Beginner's Guide to Swimming Language

Understanding Age & Categories

Age At

Some competitions group swimmers by their age on 31st December of that year.

Others group swimmers by their age on the actual day of the race.

Always check which rule your meet is using.

Age Group

Swimmers are divided into age bands, usually:

• 9–10 years
• 11–12 years
• 13–14 years, etc.

You race against swimmers in your age group.

Types of Competitions

Licensed Meet

A competition approved by British Swimming.

Times swum at licensed meets:

• Count as official
• Can be used for rankings
• Can be used to qualify for bigger events

Open Competition

A meet that any swimmer from any club can enter (if they meet the entry requirements).

Heat Declared Winner (HDW)

There is no final.

Everyone swims in heats (races), and:

• The fastest overall time wins
• You may race swimmers with similar entry times, not necessarily your age

Entering a Competition

Entry Fees

You pay a fee for each race you enter.

The cost depends on the meet.

Closing Date

The final date your club must submit entries.

After this date, no more entries are accepted.

Qualification Time (QT)

Some meets require you to have already swum:

• A minimum time (you must be fast enough), or
• Sometimes a maximum time (to keep very fast swimmers out)

These times must usually be from a licensed meet.

Rejections

If too many swimmers enter:

• The organiser may prioritise swimmers with official recorded times
• You may not get all the races you entered
• Your club will inform you if this happens

Pool & Race Setup

Blocks

The raised platforms behind each lane that swimmers dive from at the start.

LC / SC

Pool length:

• LC (Long Course) = 50 metre pool
• SC (Short Course) = 25 metre pool

Short course times are usually faster because swimmers push off the wall more often.

Converted Times

Times can be converted between 25m and 50m pools using online calculators.

However, short course times are generally quicker due to extra turns.

Over the Top Start

Used in Freestyle, Breaststroke and Butterfly.

After finishing:

• Swimmers stay in the water at the side
• The next race starts over the top of them
• This saves time during the meet

Timing & Results

Electronic Timing

Automatic timing system with touchpads at the end of each lane.

When swimmers touch the wall:

• Their split times and final time are recorded electronically

Personal Best (PB)

The fastest time you have ever swum for a specific stroke and distance.

Recorded Times

All official times from licensed meets are stored on the national database:

swimmingresults.org/individualbest

British Rankings

A national database run by British Swimming.

You can:

• See your PBs
• Compare your ranking at County, Regional or National level

Rules & Officials

Officials

The people in white on poolside.

They are qualified volunteers who:

• Ensure races follow the rules
• Judge turns, starts and finishes
• Can disqualify swimmers if rules are broken

Meets require a certain number of officials to run.

Disqualification (DQ)

If a swimmer breaks a rule, they may be disqualified.

Common reasons:

• False start
• Not touching the wall correctly (e.g. not using two hands in Breaststroke or Butterfly turns)

It happens to most swimmers at some point. Coaches will explain the reason so swimmers can improve.

False Start

Leaving the blocks before the starting signal.

This results in disqualification.

Common Abbreviations

• PB – Personal Best
• DQ – Disqualified
• DNF – Did Not Finish
• DNS – Did Not Start
• QT – Qualification Time
• LC – Long Course (50m pool)
• SC – Short Course (25m pool)

Governing Bodies

ASA (Amateur Swimming Association)

The former name for the governing body of swimming in England.

Now known as Swim England.

ASA Number

A unique membership number given when you join a swimming club.

You need this to enter competitions.

FINA

The international governing body for aquatic sports.

Now officially called World Aquatics.