counting is done from the end opposite the starting end. The numbers on the cards are "odd numbers"only with the final lap being designated by a bright orange card.

Late Entries Meet entries from a club or individual that are received by the meet host after the entry deadline. These entries are usually not accepted and are returned to sender.

Leg The part of a relay event swam by a single team member. A single stroke in the IM.

Length The extent of the competitive course from end to end. See lap.

Long Course A 50 meter pool.

LSC Local Swim Committee. The local level administrative division of the corporation (USA-S) with supervisory responsibilities within certain geographic boundaries designated by the Corporation.

Mark The command to take your starting position.

Marshall The adult(s) (official) who control the crowd and swimmer flow at a swim meet.

Medals Awards given to the swimmers at meets. They vary in size and design and method of presentation.

Meet A series of events held in one program.

Meet Director The official in charge of the administration of the meet. The person directing the "dry side" of the meet.

Meters The measurement of the length of a swimming pool that was built per specs using the metric system. Long course meters is 50 meters, short course meters is 25 meters.

MTSL Michigan Team Swim League

Mile The slang referring to the 1500 meter or the 1650 yard freestyle, both of which are slightly short of a mile.

NAGTS National Age Group Time Standards - the list of "C" through "AAAA" times published each year.

Nationals USA Swimming National Championship meet conducted in March/April and August.

Natatorium A building constructed for the purpose of housing a swimming pool and related equipment.

Novice A beginner or someone who does not have experience. Also the meet at the end of the season for swimmers who do not achieve an MTSL State Meet qualifying time.

NT No Time. The abbreviation used on a heat sheet to designate that the swimmer has not swam that event before.

Observed Meet        A meet that is not conducted according to USA Swimming rules (high school, YMCA) where a request for observation has been procesed and approved in advance. Sufficient USA Swimming officials are present to certify that the athletes' swims are in compliance with USA Swimming technical rules.

Observed Swim        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.

Officials The certified, adult volunteers, who operate the many facets of a swim competition.

OT Official Time. The swimmers event time recorded to one hundredth of a second (.01).

Parka Large 3/4 length fur lined coats worn by swimmers. Usually are in team colors with logo or team name.

Pace Clock The electronic clocks or large clocks with highly visible numbers and second hands, positioned at the ends or sides of a swimming pool so the swimmers can read their times during warmups or swim practice.

Paddle Colored plastic devices worn on the swimmers hands during swim practice.

Positive Check In The procedure required before a swimmer swims an event in a deck seeded or pre seeded meet. The swimmer must mark their name on a list posted by the meet host.

Practice The scheduled workouts a swimmers attends with their swim team/club.

Prelims Session of a Prelims/Finals meet in which the qualification heats are conducted.

Prelims-Finals Type of meet with two sessions. The preliminary heats are usually held in the morning session. The fastest 6 or 8 (Championship Heat) swimmers, and the next fastest 6 or 8 swimmers (Consolation Heat) return in the evening to compete in the Finals. A swimmer who has qualified in the Consolation Finals may not place in the Championship Finals even if their finals time would place them so. The converse also applies.

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 Meet heat sheet or posted meet program.

Proof of Time An official meet result, OVC, or other accepted form. Swimmers/Coaches must supply proof of time with some meet entries, and other meets it is not required unless a swimmer misses a cut of time at the meet.

Psyche Sheet An entry sheet showing all swimmers entered into each individual event. Sometimes referred to as a "Heat Sheet" or meet program. However, a “heat sheet” would show not only every swimmer in an event, but also what heat and lane they are swimming in.

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

Qualifying Times Published times necessary to enter certain meets, or the times necessary to achieve a specific category of swimmer. See "A" "AA" (etc.) times.

Q1 Qualifying times necessary to swim in the championship meet

Q2 Qualifying times necessary to swim in J.O.’s

Referee The head official at a swim meet in charge of all of the "Wet Side" administration and decisions.

Registered Enrolled and paid as a member of USA-S and the LSC.

Relays A swimming event in which 4 swimmers participate as a relay team each swimmer swimming an equal distance of the race. There are two types of relays: 1.) Medley relay - One swimmer swims Backstroke, one swimmer swims Breaststroke, one swimmer swims Butterfly, one swimmer swims Freestyle, in that order. Medley relays are conducted over 200 yd/mtr and 400 yd/mtr distances. 2.) Freestyle relay - Each swimmer swims freestyle. Free relays are conducted over 200 yd/mtr, 400 yd/mtr, and 800 yd/mtr distances.

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

Sanction A permit issued by an LSC to a USA-S group member to conduct an event or meet.

Sanction Fee The amount paid by a USA-S group member to an LSC for issuing a sanction.

Sanctioned Meet       A meet that is approved by the LSC in which is is held.  Meet must be conducted according to USA Swimming rules. All participants, including coaches, athletes and officials, must be USA Swimming members.

Schedule USA-S or LSC list of meets with dates, meet host, meet location, type of meet, and contacts address and phone.

Scratch To withdraw from an event after having declared an intention to participate. Some meets have scratch deadlines and specific scratch rules, and if not followed, swimmer can be disqualified from remaining events.

Sectionals               Nickname for Speedo Championship Series (see below).

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

Seeding Deck Seeding - swimmers are called to report to the Clerk of the Course. After scratches are determined, the event is seeded. Pre Seeding - swimmers are arranged in heats according to submitted times, usually a day prior to the meet.

Senior Meet A meet that is for senior level swimmers and is not divided into age groups. Qualification times are usually necessary and will vary depending on the level of the meet.

Senior A USA-S National Championship meet for swimmers of any age as long as the qualification times are met.

Session Portion of meet distinctly separated from other portions by locale, time, type of competition, or age group.

Sets A portion of the workout. Example: Main set, pull set, kick set

Shave The process of removing all arm, leg, and exposed torso hair, to decrease the "drag" or resistance of the body moving through the water. Used only by Seniors at very important (Championship) meets.

Short Course A 25 yard or 25 meter pool.

Simultaneously A term used in the rules of butterfly and breaststroke, meaning at the same time.

Split A portion of an event, shorter than the total distance, that is timed. (ie) A swimmers first 50 time is taken as the swimmer swims the 100 race. It is common to take multiple splits for the longer distances.

Stations Separate portions of a dryland or weight circuit.

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.

Still Water Water that has no current caused by a filter system or no waves caused by swimmers.

State A meet held twice a year (Short Course and Long Course) sponsored by the LSC. In larger LSCs it is common to hold a Championship Senior meet and Age Group meet separately. Qualification times are usually necessary.

State Qualifier A swimmer who has made the necessary cut off times to enter the State meet.

Stand-up The command given by the Starter or Referee to release the swimmers from their starting position.

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 everything is not right for the race to start.

Stroke There are 4 competitive strokes: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.

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.

Submitted Time Times used to enter swimmers in meets. These times must have been achieved by the swimmer at previous meets.

Suit The racing uniform worn by the swimmer, in the water, during competition. The four most popular styles/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 ties stand.

Taper The resting phase of a senior swimmer at the end of the season before the championship meet.

Team USA-S Registered club that has the right 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.

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

Time Standard A time set by a meet or LSC or USA-S (etc) that a swimmer must achieve for qualification or recognition.

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

Time Trial An event or series of events where a swimmer may achieve or better a required time standard.

Top 16 A list of times compiled by the LSC or USA-S that recognizes the top 16 swimmers in each age group (boys & girls) by each event and distance. The number 16 was arbitrarily chosen because it would normally fill the finals and consoles heats at a swim meet.

Touch Out To reach the touchpad and finish first in a close race.

Touch Pad The removable plate (on the end of pools) that is connected to an automatic timing system. A swimmer must properly touch the touchpad to register an official time in a race.

Transfer The act of leaving one club or LSC and going to another. Usually 120 days of unattached competition is required before swimmer can represent another USA-S club.

Tri-meet A meet with 3 team competing for points to see who places 1st-2nd-3rd.

Trophy Type of award given to teams and swimmers at meets.

Unattached An athlete member who competes, but does not represent a club or team. (abbr. UN)

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

USA-S The governing body of swimming--USA Swimming.

USA Swimming The national governing body of the sport headquartered in Colorado Springs.

USA-S ID Number A 16 part number assigned to a swimmer after they have filled out the proper forms and paid their annual dues. The first 6 parts are numbers of swimmers birthdate: Day/Month/Year using zeros as place holders. The next three spaces are the first three letters of the athletes legal first name. The next letter is the middle initial, followed by the first four letters of the swimmers last name. For example: USA-S ID# for swimmer Suzanne Eileen Nelson and born Aug.27, 1976 = 082776SUZENELS.

USS Michigan Swimming

Warm-down The recovery swimming a swimmer does after a race when pool space is available.

Warm-up The practice and "loosing" up session a swimmer does before the meet or their event is swum.

Watch The hand held device used by timers and coaches for timing a swimmers races and taking splits.

Water For the purpose of filling swimming pools and swimmers drinking to properly hydrate themselves.

Weights The various barbells / benches / machines used by swimmers during their dryland program.

Whistle The sound a starter/referee makes to signal for quiet before they give the command to start the race.

Wombat A term given by Hammerhead swimmers describing an enormously large hairball floating in the pool.

Work Out The practice sessions a swimmer attends.

Yards The measurement of the length of a swimming pool that was built per specs using the American system. A short course yard pool is 25 yards (75 feet) in length.

Yardage The distance a swimmer races or swims in practice. Total yardage can be calculated for each practice session.

Zones The country is divided up into 4 major zones: Eastern - Southern - Central - Western. At the end of the long course season (in August) the Zone Administration sponsors a championship age group meet.