GLOSSARY OF COMMON SWIMMING TERMS
AGE GROUP SWIM MEET - all USA Swimming registered swimmers, 14 years of age and under, who have met the qualifying time standard for a specific event(s) are eligible to participate in their age category. Age on the first day of competition shall govern the entire meet. (See also: Senior Swim Meet)
AGE GROUP SWIMMER - all USA SWIMMING registered swimmers age 14 and under
CHECK-IN (POSITIVE 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.
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.
CITI - the official abbreviation for Beach Cities Swimming for use on all entry forms for meets.
DECK SEEDING - a procedure of assigning swimmers to proper lanes and heats immediately before each event. (See also: Psych Sheet).
IM (INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY) - A race done by an individual swimmer consisting of one leg of each of the competitive strokes - butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and any other stroke (generally freestyle), in that order.
FINALS (CHAMPIONSHIP OR CONSOLATION) - the session of a meet where the meet winner is determined. It is generally swum in the evening. Finalists are determined by the fastest swimmers in the preliminary rounds (generally swum earlier in the day).
HEAT SHEET - a listing of all swimmers by event number, heat, and lane assignments in the meet.
LONG COURSE - a type of competitive pool, which measures 50 meters in length. The standard size for most international competitions. Typically meets conducted from April through August are swum Long Course.
PACIFIC COMMITTEE - our team's geographic committee, within the Southern California Swimming LSC.
PRELIMS (PRELIMINARIES) - in certain meets, the qualifying rounds held for each event to determine the finalists.
PROOF OF TIME - a requirement at some meets to make certain that all swimmers have legally met the time standards for that meet.
PSYCH SHEET- a ranking by seeding times for all the swimmers entered in each race of a meet, sometimes used at meets in place of a heat sheet.
REFEREE - the USA SWIMMING official who has the authority over all other officials at the meet. He makes all final decisions and sees to the efficient running of the meet.
SEEDING TIMES - the time a swimmer uses to enter a meet. This time determines one's heat and lane in the particular event.
SENIOR SWIM MEET - all USA SWIMMING registered swimmers who have met the qualifying time standard for a specific event(s) are eligible to compete.
SENIOR SWIMMER – all USA SWIMMING registered swimmers age 15 and over
SHORT COURSE - a type of competitive pool, which measures 25 yards or 25 meters in length. Typically meets conducted from September through March are swum Short Course.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SWIMMING (SCS) - the name of the Local Swimming Committee (LSC), charged by USA SWIMMING to govern competitive swimming in the SoCal area and southwestern Nevada.
SPLIT - a per lap time that coaches often record for teaching the concept of pacing. For instance, a swimmer's time for each 50-yard leg of a 200-yard event is their split.
STARTER - the USA SWIMMING official at a meet responsible for starting each heat and calling the next to the blocks.
STROKE JUDGE - a certified USA SWIMMING official, who determines the legality of swimmers' strokes and disqualifies those who do not conform to USA SWIMMING rules.
TIME STANDARDS - certain qualifying times which have been set up annually by USA SWIMMING for all events in all levels of meets to insure that all competitors are of reasonably the same ability in their respective meets. The swimmer's goals should be betterment of their time progressing from the "B" standard to the Nationals.
TOUCH PAD - the part of an electronic timing system that rests in the water at the finishing end of each lane. Swimmer's times are electronically recorded when the pad is touched. Hit it hard, right in the center!
UNATTACHED - the status a swimmer receives when changing from one USA SWIMMING club to another. A swimmer must be "unattached" for 120 days from their last competition with their previous USA SWIMMING club. During this time they may compete individually, but not in relays, without representing any club.
USA SWIMMING - the governing body for all amateur swimming in the United States. National Headquarters are in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
