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TEAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The primary goals of Space City Aquatic Team. are as
follows:
1.
To be recognized as a nationally competitive swim team.
2.
To be an expanding program that develops competitive swimmers from
novice to the national
level.
3.
To have adequate resources provided from an expanding financial
base.
4.
To have a majority of the family membership actively involved in
the team.
5.
To develop and/or acquire a 50 Meter pool facility.
6.
To promote a positive relationship within the community and take a
leadership role to develop the
sport of
swimming.
All parents and swimmers at SCAT share the following major
team objectives:
1.
To develop an appreciation for the value of high self-esteem, the
fruits of hard work, and the
importance of good
sportsmanship.
2.
To provide opportunities for social and emotional development as
well as cultural and educational
growth.
3.
To provide quality instruction, training, and competition for every
swimmer regardless of age or
ability.
4.
To motivate participants to realize their full potential through
the constant pursuit of excellence.
5.
To motivate participants to learn to work with others for the good
of the team.
6.
To participate in a leadership role of all governing bodies of
swimming
Our Leadership Philosophy
The success of Space City Aquatic Team is the result of
a balance relationship between our coaching staff and our
parent Board of Directors. Like many successful club teams, our
professional head coach establishes the team’s training
philosophy and manages the day-to-day direction and organization of
the team’s training program. SCAT is parent owned, and
the Board of Directors and membership provide our coaches with the
support necessary for the team’s success.
Space Cities professional coaching staff is solely responsible for
all "water-related" issues, including setting training objectives
and programs; the division of practice teams and the placement of
swimmers on them; setting the team’s meet schedule, practice
schedules and daily practice plans; scheduling coaches and pool
time; building team spirit; establishing and administering
disciplinary policies; setting standards for team uniforms and
equipment; and travel trip guidelines.
The Board of Directors supports the coaching staff and is
responsible for all "business-related" issues, including
determining the overall business direction of SCAT; setting
long-term and short-term financial goals for the team; establishing
the team’s yearly budget; registration of new swimmers and
compliance with USA Swimming’s rules and regulations; setting
and collecting dues; hiring the Head Coach and helping the Head
Coach hire Assistant Coaches; seeking out and renting local
practice facilities, and making sure these facilities are properly
heated, equipped, and maintained; bidding on and hosting meets;
recruiting volunteers who will provide parent support to the
coaching staff; establishing means of communication for the
team
Questions or comments about SCAT should be directed towards
the coaching staff if it is a "water related" issue or towards a
member of the Board of Directors if it is a "business related"
issue.
THE COACHING STAFF
The SCAT coaching staff is responsible for all "water related"
issues, including the development of the teams’ training
program and schedule, practice team assignments, meet entries, and
travel trip guidelines.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE TEAM -IF YOU NEED TO SPEAK WITH A COACH
If you would like to speak with a coach about your child or the
program, please contact them via their e-mail address as listed on
the website and they’ll respond as soon as they can. Please
respect their space while they’re coaching – they need
the time immediately before and after practice to visit with their
swimmers and they aren’t always able to give parents their
undivided attention at that time. Please DO NOT call the coaches at
home NO EXCEPTIONS! Our coaches appreciate being "off duty" in
the evenings after practice, and they don’t like to take
"work" calls at home any more than you do.
Please feel free to contact a coach or a board member at any time
with your thoughtful questions, suggestions, concerns, compliments,
or constructive criticism. The Board and SCAT coaching
staff will not respond to anonymous letters or
e-mails.
HOW IS MY SWIMMER PLACED iN A PRACTICE GROUP?
The coaches assign each swimmer to one of nine practice group
based on a number of criteria, including:
Ability to Train –
The ability to consistently hold repeat times and intervals in all
aspects of training (swimming, kicking, pulling, etc.) is the
primary consideration. The swimmer must demonstrate that he/she can
handle the training load of the assigned group.
Age -
The swimmer must be able to relate to his/her peers. This is an
important, yet usually not an overriding factor, in assigning
swimmers to a group.
Attitude and Sportsmanship -
SCAT considers the swimmer’s attitude to be a prime factor
for success. Does the swimmer exhibit respect and graciousness in
winning and losing? Can he/she handle stress with a positive
attitude? Can the swimmer handle adversity or "bad luck" or is
he/she devastated by minor setbacks? Does the swimmer enjoy
practice? Do they show respect for their teammates and
coaches?
Attendance -
A prime consideration to the group is the swimmer’s
ability and/or desire to handle the level of dedication required of
a particular group. This includes attendance at practice and
meets.
Competition Level -
While performance at meets may be useful in gauging a
swimmer’s progress relative to his/her peers, it is not a
primary consideration for assigning swimmers to groups.
Technique -
A swimmer’s level of proficiency in the start, turn, and
stroke technique is an important consideration.
Space Availability -
Another consideration is the number of swimmers already assigned to
the group on which a swimmer is to be placed. The quality of
training is diminished for everyone by an overcrowded
practice.
Note: All group assignments are made at the sole discretion of
the coaching staff. The Board of Directors is not involved in
"water" issues such as group
assignments.
THE BASICS: USA SWIMMING
If you’re new to club swimming (swimming with a USA Swimming
affiliated swim club), you’ll find that there’s a lot
to learn about swimming and swim meets. The information listed
below gives a basic overview, but a comprehensive guide to USA
Swimming can be found on the USA Swimming website. Go to
www.usa-swimming.org and click on the "Parents" tab at the top of
the page. The articles listed at the top left corner of the Parents
page will give you an excellent overview of the organization and
the sport, with many FAQ’s just for
parents.
SWIM SEASONS
Short Course Season
Short Course season is from September through March, and most
competitions are held in 25-yard pools. Workouts are Monday through
Friday evenings, with workouts on Saturday for selected practice
teams. Short Course season competition usually begins in October
and ends with TAGS, Sectional and National championship meets in
March.
Long Course Season
Long Course competition runs April through August, with all Long
Course competition in 50-meter pools. SCAT typically holds
morning and afternoon practices for selected groups during the
months of June and July. Depending on availability, some practice
sessions may be conducted in a 50-meter pool. Long Course
season usually ends in Late July or early August with TAGS,
Sectional and National Championship meets.
TIME STANDARDS
Time Standards are times set by a meet or LSC or USA Swimming that
a swimmer must achieve for qualification or recognition. USA
Swimming uses time standards to categorize both swimmers and meets.
Most age group meets you will attend use "Top 16 Based
Motivational" time standards, which divide swimmer times from
slowest to fastest, into B, BB, A, AA, AAA, and AAAA times for each
age group. The very fastest AAAA swimmers may achieve a "Top 16" or
"National Reportable Time", which places them among the very best
swimmers in their age group. These time standards may be found on
the Gulf Swimming website at
http://www.gulfswimming.org/standards.htm.
TYPES OF SWIM MEETS
USA Swimming provides many levels of competition and usually groups
swimmers of similar age and ability at swim meets. Your swimmer
will generally have the opportunity to swim in one meet each month,
with a championship meet for each level at the end of each season.
Most meets are designated by the age groups that are eligible and
by the time standards required for participation. A variety of
meets will be offered throughout the swim season. Your coach will
help you select the meets that are appropriate for you.
Meet Designations
A meet that is open to swimmers of all ages and abilities is
designated as an "Open" meet. Some Open meets are limited by age,
e.g., 14 & Under Open. Most meets have both an age and time
standard designation, e.g., 14 & Under / BB & Under Meet,
or they may be identified by age only or time only (e.g., 12 &
Under Champs or A & Up Meet). Senior meets are for senior level
swimmers, and have time, but not age, qualifications.
Achieving Times
A swimmer who has just joined SCAT and who has never swum in a
USA Swimming meet must enter a "B & Under" or "Open" meet first
to establish USA times. Summer League times and most high school
times are not valid USA Swimming times. A swimmer who transfers
from another USA Swimming team will bring their times to their new
team. Swimmers who have never swum in a USA meet must enter all
events in the first meet with NT - or No Time. At subsequent meets,
the swimmer will be entered in each event at their best previous
time. Times must be "proven"; that is, if the swimmer fails to swim
the time standard a fine will be levied on swimmers who fail to
prove that they have previously swum the time they have
entered.
A swimmer must swim in the "B" division until a "BB" time standard
is made in that event. Once a "BB" time standard is made, he/she
may enter the "BB" event. Once a swimmer has achieved a time
standard in an event, they may no longer swim that event at meets
only offering a slower time standard. For example, when a swimmer
achieves an "A" time in an event, she can no longer enter that "BB"
event and must swim that "A" event at the "A" meets.
Senior Circuit Meets
These are open to any swimmer 11 years old or older who is able to
make the qualifying times as set by the Texas Senior Circuit
Committee. The meets are two or three days depending on the season,
with two or three meets per season.
TAGS
The TAGS (Texas Age Group Swimming) is held at the end of each
Short Course and Long Course season, and is open to qualified
swimmers ages 14 and under. The Texas Swimming Association (TSA)
establishes qualifying times each season, and they are published on
the TSA and Gulf Swimming websites. The TAGS meet last four to
five days.
Southern Zone Championship Meet
As swimmers progress to higher levels of competition, it becomes
important to compete against swimmers from other parts of the
country. During the Long Course season, teams are formed by each of
the Local Swim Committees (LSCs) located in the Southern Zone. The
Southern Zone includes swimmers from Texas to Florida and north to
West Virginia. This meet is held annually in August at a host pool
in the Southern Zone States.
Sectional and Junior National Championships
The next step is a national competition such as the USA Swimming
Sectional Championships, or the National Club Swimming Association
sponsored Junior National Championships for swimmers 18 and Under.
These meets are held each season at one of several premier swim
facilities around the nation. There are challenging qualifying
times but no age group divisions at these national
competitions.
The National Championships and Olympic Trials
The ultimate national competition is the National Championship
which is held each season. Qualifying times are faster than those
for the Sectional or Junior National Championships. Swimmers
placing well at these meets may qualify for the Olympic Trials or
International competition.
USA SWIMMING & GULF SWIMMING RULES
The technical rules of swimming were created to provide fair and
equal competition and to promote uniformity in the sport. Each
swimming stroke has specific rules designed to ensure that no
swimmer gets an unfair competitive advantage over another swimmer.
The technical rules for each stroke as established by USA Swimming
may be found on the USA Swimming website www.usa-swimming.org. Officials are
present at all USA Swimming competitions to ensure that the rules
are followed. Officials attend clinics through Gulf Swimming and
must pass a test and work meets before they become
certified.
The Gulf Handbook
At the beginning of each year, Gulf Swimming publishes a handbook
with procedures, rules, qualifying times, etc. set specifically for
teams competing in the Gulf LSC. SCAT coaches and officials will
have a copy of the Gulf handbook for reference, and a copy is
posted on the Gulf website www.gulfswimming.org.
Some of the more important rules you may encounter are described
below.
Age Group Restrictions
At a meet with specific age group classifications, e.g., 10 &
Under, 11-12 etc swimmers may not swim out of their age group.
Senior and Open events do not have age group restrictions.
Up/Down Rule
If swimmers have "A" or "BB" division times in a particular stroke,
they may swim the immediately preceding or following distance of
that stroke in that division. For example, if swimmers have a 100
Free "BB" time, they may swim the 50 Free and 200 Free "BB" events
entered at the cut-off time. An "A" time in the 50 Fly allows a
swimmer to swim the 100 Fly in an "A" meet at the cut-off,
etc.
For an 8 & Under to swim a 10 & under event at a "BB" or
"A" meet, the swimmer must have at least one 10 & Under "BB" or
"A" time. For example, if an 8 year old swimmer has a 10 &
under 50 yard Free "BB" time, then the swimmer could swim the 10
& under 100 yard Free "BB" event.
Three Event Rule
A swimmer with three "A" times may swim all other events in that
division entered at the qualifying standard; i.e., if a swimmer has
an "A" time in the 50 Free, 200 Free and 100 Back, he/she may swim
the 100 Fly, 100 Breast, 200 I.M., etc. if offered in that age
group or division. The exception is that the swimmer must have a
500/400 Freestyle "A" time to swim the 1650/1500 or 1000/800 Free
events. The same rule applies to "BB" division times.
21
For an 8 & Under swimmer to swim all events as a 10 & under
at a "BB" or "A" meet, the swimmer must have at least three 10
& Under "BB" or "A" times. For a swimmer to swim all events as
a Senior at a "BB" or "A" meet, the swimmer must have at least
three Senior "BB" or "A" times. The Three Event Rule will not be in
effect at all championship and invitational meets.
Yard/Meter Rule
A swimmer with an "A" or "BB" time in yards in a stroke will
automatically have an "A" or "BB" time in meters of that stroke for
that age group or division, but would enter at the cut-off if
he/she does not have a meter "A" or "BB" time. The same rule
applies when going from meter to yards.
Any combination of three "BB" or "A" times in yards or meters in a
respective age group entitles the swimmer to swim any "BB" or "A"
event in that age group. Swimmers entering the Senior
Division of a meet must have made the Senior qualifying
standard.
Proof of Times and Fines
If a swimmer at an "A" or "BB" meet fails to swim a time equal to
or better than the listed cut-off time in that event he/she will be
asked to prove his/her time entered. This is usually handled
by the SCAT coaching staff after the typed final official
results are received from the meet host team. If the swimmer does
not have the times that allow him/her to swim the event,
the caoching staff will be responsible for the fine, if
the swimmer was entred ondeck the coaches will relay
the information to the treasurer to notify the parents
that a fine must be paid. The fines are $10 to $25 (for
Championship meets) for each event they fail to prove. In the event
of any discrepancy in proof of times, the team’s permanent
records of final results will take precedence unless the swimmer
can produce Official Final Results from a previous meet. Once a
swimmer has qualified for an "A" or "BB" division in a particular
event, they may not enter that event in a slower division. Only
times made prior to the meet you are swimming may be used for
proving times. There seems to always be confusion about proof of
times rules, so when you are unsure, ask the coach or the Meet
Entry Chairperson. These rules are necessary to keep swimmers
participating only at the level for which they are
qualified.
No Show Rule
Gulf Swimming will assess the team $5 per swimmer per swim for
no-shows at Gulf meets. This fine will be passed along to the
swimmer and will be collected by the Treasurer. If you have
circled in to swim an event and must leave the meet before your
swim, you must scratch yourself from the event or you will be
fined. In championship meets, if a swimmer does not show up for a
finals event, they will be fined $50 and they will be removed from
the meet. It is very important to check all alternate positions
your swimmer qualifies for to avoid an inadvertent no show and
fine.
There are NO exceptions to these fines, regardless of the
circumstances surrounding the fine.
SWIM MEETS
The following section contains information for
swim meets, from signing up, to finding meet information
online, to swimming your best.
SIGNING UP FOR MEETS
The meet schedule will be posted on the website at the beginning of
each swim season. Each swimmer should discuss with his coach which
meets he plans to attend throughout the
season.
Meet Entries
As meet invitations are received from the host team, the meet
information will be made available on the team website.
The meet information includes:
The type of meet – course, ages, and time standards
Place and date of meet, time of warm-ups and start times
Event numbers and qualifying times
Number of individual events allowed per swimmer per day
Entry fees
Meet entry deadline
Entry deadlines for all meets are located in the
Meet Schedule section of this website,
to attend a meet simply fill out the online entry form prior to the
meet deadline and your swimmers coach will enter your swimmer in
the meet, online forms entered after the deadline will not be
entered.
On-Deck Entries
A swimmer may "on-deck" to enter an event (i.e., enter an event on
the day of the meet) at a swim meet in which he/she is not already
entered. All "on-deck" entries should be approved in advance by the
swimmer’s coach. On-deck entries may be limited by the meet
host and the fee is usually twice the original entry fee. On-deck
entries must be submitted 30-45 minutes before the start of the
meet.
In order to submit an "on-deck" entry, the swimmer will have to
provide his/her USA swimming number to the host team Clerk of
Course. The number is assigned by USA Swimming and can be found on
the swimmer’s USA Swimming registration card. Swimmers and
Parents are subject to all Gulf swimming fines for entires made
ondeck.
Meet Entry Late Fee
Please be aware that we have deadlines to meet from hosting teams
and therefore cannot accept late entries.
Meet Entry Report
A Meet Entry Report, which includes all SCAT swimmers and the
events in which they are entered in an upcoming meet will be posted
on the team website. Swimmers and parents should check this report
to verify entries. Any questions should be directed to one of the
coaches ASAP.
Coaches will enter relays at some meets . Every swimmer is expected
to swim on the relay if the coach places him/her on one.
DON’T LEAVE THE MEET WITHOUT FINDING OUT THE STATUS OF THE
RELAYS!! Failure to show up for a relay once a swimmer is entered
may result in that swimmer being scratched from his/her next
event.
A GLOSSARY OF SWIMMING TERMS
Age Group
- swimmers ages 14 and under
Anchor –
the last swimmer in a relay
Block -
the starting block
Cap -
a latex, silicone, or lycra swim cap used during a race or workout
to protect a swimmer’s hair from the effects of chlorine in
the water as well as help cut down water resistance from the
swimmer’s hair.
Circle In -
At most USA meets, swimmers must check in with meet officials at
least 30 minutes before each race to be seeded in that race. A list
of swimmers entered in each event will be posted near the pool, and
swimmers should indicate their intention to swim that event by
circling the number next to their name. Swimmers should take
care not to mark on any adjacent names on the list!
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.
Clerk of Course -
Person(s) responsible for taking On-Deck entries at a meet; they
are also responsible for keeping track of swimmer circle-ins and
scratches.
Deck-seeded meet -
a meet in which heat and lane assignments are determined the day of
the meet. Swimmers must "circle in" when they arrive at the meet to
indicate their intention to swim. Heat and lane assignments will be
posted near the blocks prior to each race, and will not be listed
in the heat sheet.
DQ -
slang for disqualified. A swimmer may be disqualified from a race
for illegal stroke or turn technique, or for improper starts or
finishes. An official will signal a disqualification by raising a
hand during the race and will usually explain the infraction to the
swimmer. A disqualified swimmer does not receive a time for that
race. All swimmers DQ - it is an important part of the learning
process and should not be considered an embarrassment.
Drag suit -
a second loose-fitting suit worn by competitive swimmers in workout
and warm-up to add weight and resistance to the flow of water
around the swimmer.
Drill -
a swimming exercise which targets one specific portion of a swim
stroke
Dropped Time -
When a swimmer goes faster than the previous performance they have
"dropped their time".
Dry land -
any workout done out of the pool which can include running,
weights, stretch cords, yoga, stretching, core strength training,
etc.
Event -
a swimming race, designated by the stroke and distance swum.
False Start -
occurs when a swimmer leaves the starting block or is moving on the
block before the starter officially starts the race. A swimmer
charged with a false start will be disqualified from the
race.
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.
Finish -
the end of a race. In freestyle and backstroke, any part of the
body can touch the wall to finish, although one outstretched hand
is most efficient. In butterfly and breaststroke, the swimmer must
touch the wall with both hands simultaneously to finish.
Flip Turn -
A type of turn used in freestyle or backstroke races 50 yards or
longer. As the swimmer approaches the wall, he flips forward in a
continuous motion, pushing off the wall with his feet to start the
next lap. Flip turns are faster than the "touch and go" turns used
by beginning swimmers.
Goggles -
eye wear worn by swimmers in the pool to protect their eyes from
the effects of chlorine in the water.
Gun Lap or Bell Lap -
The part of a freestyle distance race (400 meters or longer) when
the swimmer has 2 lengths plus 5 yards to go. The starter fires a
gun shot or rings a bell over the lane of the lead swimmer
when swimmer is at the backstroke flags.
Heat -
a group of swimmers racing at the same time. Each event will be
divided into heats. The swimmers in each heat will have comparable
times and will be placed in lanes with the fastest swimmer in the
center and the slowest swimmers in the outside lanes.
Heat sheet -
a program which lists swimmers in each event in the order in which
they will be swum.
I.M. -
individual medley, an event in which the swimmer swims equal
distances of all four competitive strokes in the following order:
butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.
Interval -
in practice, a goal time set by the coach for a specific
stroke/distance
Junior National Championships –
also known as "Juniors".
Kick board -
a flat foam float held in the swimmer’s arms while practicing
kicking drills.
Lane Assignment -
at most USA meets, races are seeded after swimmers have circled in
(see Deck Seeded Meets). Lane and heat assignments will be posted
near the starting blocks before each race. Swimmers are responsible
for finding their own heat and lane assignment and getting to the
blocks in a timely manner.
Lane ropes or lane lines -
the dividers used to delineate individual lanes. The ropes are made
of rotating finned disks which dissipate waves during a
race.
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.
Long Course -
the swim season from April to August, in which meets are held in 50
meter pools
LSC -
United States Swimming divides the country into Local Swimming
Committees or LSC’s. SCAT is part of the Gulf LSC, which
includes Houston and nearby areas.
National Championships –
also known as "Nationals", this meet is sponsored by USA Swimming
and is the highest level of swimming competition in the U.S. These
meets are held twice a year at both short course and long course
venues.
Non-Conforming Time -
A short course time submitted to qualify for a long course meet, or
vice versa.
Official -
meet judges who are trained and certified by USA Swimming. On-deck
officials include Referees, Starters, and Stroke and Turn
Officials.
On-deck Entry –
A swimmer may enter events the day of the meet by signing up at the
Clerk of Course’s desk at least 30 minutes prior to the
beginning of the day’s events. On-deck entry fees are usually
double the regular meet entry fee. Swimmers must always consult
with their coaches before they "on-deck" to add or change that
day’s events!
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.
Personal Best -
a swimmer’s best time to date. A swimmer’s success is
best measured by improvements in their own time and not by
comparison with others. A personal best should always be considered
an accomplishment, but swimmers should not expect to improve their
time each time they swim.
Pre-seeded meet -
a meet in which heat and lane assignments are determined before the
meet and listed in the heat sheet. There is generally no circle-in
at a pre-seeded meet and swimmers report directly to the assigned
lane in time for their heat/race.
Positive Check In -
The procedure required before a swimmer swims an event in a deck
seeded or pre seeded meet. The swimmer must mark their name on a
list posted by the meet host.
Prelims-Finals -
Type of meet with two sessions. The preliminary heats are usually
held in the morning session. The fastest 6 or 8 (Championship Heat)
swimmers, and the next fastest 6 or 8 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.
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 foam float held between the swimmer’s legs while practicing
arm pull drills.
Pullout -
in breaststroke, the initial arm pull and kick which brings the
swimmer to the surface immediately after a start or turn.
Referee -
the meet official who oversees the operation of the meet. The
Referee has the final authority on any rule interpretation or
conflict that may arise during the course of the meet.
Relays -
races in which 4-swimmer teams compete. In a freestyle relay, each
swimmer swims freestyle. In a medley relay, each swimmer swims a
different stroke in the following order: backstroke, breaststroke,
butterfly, and freestyle.
Relay exchange -
the exchange between the swimmer in the water and the next swimmer
on the relay team. A perfect exchange will simultaneously have the
finishing swimmer’s hand on the wall and the starting
swimmer’s feet just touching the starting block with the rest
of the starting swimmer’s body extended over the
water.
Scratch -
to remove a swimmer from an event prior to the start of the
race.
Senior -
a swimmer aged 15 or older.
Set -
in practice, a combination of swimming and/or stoke/kick drills
that is typically done repetitively and on a certain time
interval.
Shave -
prior to a major competition a competitive swimmer will shave his
entire body. Shaving provides less resistance between skin and
water.
Short Course -
the swim season from September to March; all meets are held in 25
yard pools
Split -
a swimmer’s intermediate time in a race, used by the coach to
determine whether a swimmer is on an appropriate pace. A negative
split occurs when a swimmer swims the second half of a race faster
than the first half.
Start -
the beginning of a race. Swimmers will stand behind the blocks
until instructed to step up on the blocks or enter the water (for
backstroke.) The referee will blow a whistle as a signal that the
race is about to begin. The starter will then announce the name of
the race and ask the swimmers to "take your mark." Swimmers should
move into starting position quickly and hold that position until
the starter sounds the signal that starts the race.
Starter -
the meet official who starts each race.
Stretch Cord -
a long elastic or rubber cord used in dry land workouts
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.
TAGS -
Texas Age Group Swimming Championships. This meet is held twice a
year at the end of short course and long course. Swimmers must meet
minimum qualifying times in each event.
Taper -
the resting process in training for competitive swimming
competition. During the middle of the swimming season, an elite
swimmer may work out 8 to 10 miles each day. As a major competition
draws near, the swimmer will "taper" off the distance swum each
day. The taper will enable the swimmer to compete at their peak
capability.
Timed Finals -
Competition in which only heats are swum and final placings are
determined by those times.
Timing -
At USA Swimming meets, the touchpad provides the official time.
Backup times are provided by stopwatches.
Top 16 -
A list of times compiled by the LSC or USA-S that recognizes the
top 16 swimmers in each age group (boys & girls) by each event
and distance. The number 16 was arbitrarily chosen because it would
normally fill the finals and consoles heats at a swim
meet.
Touch -
the finish of the race
Touchpad -
the area at the end of each lane of the pool where a
swimmer’s time is registered by their touch and sent
electronically to the timing system and then the scoreboard.
Turnover -
the number of times a swimmer’s arms turn over or cycle in a
given distance or time during a race.
Unattached -
An athlete member who competes, but does not represent a club or
team.
Warm-down -
laps swum by the swimmer after the race to rid the muscles of
excess lactic acid generated during a race.
Warm-up -
laps swum by the swimmer before the race to get muscles loose and
ready to race.
Zones -
a regional swim meet attended by the top swimmers from each LSC.
The Gulf LSC participates in the Southern Zone meet which includes
teams from the southeastern US
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