Swimmer Glossary
TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Bullpen – area where swimmers wait for their call for a swimming event
Calling Post – an automated phone-tree system used to contact parents about last minute changes, meet cancellations or urgent information
Clerk of the Course – an adult who correctly assembles swimmers behind starting blocks according to event, lane and heat just prior to swimming
County – refers to the Gwinnett County Championship swim meet in July
Deck – area around the ends of the pool reserved for swimmers, officials, and coaches during a swim competition. No parents may cheer from this area.
Disqualified – (DQ) a swimmer's performance is not counted because of a rules infraction, shown by an official raising one arm with open hand above their head. Applies to any age swimmer.
Dive-over start – in the 11/12 and older races, the event/heat on the blocks begin their race before the previous race swimmers have exited the pool. Used to expedite the meet length.
Dual Meet – two teams compete against each other
Event – a race/stroke over a given distance (most meets have 82 events)
False Start – when a swimmer leaves the starting block before the horn. A second false start by anyone will disqualify that swimmer or relay team.
False Start Rope – rope across the width of the pool dropped to stop swimmers who were not aware of a false start
FFF – Family File Folder, holds all information for swimmer/parent communication, including meet event assignments, ribbons, forms, etc. Check it often!
Final Results – printed results/scoring of each race, usually posted by the concession stand during a meet and announced at MMM
Freestyle Relay – an event in which 4 swimmers each swim freestyle, one at a time, each going the same distance
Head Official – oversees and meets with the starter and stroke & turn judges, handles any DQ questions and sees that all rules are followed
Head Timer – prior to meet, organizes volunteers, provides timer instructions, assigns lanes, gives out watches, serves as a back-up timer.
Heat – the division of an event with too many swimmers to compete at the same time; compiled using swimmers’ previous times, with fastest swimmers in the final heat.
Heat Ribbons – given to the winner of a single heat
Heat Sheet – printed listing of all swimmers' seed times in the various events at a swim meet, sold at the concessions. Used to see what event/heat/lane your child swims, competing times and order of the events.
IM – Individual Medley. A swimming event using all four competitive strokes. The order must be Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle. Equal distances must be swum of each stroke.
