SWIMMING TERMINOLOGIES

• Aquatics

  • Pertaining to water or to activities performed in water.
• Buoyancy

  • The upward force of water on a submerged object.
• Catch

  • The point at which the hand starts to exert pressure on the water.
• Dolphin kick

  • An undulating motion of the legs used in butterfly when both legs kick together.
• Entry

  • The point where a part of your body first breaks the surface of the water.
• Float

  • To be suspended in water.
• Flutter kick

  • Both legs moving up and down alternately.
• Glide

  • A period in which the body is moving in an extended position as a result of prior propulsion through the water. The body is floating and gliding through the water as a result of the last kick or pull of the arms.
• Gutter

  • The edge of the pool at water level.
• Heat

  • A race within the event. When there are more competitors than lanes in the pool, the swimmers are divided into groups or heats.
• Kick

  • To propel the body through the water with the legs. Types of kicks are Dolphin, flutter, scissors, and whip.
• Prone

  • A swimming position where the swimmer lies on his or her front.
• Propulsion

  • Movement through the water as a result of leg or arm action.
• Pull

  • An action of the arms imparting force on the water toward the body to propel a person through the water.
• SCUBA: Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

  • Usually an air tank strapped to the back and connected to the mouth by a flexible tube and mouthpiece.
• Push

  • An action of the arm or legs that propels a person through the water by imparting force on the water away from the body.
• Recovery phase

  • Part of a stroke in which the arms or legs have thrust the body through the water and are now returning to the position for another thrust.
• Stroke

  • A complete cycle of the arms and legs in a coordinated manner to propel a person through the water.
• Supine

  • A swimming position where the swimmer lies on his or her back.
• Touch turn

  • A racing turn used when swimming breast stroke and butterfly.
• Tumble turn

  • A racing turn used in front crawl.