50 swimming terms explained, including IM, flip turn, streamline, negative split and taper, each with a short definition.
Swimming terminology sounds simple until you stand on a pool deck at a meet and hear half of it shouted at once. The words related to swimming below name the four strokes, the parts of a race and the equipment that hangs off the lane rope, and the words associated with training, from intervals to the taper, come with them. The swimming glossary further down is there for the single term you came looking for.
Must-Know Swimming Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Backstroke
- Breaststroke
- Butterfly
- Dive
- Flip turn
- Freestyle
- IM (Individual Medley)
- Lane
- Medley relay
- Pool
- Qualifying time
- Relay
- Streamline
- Tumble turn
- Warm-down
- Warm-up
- Water polo
- Cap
- Goggles
- Heat
- Kickboard
- Lap
- Pace clock
- Personal best
- Split
- Stroke
- Swim-off
- Timer
- Touch pad
- Underwater kick
Swimming Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Anchor | The last swimmer in a relay. Teams usually save one of their fastest legs for it. |
| Backstroke | The stroke swum on the back, with alternating arm recoveries over the water and a flutter kick. |
| Blocks | The raised starting platforms at the end of each lane that swimmers dive from. |
| Breaststroke | The stroke with simultaneous arm and leg movements and a frog kick. The slowest of the four and the most technical. |
| Butterfly | The stroke with both arms recovering over the water together and a dolphin kick. Physically the hardest. |
| Cap | The silicone or latex head covering that holds the hair down and cuts drag. |
| Catch | The moment at the front of the stroke when the hand takes hold of the water and starts pulling. |
| Deck | The floor around the pool, where coaches, officials and swimmers waiting to race stand. |
| Dive | The racing start from the blocks, entering the water in a streamline. |
| DQ | Disqualification. Given for a false start, an illegal turn, a wrong stroke or an early relay takeover. |
| Drill | A part-stroke exercise done to fix one piece of technique rather than to swim fast. |
| False start | Moving on the blocks before the starting signal. Under current rules it costs the swimmer the race. |
| Fins | Training flippers that increase kick propulsion and let a swimmer work on speed and body position. |
| Flip turn | Somersaulting into the wall in freestyle and backstroke so the turn costs no speed. |
| Freestyle | The event where any stroke is allowed, which in practice always means the front crawl. |
| Goggles | Eyewear that keeps chlorine out and gives clear vision under water. |
| Heat | One of the preliminary races. The fastest times across all heats move on to the final. |
| IM | Individual medley. One swimmer covers butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle in that order. |
| Interval | The clock time a set is swum on, including the rest. "100s on 1:30" means one every ninety seconds. |
| Kickboard | The float held at arm's length so a swimmer can work the legs alone. |
| Lane | One marked channel of the pool, separated by floating lines that damp down the waves. |
| Lap | One length of the pool in common American usage. Some clubs use it for down and back, so ask before counting. |
| Lifeguard | The person watching the water whose job is to spot and reach a swimmer in trouble. |
| Long course | Racing in a 50 metre pool. Olympic swimming is long course. |
| Medley relay | A relay in which four swimmers cover backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle in that order. |
| Negative split | Swimming the second half of a race faster than the first. |
| Pace clock | The large clock on the pool wall that swimmers read to start sets and check their times. |
| Paddles | Plastic plates strapped to the hands to increase resistance and sharpen the catch. |
| Personal best | A swimmer's fastest time ever in one event. Shortened to PB, or best time. |
| Pool | The competition venue itself, standardly 25 or 50 metres long with marked lanes. |
| Pull buoy | The foam float held between the thighs so the legs stop working and the arms do everything. |
| Qualifying time | The time standard a swimmer must have already swum to enter a given meet. |
| Relay | A team event in which four swimmers each cover an equal part of the distance. |
| Set | A block of a training session, such as ten 100s, swum to a given interval and purpose. |
| Short course | Racing in a 25 metre pool. More turns, so times are faster than long course. |
| Split | The time for one part of a race, usually each 50 or 100. Splits show whether the pace held. |
| Sprint | A short, all-out race or effort. In competition it usually means the 50 and 100 distances. |
| Streamline | The tight position off every wall and start, arms overhead, hands stacked, to cut resistance. |
| Stroke | One of the four competitive styles: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. |
| Swim meet | A swimming competition. One meet runs over one or more sessions of heats and finals. |
| Swim-off | An extra race between swimmers who tied for the last place in a final. |
| Taper | The planned drop in training volume before a target meet, so the swimmer arrives rested and fast. |
| Timer | The official or electronic system that records each swimmer's time. |
| Touch pad | The pressure-sensitive panel at the end of the lane that stops a swimmer's clock when touched. |
| Treading water | Staying upright and afloat in one place by working the legs and hands. |
| Tumble turn | The British name for the flip turn. |
| Underwater kick | The dolphin kicks taken under the surface after a start or turn, up to the 15 metre mark. |
| Warm-down | The easy swim after a race or hard set that helps the body clear out and recover. |
| Warm-up | The swim before racing or training that raises muscle temperature and gets the stroke moving. |
| Water polo | The team sport played in a pool, throwing a ball into the opposing goal. Its players come out of the same clubs as swimmers. |
#1 Backstroke
A swimming stroke performed on the back where arms lift out of the water in an alternating circular motion, and legs execute a flutter kick. It is one of the four competitive strokes and requires swimmers to maintain a streamlined position.
#2 Breaststroke
The oldest and most technical of the competitive swimming strokes, breaststroke involves simultaneous movements of the arms and legs in a “frog-like” pattern. It requires precise timing and technique for efficient propulsion in the water.
#3 Butterfly
A dynamic and physically demanding stroke involving simultaneous overhead arm movement and a dolphin-like kick. Butterfly is recognized for its speed and the distinctive undulating motion swimmers make as they power through the water.
#4 Dive
Initiating a race or transitioning from the pool deck into the water, a dive involves a swimmer propelling themselves forward and downward into the water. Mastering the technique is key for a competitive edge, as a good dive can influence race outcomes.
#5 Flip turn
Performed primarily in freestyle and backstroke races, a flip turn involves a swimmer somersaulting at the end of the pool to quickly change direction while maintaining speed. Efficient turns are critical for maintaining momentum and improving race times.
#6 Freestyle
The most common swimming stroke, also known as the front crawl, characterized by an alternating arm stroke and flutter kick. Although technically freestyle allows any stroke, in competitive swimming, it is almost universally swum as the front crawl.
#7 IM (Individual Medley)
A swimming race in which a single swimmer competes in four different strokes sequentially: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. This event tests a swimmer’s versatility and skill across all major swimming strokes.
#8 Lane
A designated division in a swimming pool, marked by ropes with buoys, that separates swimmers to prevent collisions during practice or competition. Each lane is typically about 2.5 meters wide, allowing swimmers ample space to perform.
#9 Medley Relay
A swimming race where each of four team members swims a different stroke in sequence: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. The order of strokes in a medley relay is strategic and tests the versatility of a swim team.
#10 Pool
The body of water in which swimming competitions and practice sessions take place. Standard competitive pools are 25 or 50 meters in length and have multiple lanes for swimmers to race side by side.
#11 Qualifying Time
A pre-determined time standard that swimmers must achieve to enter certain competitions. Qualifying times are set by meet organizers and serve to ensure a certain level of competition at the event.
#12 Relay
A team swimming event in which each member of a team takes turns to swim a segment of the race. There are different relay events, such as freestyle relay and medley relay, each requiring teamwork and speed.
#13 Streamline
A position used by swimmers when they push off the walls or start from the block; it involves stretching the body, arms extended overhead, and hands together to reduce resistance. Mastering the streamline is essential for maximizing speed through the water.
#14 Tumble Turn
Also known as a flip turn, this is a technique used in freestyle and backstroke races to reverse direction at the wall. Swimmers perform a somersault at the end of the pool to optimize their turnaround time.
#15 Warm-down
A low-intensity swim following a rigorous training session or race, intended to help the body recover and prevent muscle stiffness. Warm-downs aid in flushing out lactic acid build-up and gradually lower the heart rate.
#16 Warm-up
A pre-competition or pre-training session swim designed to prepare the swimmer’s body for high-intensity activity. Warm-ups increase muscle temperature, enhance flexibility, and can improve overall performance.
#17 Water Polo
A competitive team water sport played in a pool, where two teams attempt to score goals by throwing a ball into the opposing team’s net. It combines swimming prowess with ball-handling skills and strategic teamwork.
#18 Cap
In swimming competitions, a cap is a silicone or latex head covering worn by swimmers to reduce drag in the water. Team members often wear caps in matching colors, sometimes with numbers for identification in water polo.
#19 Goggles
Goggles are essential eyewear for swimmers, providing clear vision underwater and protecting the eyes from chlorine and other irritants. They come in various shapes and sizes to fit comfortably and seal out water.
#20 Heat
In competitive swimming, a heat is a preliminary race used to qualify for the final races. Swimmers are typically grouped in heats based on their submitted or seeded times.
#21 Kickboard
A flotation device used by swimmers during training, a kickboard helps isolate the legs for kicking exercises, improving leg strength and kick technique without arm movement.
#22 Lap
A lap is one length of the pool, typically from one end to the other. In training and racing, multiple laps are often counted to measure distance swum.
#23 Pace Clock
The pace clock is a large clock with a second hand used by swimmers to time their laps, intervals, and rest periods during practice. It helps maintain consistent pacing and monitor workout segments.
#24 Personal Best
An athlete’s best ever performance in a specific event, marking the fastest time they’ve achieved. Swimmers continuously strive to outperform their personal bests, reflecting individual progress and achievement.
#25 Split
A segment of time recorded from a longer race, often used to measure consistency or strategy, such as splits for each lap or 50 meters in a race. Coaches and swimmers analyze splits to evaluate performance and pacing.
#26 Stroke
Refers to the method of swimming, such as freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly. Each stroke has distinctive techniques and rules, and mastering all of them is crucial for competitive swimming.
#27 Swim-off
A tie-breaking race between two or more swimmers who have achieved identical times, often used to determine final positions or qualifications. A swim-off can be an intense head-to-head challenge for the competitors involved.
#28 Timer
An official or device responsible for recording accurate swim times during races. Human timers typically use stopwatches at swim meets, while automated systems may involve touch pads and electronic timing equipment.
#29 Touch Pad
An electronic device located at the end of a swimming lane that registers a swimmer’s time when touched. It ensures precise timing to the hundredth of a second and is crucial for fair race results.
#30 Underwater Kick
A technique used after starts and turns where swimmers perform a series of dolphin kicks underwater before surfacing. This method can maximize speed and distance covered in the water due to reduced drag compared to surface swimming.
FAQ
What do swimmers jump off at the start of a race?
The starting blocks. Each lane has one at the end of the pool, angled and with a foot wedge at the back, and swimmers dive from them into a streamline. Backstroke is the exception: those races start in the water, with the swimmer holding the block.
What is it called when a swimmer stays in one place in the water?
Treading water. The legs work in a circular or scissoring motion while the hands scull, which keeps the head above the surface without moving anywhere. Water polo players use a version of it called the eggbeater.
What is flinching in a swimming meet?
Flinching is moving on the blocks after the starter has called swimmers to their marks but before the signal. It is a false start, and under current rules the swimmer who does it is disqualified.
What is a swimming competition called?
A swim meet. It is made up of sessions, each session of events, and each event of heats. The fastest swimmers from the heats come back for the final.
What do you call the person who watches the pool?
The lifeguard. At a meet you will also see officials on deck: the starter who sends the races off, stroke and turn judges who watch technique, and timers at the end of each lane.
They group into strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, IM), race words (heat, split, relay, personal best, DQ), technique (streamline, catch, flip turn, underwater kick) and training gear (kickboard, pull buoy, paddles, fins). The swimming glossary above lists every one of them.
What are some swimming terms for beginners?
“Freestyle,” “Butterfly,” and “Breaststroke” are some swimming terms beginners should start with. They represent the main swimming strokes essential for novice swimmers to learn.
What are some funny swimming terms?
“Flip turn,” “Dive,” and “Warm-down” are some funny swimming terms that add a light-hearted element to the sport, often sparking imagery of acrobatics in the pool and the juxtaposition of warming down in a cool environment.
What is a famous swimming phrase?
“Swim your own race,” is a famous swimming phrase, emphasizing the importance of focusing on one’s own performance rather than being overly concerned with competitors, promoting concentration and personal bests.
