| Added time |
When a swimmer goes slower than their best previous performance, they have "added time". |
| Age Group |
Division of swimmers according to age. 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-21. |
| Blocks |
The starting platforms located behind each lane. |
| Cap |
The latex or silicone covering worn on the head of swimmers. |
| Championship finals |
The top eight swimmers in each event with preliminaries and subsequent finals. The top eight swimmers based on time are in the championship finals heat. |
| 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. |
| Course |
Designated distance (length of pool) for swimming competition. Long course = 50 meters, Short Course = 25 yards or 25 meters. YMCA meets are all short course meets. |
| Deck |
The area around the swimming pool reserved for swimmers, officials, and coaches. |
| Disqualified (DQ) |
A swimmer's performance is not counted because of a rules infraction. A DQ is shown by an official raising one arm with open hand above their head. |
| Dropped Time |
When a swimmer goes faster than their previous best performance, they have "dropped time". |
| Dryland |
The exercised and various strength programs swimmers do out of the water. |
| Entry |
An individual, relay team or event list in a swim competition |
| Entry Fees |
The amount per event a swimmer or relay is charged. |
| Entry Limit |
Meets will have a maximum number of events in which each swimmer may compete. |
| False Start |
When a swimmer leaves the starting blocks before the horn or gun. One false start will disqualify a swimmer or relay team, although the starter or referee may disallow the false start due to unusual circumstances. |
| Flags |
Pennants that are suspended over the width of each end of the pool approximately 15 feet from the wall. When swimmers swim the backstroke, the flags are used to help them know when to turn or touch out the finish. |
| Fly-over Starts |
Preceding individual freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly events, swimmers stay in the pool until the next heat starts. The swimmers for the next event, therefore, dive over or "fly over" the swimmers from the previous event. |
| Final Results |
The printed copy of the results of each race of a swim meet. The final results will be posted at each meet as they are available. Final results will also be distributed to the team the week following the meet. Meet Mobile is unreliable for final results. |
| Heat |
A division of an event when there are too many swimmers to compete at the same time. The results are compied by swimmers' time swum, after all heats of the events are completed. |
| 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 concessions table for cash oravailable on the Meet Mobile app. |
| Heat Winner |
A ribbon given to the winner of a single heat at an age group swim meet. |
| High Point |
An award given to the swimmer scoring the most points in an age group at a meet. Not all meets offer high point awards; this is limited to champ meets and the Lone Star Meet. |
| Interval |
A specific elapsed time for swimming or rest used during swim practice. |
| Lane |
The specific area in which a swimmer is assigned to swim. |
| Lane Ropes |
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 |
One length of the course. |
| Lap Counter |
The large numbered cards (or the person turning the cards) used during the freestyle events 500 yards or longer. |
| Late Entries |
Meet entries from a club or individual that are received by the meet host after the entry deadline. |
| League |
The League Championship swim meets are held at the end of every season. |
| Leg |
The part of a relay event swum by a single team member. A single stroke in the IM. |
| Length |
The extent of the competitive course from end to end. See lap. |
| Mark |
The command to take your starting position. |
| Meet |
A series of events held in one program. |
| Meet Mobile |
App for swim meets. This app requires a small membership fee and will display results and help you follow along meets. Heat sheets are purchased in-app. |
| NT |
No Time. The abbreviation used on a heat sheet to designate that the swimmer has not swum that event before. |
| Officials |
The certified adult volunteers who operate the many facets of a swim competition. |
| 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. |
| Prelims/Finals |
Type of meet with two sessions. The preliminary heats are usually held in the morning session. The fastest six or eight (Championship Heat) swimmers, and the next fastest six or eight 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. |
| Qualifying Times |
Published times necessary to enter certain meets. Qual times are needed to be eligible to compete at Lone Star. |
| Ready Bench event |
The location that the younger age group swimmers will assemble when called to get in the correct order to swim in their event. |
| Seed |
Assign the swimmers heats and lanes according to their submitted or preliminary times. |
| Starter |
The official in charge of signaling the beginning of a race and ensuring that all swimmers have a fair takeoff. |
| Split Meet |
Type of meet where all the YMCA teams in the metroplex split into (2) locations. |
| 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 Clinic |
Stroke clinics are offered for an additional cost to provide more individualized instruction in a small group environment on specific stroke work. |
| Stroke Judge |
The official positioned at the side of the pool, walking the length of the course as the swimmer’s race. If the Stroke Judge sees something illegal, they report to the referee and the swimmer may be disqualified. |
| Taper |
The resting phase of a swimmer at the end of the season before the championship meet. |
| Team Records |
The statistics a team keeps, listing the fastest swimmer in the club’s history for each age group/each event. |
| 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. |
| Time Trial |
An event or series of events where a swimmer may achieve or better a required time standard. |
| 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. |
| Turn (flip turn) |
When the swimmer reaches an end of the pool before the finish of the heat, he/she must flip turn. Special turn techniques are used for the most efficient turn execution. Flip turns are one method. Special methods are required for different strokes and for the IM. |
