Glossary

"A": Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Motivational Standard "A". See the NAGMS published chart.

"AA": Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Motivational Standard "AA”

"AAA": Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Motivational Standard "AAA”

"AAAA”: Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Motivational Standard "AAAA” This is the fastest time standard listed on the NAGMS chart

A-Meet: Swim meet, which requires swimmers to have previously achieved an "A" time standard in the events they wish to enter.

Add Up or Aggregate Time: Times achieved by 4 swimmers in individual events, which are added together to arrive at a provable relay entry time.

Age Group: Division of swimmers according to age. The National Age Group divisions are:

10-under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16,17-18 (15 - 18). Some LSCs have divided the swimmers into more convenient divisions specific to their situations: (i.e.) 8-under, 13- Over, 15-Over, Junior, Senior.

Age Group Championships : See States

Alternate: In a Prelims/Finals meet, after the finalist is 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 If a finalist cannot participate, the alternates are called to take their place, often on a moment’s 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.

ASCA: The American Swim Coaches Association. The professional organization for swim coaches throughout the nation. Certifying coaches and offering many services for coaches’ education and career advancement.

"B": Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Motivational Standard "B".

"BB": Time classification for a swimmer. National Age Group Motivational Standard "BB".

B-Meet: Swim meet which requires swimmers to have previously achieved a "B" time standard in the events they wish to enter. Some meets have no bottom cut time allowing "C" swimmers also to compete.

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)

Beep: The starting sound from an electronic computerized timing system.

Bell Lap: The part of a freestyle distance race (400 meters or longer) when the swimmer has 2 lengths plus 5 yards / meters to go. The bell is rung over the lane of the lead swimmer, at national level meets, the bell is rung over each lane.

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.

BOD: Board of Directors of the Local Swim Committee (LSC) or USA Swimming (USA Swimming).

Bonus Heat: The heat held during the finals session of a Prelims/Finals meet is an extra heat in addition to Consolation finals, typically non-scoring.

Bonus Event Swim: Additional events a swimmer may enter in some meets requiring Qualifying times. There may be a time standard required to enter these events.

Bonus Time Standard: A time required to enter a Bonus Event

Bottom: The floor of the pool. Bottom depths are usually marked on the walls or sides of the pool.

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)

Bull Pen: The staging area where swimmers wait for their swim.

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)

Button: The manual Timing System stopping device that records a back-up time in case the touch pad a. The button is at the end of a wire, plugged into a deck terminal box. There are usually 3 buttons per lane. It is the timer’s responsibility to push the button as the swimmer finishes the race.

Camp: A swimming function offered by USA Swimming, your LSC, or a USA Swimming coach. There are many types of camps for just about every level of swimmer. When selecting a camp, ask for your coach’s advice as to what will be the best for the swimmer, or call USA Swimming for details on the many camps they offer.

Cap: A latex, lycra, or silicone covering worn on the head of swimmers. The colors and team logos adorning these caps is limitless. National Caps, State Team Caps, award caps, plain practice caps, etc.

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

Championship Finals: The top heat of swimmers (the number depends 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.

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

Chlorine: The chemical used by most pools to kill the bacteria in water and keep it clear and safe to swim in.

Circle Seeding: A method of seeding swimmers when they are participating in prelims/finals events. The fastest 18 to 30 swimmers are seeded in the last three heats, with the fastest swimmers being in the inside lanes (example: Lane 4 in the final 3 heats.) See rulebook for exact method for seeding depending on the lanes in the pool.

Clinic: A scheduled meeting for the purpose of instruction (example: Official’s clinic, Coaches clinic.)

Closed Competition: Swim meet, which is open to the members of an organization or group. Summer club swim meets are considered to be "Closed Competition".

Club: A registered swim team that is a dues paying member of USA Swimming and the local LSC.

Code: A set of rules that have been officially published.

Code of Ethics: A Code of Conduct that both swimmers and coaches are required to sign at certain USA Swimming/LSC sponsored events. The Code is not strict and involves common sense and proper behavior.

Consolation Finals: The second fastest heat of finals when multiple heats are held and are conducted before the Championship heat.

Convention: United States Aquatic Sports annual, week long, meeting where all rules changes are decided and working committees are established. Representatives are sent by each LSC to make up the voting body.

Course Designated Distance: Length of pool for swimming competition

(example: Long Course = 50 meters / Short Course = 25 yards or 25 meters.)

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 bullpen or staging area and receive their lane and heat assignments for the events.

Developmental: A classification of meet or competition that is usually held early in the season. The purpose of a developmental meet is to allow all levels of swimmers to compete in a low-pressure environment.

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 swimmer’s performance is not counted because of a rules infraction. A disqualification is shown by an official raising one arm with an open hand above their head.

Dive: Entering the water head first. Diving is not allowed during warm-ups except at the designated time, in specific lanes that are monitored by the swimmers coach.

Double Dual: Type of swim meet where three teams compete in dual meets against each other, at the same time. Separate Meet scores are kept for Team A vs. Team B, Team A vs. Team C, and Team B vs. Team C.

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

Draw: Random selection by chance.

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.

Dry Side: That part of the Code book (rule book) that deals with the "Administrative" Regulations of Competition.

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 cannot 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 touch pads 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 girl’s heat and one boy’s heat until all swimmers have competed.

Fees: Money paid by swimmers for services (example: Practice fees, registration fee, USA Swimming membership fee.)

FINA: The international, rules making organization, for the sport of swimming.

Finals: The final race of each event. See “Championship 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 to a swimmer or a club when a swimmer does not achieve the necessary time required to swim in an event, and cannot prove they had previously done the time.

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.

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

Futures Championships : A USA Swimming Championship meet for swimmers of all ages positioned between the Speedo Championships Series (Sectionals) and the Speedo Junior National Championships (Juniors). Qualification times are necessary.

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)

Gallery: The viewing area for spectators during the swimming competition.

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.

Hats: See "caps".

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 seedlings 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.

HOD: House of Delegates. The ruling body of an LSC composed of the designated representative of each club plus the board of directors (BOD) of the LSC. One vote per club and board member.

Horn: A sounding device used in place of a gun. Used mainly with a fully automatic timing system.

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 of each stroke are swum. Distances offered: 100 yards, 200 yards/meters, 400 yards/meter.

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

Intersquad Meet: A swim competition among members of the same team.

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.

Summer Juniors / Speedo Junior National Championships : A USA Swimming Championship meet for swimmers 18 years old or under held Long Course in the Summer. Qualification times are necessary.

Kick: The leg movements of a swimmer. A popular word to "yell" to encourage swimmers during a race.

Kick Board: A floatation 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 (example: 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: Two 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.

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.

Long Course: A 50-meter pool.

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

LSC Championship: See States

Lycra: A stretch material used to make competitive swimsuits and swim hats.

Malfunction: A mechanical or electronic failure - not a human failure by the swimmer.

Mark: The command to take your starting position.

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

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.

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

NAIA: National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

NAGMS: National Age Group Motivational Standards - the list of "B" through "AAAA" times published / updated every four years.

Nationals : See Phillips66 National Championships

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

NGB: National Governing Body

Non-Conforming Time: A short course time submitted to qualify for a long course meet, or vice versa.

Novelty Meet: A meet that does not fall into a specific category because of limited events, sessions, or age brackets.

Novice: A beginner or someone who does not have experience.

NRT: National Reportable Time. A time list published once a year, which if a swimmer equals or betters the time on the list, they may submit their time in that event for consideration for national recognition.

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

NTV: National Times Verification. A certificate verifying a national qualifying time achieved by a swimmer and issued only by a verification official of the location where the meet was held.

Observed Meet: A meet that is not conducted according to USA Swimming rules (high school, YMCA) where a request for observation has been processed 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.

Olympic Team Trials: The USA Swimming sanctioned long course swim meet held the year of the Olympic games to decide what swimmers will represent the USA on our Olympic Team.

Omega: A brand of automatic timing system.

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

OTC: Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Open Competition: Competition which any qualified club, organization, or individual may enter.

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 warm-ups or swim practice.

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

Phillips66 National Championships: USA Swimming Championship meet conducted each year, typically held in the Winter. Qualifying standards required.

Pool: The facility in which a swimming competition is conducted.

Positive Check In: The procedure required before a swimmer swims an event in a deck seeded or pre seeded event. 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 - 10 (Championship Heat) swimmers, and the next fastest 6 - 10 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 bullpen 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.

Race: Any single swimming competition (example: preliminary, final, timed final.)

Ready Room: A room pool side for the swimmers to relax before they compete in finals.

Recall Rope: A 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.

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 Swimming 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/mts and 400 yd/mts distances. 2.) Freestyle relay - Each swimmer swims freestyle. Free relays are conducted over 200 yd/mts, 400 yd/mts, and 800 yd/mts distances.

Rest Area: A designated area (such as a gymnasium) that is set aside for swimmers to rest during a meet.

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

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

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

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). (Also known as Senior Sectionals and ESSZ Senior Sectionals in the Southern Zone)

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 Swimming National Championship meets for swimmers of any age as long as the qualification times are met.

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

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.

Speedo Championship Series "Senior level" meets held in the spring and summer. Each Zone may hold up to four meets. Meets are commonly called "Sectionals." Qualifying times, sites, dates and meet rules are determined locally.

Splash: The USA Swimming magazine that is mailed bi-monthly. A benefit of being a member of USA Swimming.

Split: A portion of an event, shorter than the total distance, that is timed (example: 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.

Start: The beginning of a race. The dive is 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.

States: 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 necessary. (Also known as Age Group Championships, 14 & Under Championships, and / or Senior Championships)

State Championships : See States

Meet Qualifier: A swimmer who has made the necessary cut off times to enter the designated 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 complete their 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-A-Thon: The "Fund Raiser" trademarked by USA Swimming for local clubs to use to make money.

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 Swimming 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 placing are determined by those times.

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

Timer: The volunteers sitting behind the starting blocks/finish end of the 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 5/8/10/16: A list of times compiled by the LSC or USA Swimming that recognizes the top 16 swimmers in each age group (boys & girls) by each event and distance.

Touch Out: To reach the touch pad 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.

Toyota US Open :

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

Travel Fund: A sum of money set aside for a swimmer to use for travel expenses and entry fees to specified meets.

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

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

Uniform: The various parts of clothing a swimmer wears at a meet. May include: Parka, Warm-up jackets, Team duffel bag, sweat pants, suits, hat, goggles, T-shirt, etc.

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

USA Swimming ID: A combination of letters and numbers assigned to a swimmer after they have filled out the proper forms and paid their annual dues

USOTC: United States Olympic Training Center located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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 swimmer's races and taking splits.

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

Winter Juniors / Speedo Winter Junior Championships : A USA Swimming Championship meet for swimmers 18 years old or under held during the winter, typically December, in two locations, one in the East and one in the West.juniors Qualification times are necessary.

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

a. 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.

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