Competitive Swimming Basics
If you want to learn competitive swimming basics, Swimming 101 is full of helpful information for new swimmers and parents.
Here you will find information about the most common swimming terms and abbreviations, information about the basics of the core swimming strokes, important links that will make life easier, and much more.
Swim Lessons
Learning to swim is where it all starts. Swimming is an essential skill that all kids should have. Learning early can not only be an important safety step but can also open your child to the opportunities of competitive swimming.
Find out more about swim lessons and where to locate a program near you…
Swimming Terminology
On this searchable, easy-to-use page you can find a glossary of swimming terms and abbreviations. This page is your best source for understanding the most common competitive swimming terms used during swim practice and during meets.
Use the “Jump to:” section to go straight to your term or browse the page.
Every term is in alphabetical order and definitions are easy to understand.
Understanding Swimming Time Standards
Want to learn more about USA Swimming Age Group Motivational Time Standards? Here is a resource that will help you understand “A” or “B” times.
Learn more about swimming time standards…
The Four Strokes
The four strokes of swimming are explained. Learn more about using a “front-crawl” method of swimming in a freestyle event, proper breaststroke swimming, butterfly, and backstroke, all in one place.
Learn more about each of The Four Strokes…
Meet Seeding And Lane Assignments
Understanding lane assignments and how swimming events are “seeded” can be confusing. Here we explain the three most common ways in which swimmers are placed in swimming competitions.
Learn more about how meets are seeded…
Important Swimming Links
Look here for the most commonly used websites that are essential for the new swimmer and parent. Here you can find links to important apps and other websites that we found essential as swim parents.
Check out our important swimming links…
Swim Rules
Check out what USA Swimming has to say about these common rules and regulations.
Check out the Rules of Competitive Swimming according to USA Swimming…