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Glossary of swimming terms
A B
C D E F G H
I J K L M N
O P Q R S
T
U VW XYZ
Aerobic
top
Longer distance energy system (see Energy).
Age for competitors
top
Generally age-determined events rely on the age a swimmer will be on 31
December of the year of the competition.
Age group top
Swimmer/competition for U16.
Age group squads
top
The competitive 10-16 year old squads
Anaerobic top
Sprint energy systems (see Energy).
ASA top
Amateur Swimming Association.
ASA number top
A unique reference comprising the first 4 letters of the surname, first
initial, second initial or X, and date of birth in the form ddmmyy. Has to be
applied for on a form available from Tim.
BAG points
top
The ASA's British Age Group (BAG) points system. This is based on a
statistical analysis of lower age group times. It provides factors to correct
for the differences in difficulty of the events within a given year of birth but
not between years.
BAGCAT scoring
top
5 scores are awarded. One each for the best BAG point in each of:
(a) 50m any stroke (sprints);
(b) 200m Back, Breast, Fly (form);
(c) Individual Medley;
(d) Freestyle distance (200m+); and
(e) (If applicable) 100m any stroke.
The sum of these scores determines the overall points and a point must be scored
in each applicable category.
Boxes top
At opens and County championships the place where entry cards must be
handed in before the start of the warm-up.
Cards
top
Entry cards. At opens and County championships a card is sent to each
competititor for each event entered. This shows the entry time, the start time
of the gala and competitor number. These cards must be checked when they arrive,
taken to the gala and handed in before the start of the warm-up.
Catch-up top
A front-crawl drill.
Competitive Development
Continuum top
The ASA's regime introduced in 1999/2000 for age group swimmers to breed
future Olympians.
Designated gala
top
A gala designated by the ASA for national and district qualifying times.
District
top
The level of competition between County and
National. WSC is part of the Southern Counties District (SCASA).
DQ top
Disqualified. For all sorts of reasons - false start, not touching the
wall properly, incorrect technique and others.
Energy
top
The cardio-vascular system provides energy. The body has three
complementary energy systems. The first two are anaerobic, which instantly
provide energy and do not use oxygen, but will only produce energy for 45-55
seconds. The third system is aerobic and needs a constant supply of oxygen. It
is a slower and more economical system of energy production. The anaerobic
systems are the major provider for 25m and 50m sprints whilst the 200m events,
and longer, are mainly served by the aerobic system.
Entry time top
The time on the entry form, the best time achieved within a given period
of the closing date for entries.
Form stroke
top
Back, Breast of Fly.
Heat declared winner (HDW)
top
Only heats are swum, not heats and finals. Several events are swum
together, usually different ages of the same stroke and distance. Swimmers are
graded by entry time. The winner is the swimmer in the relevant category,
usually age, with the fastest time, not the winner of a particular heat.
A nightmare for spectators wanting to know the
result because you have to identify all the swimmers in a particular age
category and note all their times before you know how well your swimmer has done
(barring disqualifications).
Individual Medley
top
A race in which all 4 strokes are combined in the order - Fly, Back,
Breast, Freestyle. [When swum in a relay, the order is Back, Breast, Fly, Free -
so as to avoid a takeover to backstroke.]
Kick
top
A legs-only set.
Kick board top
The flat float for some legs only drills.
Lane order
top
The lane order for
finals is decided from times in the heats or semi-finals. The fastest qualifier
will swim in lane 4, second fastest in lane 5, third in lane 3, fourth in lane
6, fifth in lane 2, sixth in lane 7, seventh in lane 1 and eighth in lane 8.
Theoretically, this creates spearhead format in the race.
Lollipop gala
top
A friendly (or not so) gala between local clubs.
Long course
top
Races in a 50-metre pool.
Masters
top
Swimmers 25 or over.
Medley relay
top
A relay where each swimmer swims a different stroke in the order - Back,
Breast, Fly, Freestyle.
Notice Board
top
The Club Notice Board just inside the swing doors to the balcony
overlooking the pool at Putney Leisure Centre. There is also a notice Board at
St Paul's in the lobby just before the pool.
NQT top
National Qualifying Time, must be obtained in an ASA designated event.
Off X seconds/ minutes
top
The interval between the start of one set and the next. Any spare time is
rest.
One start rule
top
If a swimmer starts before the gun/whistle/beeper, he or she is
disqualified. This is the current ASA standard.
Open event top
A race in which swimmers of any age may compete.
Open gala top
A gala open to swimmers from any club, but usually of a specific age.
Over the top start
top
Swimmers from the last race remain in the water until the next race has
started.
PB
top
Personal Best, the best time ever swum by that person over that distance
for that stroke.
PLC top
Putney Leisure Centre
Pull top
An arms only set.
Pull-buoy top
The keyhole shaped float that keeps your left afloat in an arms only
drill.
Putney top
Putney Leisure Centre, WSC headquarters.
Rankings
top
Lists of the top 50 swimmers in each age/gender from 10 years (see age)
upwards.
Red top top
When the red hand of the timing clock is pointing to the 12 o'clock
position. "Red 15" is when it is pointing 3 o'clock and so on.
Rest Interval/RI
top
Rest period at the end of a set.
SCASA
top
Southern Counties ASA.
SCWP&SA
top
Surrey County Water Polo and Swimming Association, to which WSC is
affiliated.
Senior top
Swimmer aged 17 years and over (25+ year olds are also Masters).
Session top
A training period, usually 90 minutes.
Set top
A series of training routines.
Short course
top
Races in a 25-metre pool.
Slide and glide
top
A front crawl drill.
Spearhead
top
The lane order for
finals is decided from times in the heats or semi-finals. The fastest qualifier
will swim in lane 4, second fastest in lane 5, third in lane 3, fourth in lane
6, fifth in lane 2, sixth in lane 7, seventh in lane 1 and eighth in lane 8.
Theoretically, this creates spearhead format in the race.
Speedo top
A league organised by the Company in which we compete. 3 rounds take place in
the winter.
Splits top
The time at each 25/50m turn.
Swimmers will monitor these to check how they paced a race.
Squadron top
A freestyle relay of usually 10 swimmers in each team, arranged boy/girl in each
age group, oldest last.
St Paul's top
Colet Court/St Paul's Boys School pool.
Streamlining
top
Reducing the cross sectional area of the body to the minimum to make faster
progress through the water as a result of less drag.
Surreys top
The County level competition in which we compete for the time being.
The boundaries change in 2005 and we will compete in the new London
arrangements, details of which are still not firm.
Swim down top
A gentle set to relax the muscles after training or competition to reduce
lactate build up.
Taper top
Prior to any big competition, a
swimmer will 'taper'. All this really means is that they rest. They
will cut back the amount of training they do and decrease the intensity.
Warm up
top
A gentle set at the beginning of a session or gala to acclimatise the muscles
for what is to come.
WASA top
Wandsworth ASA (the Wandsworth Borough squad).
WBC top
Wandsworth Borough Council, one of our local Councils.
Wey Valley top
A league in which we compete. 3 rounds take place in the late winter, early
spring.
Year
top
Age-determined events are categorised by the age a swimmer either on 31 December
of the year of the competition or on the date of the competition. Look at
the promoters material to see which.
If
you think there is anything missing from this list, please e-mail me at webmaster@wandsworthsc.com
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