Swimming Terminology

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1. Aquatic:  

Relating to water; anything that occurs in or around water.  

2. Backstroke:  

A swimming stroke done on the back, characterized by alternating arm movements and a flutter kick.  

3. Butterfly Stroke:  A challenging stroke that involves both arms moving simultaneously in a windmill motion while  performing a dolphin kick.  

4. Breaststroke:  

A stroke in which both arms move in a half-circle motion while the legs perform a frog-like kick,  known for its slower pace but efficient propulsion.  

5. Crawl Stroke (Freestyle):  

A fast stroke, typically performed on the stomach, with alternate arm movements and a flutter kick.  Often called "freestyle" in competition because swimmers can choose any stroke, but the crawl is the  most common.  

6. Dolphin Kick:  

A kick used in the butterfly stroke, where both legs move together in a fluid, wave-like motion.  

7. Flutter Kick:  

A basic kicking motion in which the legs alternate kicking up and down, used in freestyle and  backstroke.  

8. Flip Turn:  

A technique used at the wall to change direction, where the swimmer flips over in a somersault  motion and pushes off the wall to continue swimming.  

9. Freestyle:  

Another term for the crawl stroke; it is the fastest swimming stroke and commonly used in races.  

10. Glide:  

The phase of a stroke where the swimmer stretches the body out and moves through the water  without significant effort, conserving energy.  

11. Hand Entry:  

The technique used when a swimmer's hand enters the water during a stroke. Proper entry reduces  drag and improves efficiency.  

12. Kickboard:  

A flotation device used by swimmers to practice kicking techniques without the need for arm  movements.  

13. Lap:  

Swimming from one end of the pool to the other and back, or sometimes just one way, depending on  the pool’s configuration. 

14. Lane Line:  

The floating divider that separates lanes in a pool, designed to reduce wave interference between  swimmers.  

15. Medley:  #

A swimming event that combines all four competitive strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke,  and freestyle, usually swum in a specific order.  

16. Open Water Swimming:  

Swimming in outdoor bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, or oceans, as opposed to a controlled  pool environment.  

17. Pace:  

The speed at which a swimmer swims, typically measured by the time taken to swim a certain  distance (e.g., seconds per 100 meters).  

18. Pull Buoy:  

A flotation device placed between the legs to help swimmers focus on arm technique by preventing  leg movement.  

19. Push-off:  

The action of pushing off the wall at the start of a race or during a turn to continue swimming.  

20. Resting Stroke:  

A stroke or swimming style that allows the swimmer to maintain forward momentum while  recovering and breathing, such as breaststroke or backstroke.  

21. Recovery:  

The part of the stroke cycle where the arms or legs are moving back to their starting position,  allowing the swimmer to rest and prepare for the next stroke.  

22. Ripple Effect:  

The waves created in the water by a swimmer's movement, which can create drag and affect  performance.  

23. Streamline:  

A position that reduces water resistance by aligning the body in a straight, horizontal line, often used  during starts, turns, and underwater glides.  

24. Tumble Turn (Flip Turn):  

A type of turn used in competitive swimming, where the swimmer performs a somersault to reverse  direction at the wall.  

25. Underwater Pullout:  

A technique used in breaststroke where the swimmer uses the arms and a streamlined body position  underwater to gain speed before coming to the surface. 

26. Warm-up:  

The initial set of exercises or swimming done before a workout or competition to prepare the  muscles and cardiovascular system.  

27. Water Polo:  

A competitive team sport played in a swimming pool, where teams of seven players each try to score  by throwing a ball into the opposing team’s goal. 

28. Swim Cap:  

A tight-fitting cap worn by swimmers to reduce drag, keep hair out of the face, and protect the hair  from chlorine damage.  

29. Swim Goggles:  

A piece of equipment worn to protect the eyes from chlorine and improve underwater visibility.  

30. Triathlon Swim:  

The segment of a triathlon race that involves open water swimming, typically 750m to 3.8km in  distance.  

31. Turnover Rate:  

The frequency at which a swimmer completes a stroke cycle; higher turnover means faster  swimming, often used in reference to the arm stroke.  

32. Velocity:  

The speed at which a swimmer moves through the water, typically measured in meters per second or  per lap.  

33. Vertical Kick:  

A kicking exercise done while treading water or in a deep pool, often used to strengthen legs and  improve endurance.

34. Wall Touch:  

In competitive swimming, the act of touching the wall at the end of a race or turn to signal  completion.  

35. Wide Entry:  

A technique where the swimmer's hand enters the water wider than the shoulder line, often used in  butterfly and breaststroke to maximize propulsion. 

36. Zone Training:  

A training method that targets specific heart rate zones to develop particular aspects of  cardiovascular fitness, often used in endurance training.  

37. Sprint Training:  

A focused training style aimed at improving speed over short distances, often involving high-intensity  interval swimming.  

38. Drag:  

The resistance felt by a swimmer in the water, which slows them down. Reducing drag is a key goal in  swimming technique.  

39. Sculling:  

A technique in which swimmers use their hands in small, circular motions to help maintain balance  and propel themselves, often used in warm-ups or drills.  

40. Split Time:  

The time it takes a swimmer to complete a specific distance or segment of a race, often used to  gauge performance.  

41. Dryland Training:  

Exercises performed outside of the water to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance for  swimming.