PTAC: Swimming 101

Swimming Rules and Tips

The Racing Start

The start in Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Individual Medley races shall be with a dive. On the long whistle from the Starter/Referee, the swimmers shall step onto the starting platform and remain there. On the Starter/Referee's command "Take your marks", they shall immediately take up a starting position with at least one foot at the front of the starting platforms. The position of the hands is not relevant. When all swimmers are stationary, the Starter shall give the starting signal.
Most top swimmers use the grab start to get their race underway. This start gets you moving off the blocks quickly and gets you into the water smoothly. Races are often won by tenths and hundredths of seconds. It is important to get the race started as soon as the signal is given in competitions. The starter will not start the race until everybody is ready and still. This is really important because you could get disqualified if you fell in before the start, or if you were slow getting ready.

The start in Backstroke and Medley Relay races shall be from the water. At the Starter/Referee's first long whistle, the swimmers shall immediately enter the water. When all swimmers have assumed their starting positions, the starter shall give the command "Take your marks".

When all swimmers are stationary, the starter shall give the starting signal. Any swimmer starting before the starting signal has been given, could be disqualified.

If the starting signal sounds before the disqualification is declared, the race shall continue and the swimmer or swimmers shall be disqualified upon completion of the race. If the disqualification is declared before the starting signal, the signal shall not be given, but the remaining swimmers shall be called back and start again.

 

Freestyle

Freestyle means that in an event so designated the swimmer may swim any style, except that in individual medley or medley relay events, freestyle means any style other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly. Some part of the swimmer must touch the wall upon completion of each length and at the finish.

Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race. However, it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 meters (or 15 yards) after the start and each turn. By that point, the swimmer's head must have broken the surface. Freestyle is the fastest stroke and is often hard to get the hang of it at first because fitting in the breathing can be difficult. Once you have mastered the breathing, it can become one of the easiest and most rewarding strokes to perform.
This is a Freestyle tumble turn. The turn is basically a somersault and twist. Here's what you need to do:

* Swim towards the wall

* Forward somersault just before the wall

* Place feet on wall & stretch arms out

* Push hard on wall and twist onto breast

 

Backstroke:

Prior to the starting signal, the swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end, with both hands holding the starting grips. The feet, including the toes, shall be under the surface of the water. Standing in or on the gutter or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter is prohibited. At the signal for starting and after turning the swimmer shall push off and swim upon his back throughout the race except when executing a turn. The normal position on the back can include a roll movement of the body up to, but not including 90 degrees from horizontal. The position of the head is not relevant. Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race. It shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn, at the finish and for a distance of not more than 15 yards after the start and each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface. During the turn the shoulders may be turned over the vertical to the breast after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to initiate the turn. Once the body has left the position on the back, any kick or arm pull must be part of the continuous turning action. The swimmer must have returned to the position on the back upon leaving the wall. When executing the turn there must be a touch of the wall with some part of the swimmer's body. Upon the finish of the race the swimmer must touch the wall while on the back. The body may be submerged at the touch.

 

Breastroke:

From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each turn, the body shall be kept on the breast. It is not permitted to roll onto the back at any time. All movements of the arms shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane without alternating movement. The hands shall be pushed forward together from the breast on, under, or over the water.
The elbows shall be under the water except for the final stroke before the turn, during the turn and for the final stroke at the finish. The hands shall be brought back on or under the surface of the water. The hands shall not be brought back beyond the hip line, except during the first stroke after the start and each turn. All movements of the legs shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane without alternating movement. The feet must be turned outwards during the propulsive part of the kick. A scissors, flutter or downward dolphin kick is not permitted. Breaking the surface of the water with the feet is allowed unless followed by a downward dolphin kick. At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water level. The head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided it breaks the surface of the water at some point during the last complete or incomplete cycle preceding the touch. During each complete cycle of one arm stroke and one leg kick, in that order, some part of the swimmer's head shall break the surface of the water, except that after the start and after each turn the swimmer may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs and one leg kick while wholly submerged. The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke.

 

Butterfly:

From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and each turn, the body shall be kept on the breast. Under water kicking on the side is allowed. It is not permitted to roll onto the back at any time. Both arms must be brought forward together over the water and brought backward simultaneously throughout the race. All up and down movements of the legs must be simultaneous. The position of the legs or feet need not be on the same level, but they shall not alternate in relation to each other. A breaststroke kicking movement is not permitted.

Breaststroke/Butterfly Turn:

At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously, at, above or below the water surface. At the start and at turns, a swimmer is permitted one or more leg kicks and one arm pull under the water, which must bring him to the surface. It shall be permissible for a swimmer to be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 meters (meter pool) or 15 yards (yards pool) after the start and after each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface. The swimmer must remain on the surface until the next turn or finish.

 

 

Medley Swimming:

In individual medley events (IM), the swimmer covers the four swimming styles in the following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle. In medley relay events, swimmers will cover the four swimming styles in the following order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle. Each section must be finished in accordance with the rule which applies to the style concerned.

 

Other Rules & Tips:

A swimmer must finish the race in the same lane in which he started. In all events, a swimmer when turning shall make physical contact with the end of the pool or course. The turn must be made from the wall, and it is not permitted to take a stride or step from the bottom of the pool. Standing on the bottom during freestyle events or during the freestyle portion of medley events shall not disqualify a swimmer, but he shall not walk. Pulling on the lane rope is not allowed. Obstructing another swimmer by swimming across another lane or otherwise interfering shall disqualify the offender. Should the foul be intentional, the Referee shall report the matter to the Member promoting the race, and to the Member of the swimmer so offending. No swimmer shall be permitted to use or wear any device that may aid his speed, buoyancy or endurance during a competition (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins. Goggles may be worn. Any swimmer not entered in a race, who enters the water in which an event is being conducted before all swimmers therein have completed the race, shall be disqualified from his next scheduled race in the meet.

 

Glossary of Terms

Chestnut Ridge League - This is the swimming league that Penn Trafford Aqua Club (PTAC) belongs.  When we swim "Dual" meets, we swim other teams that also belong to the Chestnut Ridge League.

For this meet, you will only sign up your swimmers name on the website.  Fill form and submit.    You will not know what events your child is swimming until warm-ups the day of the meet.  They will be posted in the hallway at the pool right before warm-ups start.

A typical "dual meet" will last 3-4 hours

You do NOT need to pay for these meets.

Stroke-This is the terminology that is used to describe the type of swimming that is being performed by the swimmer.  There are 4 possible strokes that can be swum in a swimming race.

• Backstroke
• Breastroke
• Butterfly
• Freestyle

Event-This is terminology used to describe a swimming race comprised of the:

• age group
• sex of the swimmer
• length of race
• stroke

An example of an event is "Event 6" that is a 9-10 year old boy 50 freestyle race.  If either the age group, sex, length of the race or stroke changes, this would change the event number.  In winter there is typically 72 events in a "Dual" Chestnut Ridge meet.

Heat-This describes the race number within an event.  If a pool has 6 lanes but the race comprises of a total of 16 swimmers, this means this event would have 3 heats (16/6 rounded up)

In a "Dual" meet, the first heat will be comprised of the 6 fastest swimmers signed up for that event.  The 2nd heat will be comprised of the NEXT 6 fastest swimmers and so forth..... This means that swimmers will typically always be swimming against kids who canswim ABOUT as fast as they can.

In a "Dual" meet, only the first heat counts for points toward the swim meet.  The performance of the swimmers in heats OTHER than the 1st heat, do NOT count towards their team's points for that meet, however, their race times DO COUNT for their own "best times".

100 IM- This stands for a "100 Yard Individual Medley" race.  This race is comprised of swimming 4 lengths of the pool.

• The first length is Butterfly
• The second length is Backstroke
• The third length is Breastroke
• The fourth length is Freestyle

100 Medley Relay - This stands for a 4-person relay team in which each person will swim 1 length of the pool (for a total of 200 yards for the whole relay team).

There are 7 teams that comprise the Chestnut Ridge League that PTAC will swim against in a total of 8 Dual meets + 1 championship race.  Half of these meets are swum at home (Penn Trafford High School pool) and half of these meets are “away” (opponent’s High School pool).

We swim these meets as a team and the location of the meet will be at either Penn Trafford High school pool or the opponents High School pool.

You are not REQUIRED to sign up for ANY meets; however, if your swimmer would like to swim at Chestnut Ridge Championships, they must swim a minimum of 5 Dual Meets (must be 3 home meets and 2 away meets)

Teams involved in Chestnut Ridge League

1. PTAC
2. Hemfield
3. Norwin
4. Belle Vernon
5. Derry
6. Latrobe
7. Titans from West Mifflin
8. Mt. Pleasant

Usually, about 2 weeks prior to the dual meet, a form will be posted on website just fill in form with the information and it will be submitted.  No late entries will be accepted.  The dual meet deadline to sign up varies so be sure to get your swimmer signed up on time.  If you have any cancellations please notify a coach by email.  

Also posted on the website SHOULD be the directions to the pool if that meet is an “away” meet.  Please double check the directions for they might have changed. 

The positions that need filled for every dual meet is the following:

1.    Place Judge – This means you would pick a place you would like to judge (1^st place through 6^th place),   The away team has lanes 1, 3 and 5 and the home team will swim (and place judge) in lanes 2, 4 and 6.

You hold that place’s ribbons and upon the end of every heat of an event, you VISUALLY decide which swimmer received that place and walk that ribbon over to that lane and hand the ribbon to the “Writer” for that lane.  You are not supposed to decide the place based on the score board but from your own eyes!  If you are not sure, you can then look at the score board. In the situation where there is a dispute on a place, the place judge for the higher place always takes precedence.

 For every meet, we need 3 parents to sign up for place judges since the other 3 place judges will be volunteers from the opponent’s team.

2.          Timer – A timer stands at the block and the end of the lane with a hand-held stop watch (provided by PTAC).  The stop watch should be started at the time the race starts with the starting sound/light.  You should watch the starter so that you can begin the watch based on the light and not the sound.  When the swimmer is done with the race, the timer must simultaneously stop the watch and the plunger that is also at the end of the lane.  The plunger provides a back-up time to the computers in the case of the swimmer not touching the lane pads at the end of the race. 

If, accidentally, you stop the stopwatch prematurely, just raise your hand and the backup timer will come to your lane to get your swimmers time.

The timer than verbally gives his stopwatch time to the writer.  

For every meet, we need 3 parents to sign up for timers since the other 3 place judges will be volunteers from the opponent’s team.

3.         Backup Timer – One backup timer is needed for every home meet.  The backup timer typically stands off to the side of the pool with the place judges.  At the start of every race, the backup timer starts their stopwatch and watches all of the timers in the lanes if anyone raises their hands.  If a timer raises their hands, the backup timer will walk over to that lane and time for that race.

Only 1 backup timer is needed for home meets.

4.           Writer – There will be a pre-printed sheets of paper for every event/heat/lane for PTAC swimmers.  This writer sheet will show the Event number, heat number, the event description (Ex; 9 – 10 year old, Boy, 100 Freestyle) and the swimmers name.

For every meet, we need 3 parents to sign up for writers since the other 3 writers will be volunteers from the opponent’s team.

As a writer, you will pick a lane to “Write” and you will stand at the blocks for that lane with a “Timer” for the duration of the swim meet.  Shortly before the meet starts, you will be handed all of the writing sheets for that lane.  You will have 1 sheet for every race in that lane.    On that writer sheet, you will need to write:

Ø                  The time that swimmer swum the race.  This time will be told to you by the “Timer” who timed that race with his/her stop watch. 

Ø                  You will also need to write the place that was given to you by the “place judge” ribbon.

Ø                  If your swimmer is asked by the “Starter” to move to a different lane, make sure you scratch out the pre-printed lane number for that swimmer, write in the lane the swimmer is moving and hand the writer sheet for that race to the swimmer.

Ø                  Shortly after each race is over, the “runner” will come by and pick up your writer sheet for that race.

Ø                  Most swimmers under the age of about 14 years old like to have their event and time also written on the back of their ribbon.

6.         Scorer – As a scorer, you are responsible for determining each teams points received for each race based on the “Writer’s” place.  You will sit at a table for the duration of the meet with a “scorer” from the opponent’s team.  For each race, based on the writer sheets you receive from the runner, you will write:

• The event number
• The lane number
• The swimmers name
• The swimmer’s time for that race
• The place of that swimmers and corresponding points received for that place
• Cumulative points for that team

8.      Stroke & Turn Judge – A stroke judge will be responsible for either one or several lanes for the duration of the meet.  They are responsible for making sure that the swimmer is following all of the “rules” for that stroke.  If the stroke judge finds a swimmer that has broken any of the rules for that stroke, the stroke judge will write up a “Disqualified” (DQ) sheet and the swimmer will be disqualified for that race.  This just means that their time can not count for points or toward that swimmer’s best times.

  In order to be a stroke judge, you must attend a “Stroke Judge” clinic to get certified.  If you are interested in this, please contact Scott Barker for instructions on how to get certified.  We need 2 PTAC stroke judges for each meet. 

9.           Concession – Working concessions means you will sell food/drinks during the home meets.  You may also need to get to the meet early to setup the concession stand or help at the end of the meet, taking down the concession stand.  The concession stand is setup in the hallway outside of the locker rooms.   We need 3 concession volunteers for each home meet. 

10.      8 and Under Helpers – You will receive a copy of all of the events in the meet.  You should highlight all of the 8 and under age events.  As an 8 and under helper, you responsibility is to make sure all children swimming 8 and under events get to their lane on time and know what they are swimming.

      It is a very good idea to tell the children to stay on deck with you for the duration of the race instead of in the stands with their parents so you do not need to “hunt down the children”.  If the children want to leave to go the bathroom or get something to eat, make sure they tell an “8 and under helper” so you know where they are when you need to look for them. 

Children should be in their lane AT LEAST 3 or 4 events before their event.

  The Day of a Dual Meet                                                                         Ø      Plan to bring a permanent black magic marker or dark-colored pen.  

Ø      You should plan to arrive at the pool at least 15 minutes prior to posted warm-up times.   

Ø      On the wall in the hallway, there will be posted a list, by swimmer’s name, what events that swimmer is swimming in that meet.

Ø      With your marker or pen, write the following information on your swimmer’s hand:

·         Event #

·         Heat #

·         Race Name

·         Lane #

 Ø      Encourage your swimmer to stay on deck through the meet so they do not miss their events.  Often events can be combined so the swimmer should always be in their lane about 4 events before their race!

 Ø      At the end of a race, the swimmer should immediately talk to Jim for race feedback.

 Ø      The event and heat numbers will be shown on the scoreboard.  The event numbers for winter meets go to event #72.and will last between 3 and 4 hours 

Ø      The week following a dual meet, a “Result Report” will be posted on the website showing all of the race times for all of the swimmers/events along with the performance improvement.  A positive value means the swimmer has added time and a negative value shows the swimmer has taken time off from their best time.