Swimming Terms and Glossary

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ASA Rankings 
Previously known as the Amateur Swimming Association, Swim England is the national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, open water, and artistic swimming. Rankings reflect swimmers’ best times achieved in licensed competitions. These standings allow swimmers to see how they compare at the national, regional, and county levels. Swimmers training at more than one club must designate which club's name will appear in the rankings by updating their Swim England account. 

Backstroke 
A stroke where swimmers lie on their back, using alternating arm strokes and a steady flutter kick. The head remains still with the eyes facing upward, allowing for natural breathing. At the wall, swimmers roll onto their front before performing a flip turn and pushing off in a streamlined position. 

Breaststroke 
A stroke characterized by a frog-like kick and a simultaneous sweeping arm motion. Swimmers glide between strokes, with the head lifting to breathe and dipping underwater to maintain a streamlined position. Turns and finishes require an open, two-hand touch at the wall before pushing off again. 

Butterfly
A powerful and rhythmic stroke where swimmers use a dolphin-like body motion and swing both arms together in a circular movement. Breathing occurs when the head lifts forward every one or two strokes, then returns underwater. At the wall, swimmers must touch with both hands before pushing off in a streamlined position.

County Qualifying Times
These are the minimum times swimmers must achieve to compete in the Devon County Championships, which take place in January and February each year. Qualifying times must be recorded in licensed meets after 1 March of the previous year. For example, to compete in the 2025 Championships, times must have been achieved after 1 March 2024. 

Front Crawl
The fastest and most efficient stroke, featuring an alternating windmill-like arm motion, flutter kicking, and side breathing. The swimmer maintains a streamlined, face-down body position for minimal resistance in the water. Turns are executed using a quick flip at the wall, allowing swimmers to push off smoothly and continue the race. 

Freestyle
A race category in which swimmers may use any stroke. Front Crawl is almost always chosen because it is the fastest, but any stroke is permitted. It’s important to note that Freestyle refers to the type of race, while Front Crawl is a specific stroke. 

Individual Medley (IM)
An event where a single swimmer completes all four competitive strokes—Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Front Crawl—in that specific order. The distances are divided equally and can total 100m, 200m, or 400m. 

Long Course
A race held in a 50-meter pool. Fewer turns are required due to the longer pool length, which places more emphasis on stamina and technique. Long course format is the standard for international competitions, including the Olympics. #

Medley Relay
A team event where four swimmers each swim a different stroke in the following order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Front Crawl. This format differs from the Individual Medley and adds a dynamic, team-oriented challenge to races. 

Personal Best (PB)
A swimmer’s fastest recorded time in a specific event. PBs are a personal benchmark used to track improvement and set goals, independent of other swimmers’ performances. 

Qualifying Times
Set standards that swimmers must meet to be eligible to enter certain competitions. These times vary by event, age group, and competition level. Achieving qualifying times is a common goal for swimmers working toward higher-level meets. 

Short Course
A race held in a 25-meter pool. The shorter length results in more turns, which can help swimmers build momentum and maintain speed. Short course races are commonly used in indoor competitions. 

Splits
Intermediate times recorded during a race, typically every 25 or 50 meters. Splits are used by swimmers and coaches to analyse race strategies and pacing, helping to assess performance across different segments of the event.