MASTERS SWIMMING: structured and supervised swimming period, where groups of adults participate in a set program; techniques and drills are utilized to improve performance

MEET: equivalent to a "game"

MIDDLE DISTANCE: events 200-400 yards/meter in length

NATIONAL AGE GROUP TIME STANDARD: (1) time standards derived from the previous years' results; broken down by age and sex as well as B, A, AA, AAA, AAAA divisions; these designations are and may be used for qualifying purposes; many LSCs have their own time standards

NATIONAL AGE GROUP TOP 16: time standards set for both short and long course based on previous years' achievements; only times meeting these standards may be submitted for consideration each year

NEGATIVE SPLIT: swimming the second half of the race equal to or faster than the first half

OFFICIAL: a judge on the deck of the pool at a sanctioned competition who is there to enforce rules; there are stroke and turn judges, administrative officials, starters, timers and referees

OPEN SWIMMING: see recreational swimming

OPEN WATER SWIMMING: an organized swim event in the ocean, lake or river; distances tend to be longer

PACE CLOCK: large clock with a large second hand and a smaller minute hand, used to check pace or to maintain intervals in practice; may also be digital 

PRELIMS: (1) preliminaries, also called heats or trial (2) races in which swimmers qualify for the championship and consolation finals in events

PROOF OF TIME: a requirement at some meets to make certain that all swimmers have legally met time standards for that meet

Q-Time: qualifying time necessary to compete in a particular event and/or competition

RECREATIONAL SWIM TEAM: swim team run by a club, or municipality or county 

RECREATIONAL SWIMMING: (1) also called open swimming (2) set time when swimmers of all ages may come to the pool; no lane lines are in the water; the water is "open"

REFEREE: (1) official who has the authority over all other officials at a meet (2) makes all final decisions and sees to the efficient running of the meet

RELAY: an event in which four swimmers compete together as a team to achieve one time

SCRATCH: to withdraw from an event

SEED: to distribute the swimmers among the heats and lanes according to their times; in most cases, the fastest swimmers are in the final heat of an event

SEEDING TIMES: time a swimmer uses to enter a meet; this time, which is written on the entry card, determines ones position and lane in a particular meet

SENIOR SWIMMING: program which provides fair and open competition in national swimming championships; it is designed to afford maximum opportunity for participation, provide an educational experience, enhance physical and mental conditioning and develop a pool of talented athletes for international competition; there are no age restrictions in senior competition

SET: combined group of drills to form a complete practice

SHORT COURSE: a pool 25 yards or 25 meters in length

SPLIT: (1) swimmer's intermediate time in a race; splits are registered every 50 yards or meters and are used to determine if a swimmer is on record pace (2) under certain conditions, splits may also be used as official times

SPRINT: (1) describes the shorter events (50 and 100) (2) in training, to swim as fast as possible for a short distance

STARTER: the official at a meet responsible for starting each heat and calling the next heat to the blocks

STREAMLINE: 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 as it can be

STROKE & TURN JUDGE: official who determines the legality of swimmers’ strokes and turns, and who disqualifies those who do not conform to the rules 

SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING: (1) women’s sport where a water routine or dance is performed to music either singly or in a “synchronized” group; the sport requires high endurance (2) also called water ballet

TAPER: final preparation phase prior to major competition; an older more experienced swimmer will shave his entire body to reduce resistance in the water

TIME TRIAL: a time-only swim, not part of a regular meet

TOUCH PAD: large sensitive board at the end of each lane where a swimmer's touch is registered and sent electronically to the timing system

TRI-MEET: any competition between three clubs

TRIAL: see prelims

U.S. SWIM TEAM: age group program authorized by the U.S. Swimming organization

USA CARD NUMBER: unique number assigned to a swimmer when they join United States of America Swimming

USA SWIMMING: (1) United States of America Swimming, Inc. (2) national governing body for amateur competitive swimming in the United States

WARM DOWN: low intensity swimming used by swimmers after a race or main practice; it rids the body of excess lactic acid and gradually reduces heart rate and respiration

WARM UP: used by a swimmer prior to a main practice, set or race; loosens and warms muscles and gradually increases heart rate and respiration

WATER AEROBICS: see water exercise

WATER BALLET: see synchronized swimming 

WATER EXERCISE: (1) also called water aerobics (2) an exercise routine in the water

WATER POLO: high endurance sport with soccer-like strategy played in the pool; forward, backs and goalies try to throw a ball into the opponent's net; players are not allowed to touch the bottom of the pool while playing