Competitive Swimming 101
Strokes
The four competitive swimming strokes are freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
In freestyle events, the competitor may swim any stroke. The stroke most commonly used is sometimes called the crawl. On turns and finishes, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. Many swimmers do a flip turn. Touching the bottom of the pool or pulling on the lane lines will result in a disqualification.
Backstroke consists of an alternating motion of the arms with a flutter kick while on the back. On turns, swimmers may rotate to the stomach and perform a flip turn and some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. At the finish the swimmer must remain on the back. Rolling onto the stomach to look for the wall will result in a disqualification.
The breaststroke, which is the oldest stroke dating back hundreds of years, requires simultaneous movements of the arms on the same horizontal plane. The hands are pressed out from in front of the breast in a heart shaped pattern and recovered under or on the surface of the water. The kick is a simultaneous somewhat circular motion similar to the action of a frog. On turns and at the finish, the swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously at, above or below the water surface.
Some consider the butterfly to be the most beautiful of the strokes. It features a simultaneous recovery of the arms over the water combined with an undulating dolphin kick. In the kick, the swimmer must keep both legs together and may not flutter, scissors or use the breaststroke kick. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously on the turns and the finish.
The individual medley, commonly referred to as the I.M., features all four strokes. In the IM, the swimmer begins with the butterfly, then changes to backstroke, then breaststroke and finally freestyle.
Relays
A medley relay consists of four swimmers, each swimming a different stroke. The first swimmer swims backstroke, the second breaststroke, the third butterfly, and the final swimmer anchors the relay with freestyle.
A freestyle relay consist of four swimmers, each swimming one quarter of the total distance of the event.
Meet
Each swim meet offers a variety of events and distances, depending on the age group. Each swimmer will have a limit to the number of events he or she may swim each day, depending on the meet rules.
Age Group
Participants compete in different age groups. Our league is broken down into the following age groups: 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18. Team practice groups are usually determined by age and/or ability.
Starts
In the start, the swimmer is called to the starting position by the starter who visually checks that all swimmers are motionless. When all swimmers are set, the starter will say "take your mark" and the starting horn is sounded to begin the race. If the starter feels that one of the swimmers has moved, left early or gotten an unfair advantage, a false start will be sounded and the swimmers will take the blocks again.
Rules
The technical rules of swimming are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of 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 Course
Competition pools may be short course (25 yards or 25 meters), or long course (50 meters). The international standard (as used in the Olympics) is 50 meters. World records are accomplished in 25 and 50 meter pools. The Southland Swim Association swims in 25 yard and 25 meter pools depending on the location.
Officials
Officials are present at all competitions to enforce the technical rules of swimming so the competition is fair and equitable. Officials attend clinics, pass a written test and work meets before being certified. All parents are encouraged to get involved with some form of officiating.