Appendix 1.
Commonly used swimming vocabulary with examples of how it is used
| Word | Definition | Example/Application |
|---|---|---|
| Base | The pace a swimmer or group of swimmer can swim 100 yards repeatedly and still finish with 5‐10 seconds rest. Allows practices to be more individualized. | 5×100 yards base (1:30) 5×100 yards base +5 (1:35) allows for more rest (easier) 5×100 yards base ‐5 (1:25) allows for less rest (harder) |
| Drills | Used to help swimmers focus on specific parts of the stroke cycle. They exaggerate one particular phase of the stroke. | Finger‐tip drag drill requires the swimmer to drag the finger tips on the top of the water during the recovery phase. This exaggerates the bent elbow to help the swimmer focus on proper recovery technique. |
| Distance Swimmer | A swimmer who competes in events that are over 500 yards/meters. | 500 yards/meters, 1000 yards/meters, 1650 yards/meters |
| Lap | 2 lengths = 50 yards/meters or 1 lap | If a swimmer is asked to swim a “50” that is 2×25 yards/meters of the pool |
| Length | Standard, short course, competition pools are either 25 yards or 25 meters long. 1 length = 25 yards or meters Length is more commonly used than Lap. | If a swimmer is asked to swim a “100” it means 4×25 yards/meters or 4 length of the pool continuously. |
| Long course | Olympic length 50 meter pool | If a swimmer is asked to swim 100 meters long course, it is 2 lengths of the pool. |
| Intensity | Used to describe the effort a swimmer is putting into each set throughout swim practice. It can be defined specifically using % of effort, but is commonly stated as “hard,” “moderate,” or “easy” on a written workout. | 5×100 yards 85% max effort Or 5×100 yards hard |
| Interval | Performing the distances in an allotted amount of time; the swimmer will only get rest if they can complete the distance before the defined interval time expires. | 5×100 yards freestyle 1:45 This means each 200 yard freestyle trial should be completed faster than 1 minute and 45 seconds for the swimmer to get rest. The faster the swimmer completes each 100 yard freestyle trial, the more rest he/she gets. |
| Kick | Focus on the kick component of the stroke using a kick board prone, in a streamlined position supine or on the side with one arm extended. | 5×100 kick w board Kick using a kickboard |
| Mid‐distance swimmer | A swimmer who competes in events between 200 yards and 500 yards long. | 200 yard freestyle, 500 yard freestyle |
| Negative Split | When the second half of a swimming event is faster than the first half of the swimming event | 200 yard freestyle 2:30 1st 100 yards 1:20 2nd 100 yards 1:10 |
| Pull | Focus on the arm component of the stroke using a pull buoy. Often hand paddles are used with the pull buoy during a pull set. This is not advised for an injured shoulder because the added resistance can exacerbate symptoms. | 5×100 pull w paddles Swim using a pull buoy and hand paddles |
| Rest | Time between each swim; Rest time means swimmers will always get a break between each swim. | 5×100 yards Rest 20 This means rest 20 sec after each 100 yard swim. |
| Scull | Moving hands and forearm out and in against the water | Commonly used as a drill to appreciate the feel of the water on the hand and forearm |
| Set | Refers to repetitions of defined distances and is written on a swimmers workout as —×— work‐out usually contains two‐four different sets. | 5×100 yard freestyle Means 4 lengths of freestyle repeated 5 times with either a rest or interval to determine recovery time. |
| Sprinter | A swimmer who competes in events 100 yards or less. | 100 yard freestyle, 50 yard freestyle |
| Swim | Performing one of the four competitive strokes | 5×100 free swim Swim freestyle |
| Stroke | Any of the 3 competitive swimming strokes besides Freestyle: Butterfly (fly), Backstroke ( back), Breaststroke (breast) | 5× 100 Fly Swim butterfly for all 100s |
| Yardage | Total yard or meters accumulated swimming during a set practice time. Verbalized by multiples of 25. | A coach may increase daily yardage from 3000 yards to 6000 yards over the course of the swim season. |
Italicized notations are what would be recorded in a workout log or record for each swimmer.