Kingsley's Korner - 'Take your Marks'
Key Words A-Z
Anchor
The final swimmer in a relay.
Beep
The starting sound from an electronic computerized timing system.
Blocks
The starting platforms located behind each lane.
Bottom
The floor of the pool. Bottom depths are usually marked on the walls or sides of the pool.
Cap
The latex or lycra covering worn on your head normally in team colours.
Carbohydrates
Your main source of food energy
Chlorine
The chemical used by most pools to kill the bacteria in water and keep it clear and safe for you to swim in.
Club
A registered swim team.
Deadline
The date meet entries must be "postmarked" by, to be accepted by the meet host
Dehydration
When your body loses water. This causes cramps and sick feelings
Distance
How far you have to swim
Disqualified
You are disqualified by an official raising one arm with open hand above their head.
Dive
When you enter the water head first. Diving is not allowed during warm-ups except at the correct time, in specific lanes with your coach.
Entry
When you, relay team, or Club squad list compete in a swim meet.
Equipment
What you need for a swim practice or competition.
Event
A race or stroke you swim over a given distance.
False Start
When you leave the starting block or wall before the horn or gun.
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 you are taking part in.
Gallery
The viewing area for your parents spectators during the swimming competition
Goggles
Glasses type devices worn by you to keep your eyes from being irritated by the chlorine in the water.
Gun
The blank firing pistol that may be used by the starter to start your races.
Heats
These occur when there are too many swimmers to compete at the same time. The results are compiled by the time you swam, after all heats of the event are completed
Horn
A sounding device used in place of a gun. Used mainly with a fully automatic timing system
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
Interval
A specific elapsed time for swimming or rest used during your swim practice.
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
The leg movements you make as a swimmer
Lane
The specific area in which are told to swim.
Leg
The part of a relay event you may swam for your team
Long Course
A 50-metre pool.
Lycra
A stretch material used to make competitive swimsuits and swim hats.
Mark
The command to take your starting position.
Marshall
The adult(s) (official) who control the crowd and swimmer flow at a swim meet.
Novice
A beginner or someone who does not have experience.
Officials
The certified, adult volunteers, who operate the many facets of a swim competition.
Open Competition
Competition which any qualified club, organisation, or individual may enter
Practice
Your scheduled training sessions at our club.
Pull Buoy
A flotation device used for pulling by swimmers in practice.
Qualifying Times
Published times you need to have to enter certain meets, or the times necessary to achieve a specific category of swimmer.
Recall Rope
A rope across the width of the racing pool for the purpose of stopping you if you're not aware of a false start.
Recovery Food
Recovery is also improved by eating/drinking a high-carbohydrate snack as you walk back from your race or head over to swim down (within a few minutes of your race). An energy bar, banana, or recovery drink would be ideal. There's a short period of time following intense exercise where the body absorbs the energy from such a snack much more efficiently. Take advantage of that.
Relays
A swimming event in which 4 swimmers participate as a relay team each swimmer swimming an equal distance of the race.
Short Course
A 25 yard or 25 metre pool
Stand - Down
The command given by the Starter or Referee to have you move off the blocks.
Stand-Up
The command given by the Starter or Referee to release you from your starting position.
Strokes
The four competitive strokes are:
Backstroke
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Freestyle.
Team Medley Relay
Order of stroke:
1. Backstroke
2. Breaststroke
3. Butterly
4. Freestyle
Stand - Down
The command given by the Starter or Referee to have you move off the blocks.
Stand-Up
The command given by the Starter or Referee to release you from your starting position.
Team Medley Relay
Order of stroke:
1. Backstroke
2. Breaststroke
3. Butterly
4. Freestyle
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.
Warm-down
The recovery swimming you need to do after a race when pool space is available.
Warm-up
The practice and "loosening" up session you do before a meet or or event.
Watch
The hand held device used by timers and coaches for timing you in races.