Glossary

Aerobic
Longer distance energy system (see Energy).

Age for competitors
Generally age-determined events rely on the age a swimmer will be on date of the competition.

Age group
Swimmer/competition for U16.

Age group squads
The competitive 10-16 year old squads

Anaerobic
Sprint energy systems (see Energy).

ASA
Amateur Swimming Association.

ASA number
A unique reference comprising the 6 numerical digits. Has to be applied for on a form available from Peter Perkins. An ASA number is required in order to be able to enter into any competitive competitions. Swimmers are issued with ASA cards.

BAG points
The ASA's British Age Group (BAG) points system. This is based on a statistical analysis of lower age group times. It provides factors to correct for the differences in difficulty of the events within a given year of birth but not between years.

BAGCAT scoring
5 scores are awarded. One each for the best BAG point in each of:
(a) 50m any stroke (sprints);
(b) 200m Back, Breast, Fly (form);
(c) Individual Medley;
(d) Freestyle distance (200m+); and
(e) (If applicable) 100m any stroke.
The sum of these scores determines the overall points and a point must be scored in each applicable category.

Boxes
At opens and County championships the place where entry cards must be handed in before the start of the warm-up.

Cards
Entry cards. At opens and County championships a card is sent to each competitor for each event entered. This shows the entry time, the start time of the gala and competitor number. These cards must be checked when they arrive, taken to the gala and handed in before the start of the warm-up.

Catch-up
A front-crawl drill.

Competitive Development Continuum
The ASA's regime introduced in 1999/2000 for age group swimmers to breed future Olympians.

District
The level of competition between County and National. WSC is part of the Southern Counties District (SCASA).

DQ
Disqualified. For all sorts of reasons - false start, not touching the wall properly, incorrect technique and others.

Energy
The cardio-vascular system provides energy. The body has three complementary energy systems. The first two are anaerobic, which instantly provide energy and do not use oxygen, but will only produce energy for 45-55 seconds. The third system is aerobic and needs a constant supply of oxygen. It is a slower and more economical system of energy production. The anaerobic systems are the major provider for 25m and 50m sprints whilst the 200m events, and longer, are mainly served by the aerobic system.

Entry time
The time on the entry form, the best time achieved within a given period of the closing date for entries.

Form stroke
Free style, Back, Breast or Fly.

Heat declared winner (HDW)
Only heats are swum, not heats and finals. Several events are swum together, usually different ages of the same stroke and distance. Swimmers are graded by entry time. The winner is the swimmer in the relevant category, usually age, with the fastest time, not the winner of a particular heat.

A nightmare for spectators wanting to know the result because you have to identify all the swimmers in a particular age category and note all their times before you know how well your swimmer has done (barring disqualifications).

Individual Medley
A race in which all 4 strokes are combined in the order - Fly, Back, Breast, Freestyle. [When swum in a relay, the order is Back, Breast, Fly, Free - so as to avoid a takeover to backstroke.]

Kick
A legs-only set.

Kick board
The flat float for some legs only drills.

Lane order
The lane order for finals is decided from times in the heats or semi-finals. The fastest qualifier will swim in lane 4, second fastest in lane 5, third in lane 3, fourth in lane 6, fifth in lane 2, sixth in lane 7, seventh in lane 1 and eighth in lane 8. Theoretically, this creates spearhead format in the race.

Liciensed gala
A gala designated by the ASA for national and district qualifying times. [more information]

Lollipop gala
A friendly (or not so) gala between local clubs.

Long course
Races in a 50-metre pool.

Masters
Swimmers 18 or over.

Medley relay
A relay where each swimmer swims a different stroke in the order - Back, Breast, Fly, Freestyle.

Notice Board
The Club Notice Board just down the stairs to the swimming pool’s changing room at Gurnell Leisure Centre. By the doors before entry to Dormer Wells Swimming Pool.

NQT
National Qualifying Time, must be obtained in an ASA designated event.

Off X seconds/ minutes
The interval between the start of one set and the next. Any spare time is rest.

One start rule
If a swimmer starts before the gun/whistle/beeper, he or she is disqualified. This is the current ASA standard.

Open event
A race in which swimmers of any age may compete.

Open gala
A gala open to swimmers from any club, but usually of a specific age.

Over the top start
Swimmers from the last race remain in the water until the next race has started.

PB
Personal Best, the best time ever swum by that person over that distance for that stroke.

Pull
An arms only set.

Pull-buoy
The keyhole shaped float that keeps your left afloat in an arms only drill.

Rankings
Lists of the top 50 swimmers in each age/gender from 10 years (see age) upwards.

Red top
When the red hand of the timing clock is pointing to the 12 o'clock position. "Red 15" is when it is pointing 3 o'clock and so on.

Rest Interval/RI
Rest period at the end of a set.

SCASA
Southern Counties ASA.

Senior
Swimmer aged 17 years and over (18+ year olds are also Masters).

Session
A training period, usually 90 minutes.

Set
A series of training routines.

Short course
Races in a 25-metre pool.

Slide and glide
A front crawl drill.

Spearhead
The lane order for finals is decided from times in the heats or semi-finals. The fastest qualifier will swim in lane 4, second fastest in lane 5, third in lane 3, fourth in lane 6, fifth in lane 2, sixth in lane 7, seventh in lane 1 and eighth in lane 8. Theoretically, this creates spearhead format in the race.

Speedo
A league organised by the Company in which we compete. 3 rounds take place in the winter.

Splits
The time at each 25/50m turn. Swimmers will monitor these to check how they paced a race.

Squadron
A freestyle relay of usually 10 swimmers in each team, arranged boy/girl in each age group, oldest last.

Streamlining
Reducing the cross sectional area of the body to the minimum to make faster progress through the water as a result of less drag.

Swim down
A gentle set to relax the muscles after training or competition to reduce lactate build up.

Taper
Prior to any big competition, a swimmer will 'taper'. All this really means is that they rest. They will cut back the amount of training they do and decrease the intensity.

Warm up
A gentle set at the beginning of a session or gala to acclimatise the muscles for what is to come.

Year
Age-determined events are categorised by the age of a swimmer either on 31 December of the year of the competition or on the date of the competition. Look at the promoters material to see which.