Terminology
Adapted from Australian Swim Dictionary - Bill Moorcroft Swimming ©. See full list on NSW Masters Swimming
Bilateral Breathing
In freestyle swimming, breathing both to the left and right sides. A breath on the right side then swimming three strokes and breathing to the left side, then swimming three strokes and breathing the to right side again.
Build
A steady increase in speed and power during a workout or set. Build up your speed throughout each single swim distance so that the last distance is the fastest.
Catch
The point in the stroke pattern where the hand feels the most resistance and begins effective propulsive movement.
Catch Up
Freestyle drill in which you pull and recover while keeping the other arm outstretched in front. Allow both hands to touch in front of you before starting the pull with the opposite arm.
Course
Length of pool for swimming competition. (i.e.) Long Course = 50 metres / Short Course = 25 metres.
Descending Sets
A series where you swim faster on each repetition of the set. For example: swim 3×50m five times, each 50m faster than the one before.
Distance Per Stroke (DPS)
Drill for all strokes that encourages you to lengthen each stroke. Count the number of strokes you need to complete, say, 25 metres. Now swim the same distance, but extend your reach and lengthen your glide so that you can complete the same distance with one fewer stroke.
Dolphin kick
Kick used in butterfly and following underwater backstroke and freestyle turns. The legs kick in unison and the body moves in a smooth undulating motion.
Drag
The resistance to movement of a swimmer through water. Drag can be reduced by improving the efficiency of your stroke and by paying attention to your body’s streamline.
Fingertip drag
Freestyle drill in which you drag your fingertips along the water surface recovery. Helps you to learn to keep your elbows up during recovery.
Fist Swimming
Swimming with hands completely in a fist.
Four Beat Kick
4 leg movements per arm stroke in freestyle. Similarly 2 and 6 beat kicks may be used.
High Elbow
May refer to keeping a high elbow in the recovery phase of freestyle which encourages better balance and body roll. High elbow can refer the pull phase of freestyle where the elbow remains in a higher position over the hand, giving the sensation of reaching over a barrel when pulling through the water.
Individual Medley (IM)
All four of the competitive strokes are swum by one swimmer in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
Interval
In repetitive distances, the time you are allowed for the swim and left over for the rest. For example, 100’s on a 1:50 interval means that every 1:50 you start swimming another 100.
Kick
A drill for improving the efficiency and strength of your kick. Depending on the stroke and the particular drill, the arms may either be in streamline position, at your sides, or holding a kickboard.
Kick Board
Training tool used to keep the arms still so that focus may be placed on the legs.
Ladder (Sets)
Increase or decrease the metres, either straight like 400, 300, 200, 100 or 4×100, 4×75, 4×50, 4×25, or 4×100, 3×100, 2×100, 100, or mix them or reverse the order
Lane Etiquette
Common courtesies including starting 5 seconds apart; moving over at end of lap to allow faster swimmers to pass; moving to side of lane at finish to allow other swimmers to finish touch to the wall.
Long Course
A type of competitive pool that measures 50 metres in length. The standard size for all International competition and all World Record swims is the 50-metre course.
Main Set
The central (and usually longest and most challenging) set in a workout, which characterises the purpose of the entire workout.
Negative Split
Swimming the second lap or set distance of a swim faster than the previous. For example, negative splits on a 100m swim means the last 50m of the swim was faster than the first 50m. (See also DESCENDING SET)
Paddle
Coloured plastic devices worn on the swimmers hands during swim practice.
PB: ‘Personal Best’
The best time a swimmer has done so far in a particular stroke/event
Postal Swim
Competition in which one swims in a home venue, then sends in the results to be compared to other competing swimmers doing the same.
Pull
1 The most powerful part of the stroke during which the arm(s) pull back through the water, propelling the body forward.
2. A drill for strengthening the arms, in which kicking is curtailed. May or may not involve the use of flotation buoys (“pull buoys”) between the legs.
Pull Buoy
A flotation device used for pulling by swimmers in practice
Recovery
The non-power portion of the arm stroke, during which the arms move forward before the start of the next pull.
Rest Interval
RI = the rest time after swimming a certain distance. For example 10s RI = rest for 10 seconds at the end of each distance.
Sculling
Sculling is drill performed by sweeping your hands through the water, holding your elbows still.
Set
In a workout, a series of one or more pieces chosen and arranged to focus a particular aspect of swimming (e.g., warm-up, distance, duration, sprinting, technique, etc.).
Short Course
A type of competitive pool, which measures 25 metres.
Sprint training
Like repetition training, sprint training operates on the principle of stress through intense speed, which means it builds strength and power (anaerobic capacity) rather than endurance (aerobic capacity). Rest period and distance are shorter than repetition training.
Streamline
A body position that permits the smooth and efficient passage of water along your body as you swim, thus minimizing your drag in the water. An important consideration in every stroke!
A low-drag body position in which the arms are extended straight ahead, usually with the hands placed one atop the other or palm-to-palm. Used mainly during kick drills and immediately after turns (before breakout).
Strokes
There are four official racing strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and
freestyle.
Thumb Tip Drag
Drill training (usually freestyle) where recovery ends with high elbow lift followed by thumb tip dragging through water as arm moves forward to stroke. (Also Finger Tip Drag)
Tumble Turn
One type of turn used in Freestyle and Backstroke. Just as the swimmer approaches the wall, they tuck their body into a somersault, quickly roll toward the wall and push off with their feet.
Warm Down or Cool Down
A slow swim aimed at ridding the body of excess lactic acid generated during a race or training session. Also to achieve reducing heart beat