Lost words and phrases on the non-swimmer
The swimming dictionary: a list of words and phrases lost on the non-swimmer
Like any sport, swimming has its own set of words. Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most commonly used and confusing terms and phrases that swimmers use that non-swimmers may not understand.
Words
Heat foil (N) – A coach’s master key for the entire competition; a thick bundle of many papers containing all the information about a given match in which a team participates, including classification times, heats and lanes assignments, and even the time each event is due to start.
capping (V) – Styling; the act of helping a swimmer to snap their swimming cap onto their head through a series of complicated movements that must be performed in a synchronized fashion.
Use the time spent outside the pool wisely as it can literally save the shoulders of our swimmers.
Dry country (N) – A swimmer version of conditioning on land; includes lifting, running, Swedish gymnastics and basically all other land exercises.
Combination (N) – An abbreviated version of the word swimsuit; describes all types of competitive swimming clothing.
Training suit (N) – A swimsuit specifically dedicated to practices; generally fits comfortably and comes in a variety of styles and designs as well as brands
Meet Costume (N) – A swimsuit specifically dedicated to competitions; Usually fits tighter and comes in a consistent style and coloring for all team members to promote consistency and team morale.
Technical combination (N) – A kind of specialized racing suit, usually reserved for the attempt to achieve a personal best or a qualifying time, which adjusts extremely well and hugs the body in such a way as to save precious time on a race; usually requires assistance to get up.
Swimcest (N) – The act of two teammates romantically involved, thus interrupting the dynamic of the group of swimming friends.
Supports (N) – Every swimmer’s worst nightmare; a pair of bifurcated punctuation marks that a trainer can write around a set to increase distance traveled or to increase the difficulty level of a set.
Lapping (V) – Occurs when a swimmer passes another swimmer by at least one lap.
Paddles (N) – A piece of equipment used by swimmers on their hands to correct and modify swimming technique.
Photo courtesy: Instagram, @swimoutlet
Ailerons (N) – A piece of equipment used by standing swimmers to increase the efficiency and speed of kicks.
Swimmer shoulders (N) – An easily identifiable mark of a swimmer; wide, sloping shoulders that most swimmers get from the hours they spend training in the pool.
Eyewear brands (N) – The permanent circles around a swimmer’s eyes due to the waterproof goggles he wears during hours of training to protect his eyes from chlorinated water.
Track line (N) – The plastic ropes that divide a competition pool into sections that each swimmer can swim in.
I AM (N) – individual medley; Refers to the fifth swimming event which requires the execution of each of the four strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle.
Cone (N) – A swimmer’s favorite moment of the season; a rest cycle that many swimmers do at the end of a season leading up to championship or end-of-season competitions in order to allow the muscles to recover and get the most accurate and fastest time possible during the aforementioned competition.
Platform (N) – Refers to any location immediately outside the physical pool where equipment and personal effects are stored, spectators watch and coaches give instructions.
Long training (LC) (N) – Refers to a 50 meter long competition pool.
Short Course (SC) (N) – Refers to a 25 yard or 25 meter long competition pool.
Sentences
“Leave up” – Start the next series when the clock reaches the “top of the hour” which is either 00 or when the hand reaches the top of the clock, depending on whether your clock is digital or electronic.
“Chlorine is our scent” – There are many variations of this saying, but all of them boil down to the same one. Because swimmers spend so much time in the pool, the smell of chlorine becomes so ingrained in their skin that even a shower may not wash it off.
“Silicone or latex? “ – This is a reference to a swimmer’s preference for swim caps, as the most common types of caps are silicone and latex.
“I touched my hand on the track line! “ – It’s a pain worse than stepping on a lego. While swimming, if a swimmer hits any part of their body on a lane line it is a pain they will never forget, and only a swimmer knows the true extent of that pain, as it happened. to almost all of us.
“Breathe less or we start over!” “ – Breath control is a crucial part of swimming. If a set is all about breathing, or more specifically a lack of breathing, and swimmers can’t complete it properly, a coach may threaten to restart the set until it’s done accurately. It is the ultimate fear tactic of swimming coaches across the world.
“10 extra seconds of rest!” “ – The greatest blessing in disguise for swimmers. Those extra seconds mean precious time to catch your breath, drink water, or change gear.
“Take your mark… BEEP! “ – The expression that makes the heart of any competitive swimmer beat faster. These are the last seconds of anticipation and focus before having to rely on our training and swimming with all we have left. Only a swimmer can recognize the specific reaction these four words cause.
