LESSON 1:

SWIMMING
FACILITIES
AND
Objectives
at the end of the lesson the student must have:

a) identified the different facilities and equipment used in

swimming

b) familiarized the different parts/markings at the pool

c) differentiated and distinguished the uses of swimming

equipment
Swimming Pool (Olympic standard)
Length – 25 meters and 50 meters
Width – 25 meters
Lanes – lanes at 2.5 meters with two spaces of at least 0.2 m outside the first and last lane.
Lane Rope – a rope extended at pool length that separates swimmers from the other lane.
Floaters of the lane rope must have a distinct color 15m at both ends from surrounding floaters.
Starting Platform – a firm platform that is used by the swimmer during the start of the
competition
Numbering – the lane number must be placed of the four sides of the starting block and
arranged from right to left side.
False Start Rope – a rope suspended across the pool, 15m away from both ends of the pool.
Lane Markings:
Width of lane markings, end lines, targets – 0.25 ± 0.50m
Length of end wall target – 0.50m
Depth to center of end wall target – 0.30m
Length lane marker cross line – 1.00m
Width of racing lanes – 2.50m
Distance from end of lane line to end wall – 2.00m
Lane Markers – a dark contrasting color placed on the floor of the pool in the center of
the lane. Extended 46m for 50m pool and 21m for 25m pool.
Floats and Kickboards – devices used in practicing leg actions
Pull Buoy – a floating device used in practicing arm actions
Paddle and Mitts – used
for extra arm strengthening
work
Weighted Dive Rings – used to practice under water swimming with eyes open
Goggles/Masks – protection of the eyes from pool chemicals and will help enhance swimmers
vision underwater
Head Caps – minimize water resistance created hair of the head
Nose Clips – clips that prevent the water from getting inside your nose
Ear Clogs – prevents water in going into your ears
Fins/Flippers – used for extra leg strengthening work
Snorkel Tube – a tube that allows breathing while head is submerged in the water
Float Belt – assists the swimmer in staying afloat during the deep
Deep – leg Float – for leg support during pool drills
LESSON 2:
TECHNICAL
TERMS USED IN
SWIMMING
OBJECTIVES

at the end of the lesson the students must have:

a) defined the meaning of different swimming terms

b) appreciated the importance of swimming terminologies

c) familiarize with the different terms used in swimming

 SWIMMING TERMS AS DEFINED:
Aquatics – pertaining to water or to activities performed in water
Archimedes Principle – an object immersed in a medium is buoyed
up by a force equal to the weight of the volume of the medium
displaced. Usually the medium is water, but it could be any liquid or
gas. Your body floats in water because you weigh less than the water
you displace. If your truly cannot float, then your weight is more than
the water you displace.
Buoyancy – the upward force of water on a submerged object.
Butterfly – a new stroke used in competition and considered
the second fastest stroke. This arms work in a crawl action,
but both hit the water and pull at the same time. The kick is a
dolphin kick similar to the flutter, but both kick up and down
together at the same time.

Catch – the point at which the hand starts to expert pressure

on the water. This occurs soon after the hand enters the
water.

Dolphin Kick – an undulating motion of the legs used in

butterfly when both legs kick together.

Drag – resistance in the water.

Entry – the point where the part of your body first break the
surface of the water.

Float – to be suspended in the water.

Flutter Kick – both legs up and down alternately.

Freestyle – one of the events in swimming competition where

the swimmer can use any competing strokes.

Freestyle Relay – a swimming race where each team

composed of four swimmers swim a leg, lap, or section, using
any strokes in a prescribed distance.
Glide – a period in which the body is moving in an extended
position as a result of prior propulsion through the water. The
resting phase of the breast, elementary back, and
sidestrokes. 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 kick are dolphin, flutter, scissors, and whip.
Kickboard – a floating device usually held in the hands when
practicing leg actions.
Lane Ropes – a rope or wire, often with plastic disc on it that runs the
length of the pool and is used to stop swimmers to swim in another
path.
Lane Marker – a dark contrasting color, placed on the floor in the
center of each lane.
Leg – one complete section of a relay race.
Medley, Individual – an event where competitors perform the
following strokes over a set distance; butterfly, breast stroke and
freestyle/crawl stroke.
Natatorium – a building where swimming and other water activities
take place.
PFD – personal floatation device – a device designed to support a person
in the water such as vest and life jacket.

Pike – a body position with the knees straight, the hips bent, and the back
rounded. The arms may be touching the legs or extended out to the side.
Prone – a swimming position where the swimmer lies on his or her front.

Prone Float – to float facing down with the arms and legs extended.
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 person through the water.
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 – that part of stroke in which the arms or legs have thrust
the body through the water and are now returning to the position for another
thrust.
Resistance or Drag – the greater surface presented to the water will result
to greater resistance or drag on the body.
Scissors Kick – a bending of the knees and extension of the legs forward
and backward in relation to the body, then a hard squeeze to a stretch
position; a kick used in side stroke.
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.
Snorkelling – to explore and dive in the water using a face mask, a snorkel
tube, and swim fins.
Snorkel tube – a tube, usually about a foot long, going from the mouth to
just above the surface of the water. The swimmer breathes through the tube.
Stretch – to extend the body into a straight line with arms and legs
extended, toes, pointed, and back straight.
Stroke – a complete cycle of the arms and legs in a coordinated manner to
propel a person through the water. Sometimes this term refers only to the
arm action of the total movement.
Supine – a swimming position where the swimmer lies on his or her back.
Supine Float – to float face up. Position of arms and legs, and the degree
of horizontal or vertical positioning is determined by the density of the
floater’s body.
Synchronized Swimming – a form of swimming in which competitors
perform various strokes and water gymnastic figures to music. Competitors
in this sport are judged on their form, execution, style, originally, and the
difficulty of the figures.
Touch Turn – a racing turn used when swimming breaststroke
and butterfly.
Transition – the period of time that you are under the water
during a start or turn.
Tuck – a body position with the knees bent, the hips bent, and
the chest on the knees. The hands are usually holding on the
shinbones. The head may be titled forward or backward.
Tuck Float – to float with the hips and knees flexed and with
the hands holding the shins, with the head down in the water
and the rounded back bobbing above the surface.
Tumble Turn – a racing turn used in front crawl.
END HERE
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