Disqualification – (DQ) – The swimmer’s time for the event does not count.  Disqualification occurs when the swimmer makes an illegal turn, makes an illegal finish (i.e. Illegal touch), swims using the wrong stroke, or makes a false start (i.e. Starts the race before the starter starts the race).

Dual Meet – at a dual meet:

·        2 teams participate.

·        The meet is completed in one day (usually 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM).

·        There is no charge for swimmers or viewers.

·        Parents of the participating teams are the officials.

·        There are three (3) swimmers in an individual event and three (3) relay teams in a relay event.

·        An individual may swim three (3) individual and two (2) relay events.

Invitational– at an invitational meet:

·        Many teams participate.

·        The meet lasts all day and sometimes two (2) days.

·        There is an admission fee and event fees.

Order of Events at a Meet - Events at a meet usually follow this order:

·        Medley Relay

·        Long Freestyle (200 yards)

·        Individual Medley

·        Short Freestyle (25 to 50 yards)

·        Butterfly

·        Intermediate Freestyle (50 to 100 yards)

·        500 yard Freestyle

·        Backstroke

·        Breastroke

·        Freestyle Relay

Heat Sheet – program of events used at an invitational.

Individual Medley – one swimmer swims all four competitive strokes (in order of Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle).

Legal Touches – How one may “touch” the wall when finishing a race.

·        Freestyle – any part of the body

·        Backstroke – a standard touch or flip turn is allowable.

·        Breastroke and Butterfly – two (2) hands, simultaneously.

YMCA Championships

·        Each swimmer is given the opportunity to compete at his/her ability level.

·        Times are set by the league to determine “A” (Sectional), “AA” (League), “Zone”, & “National” Championship participation.

·        The Championships are based on increasing difficulty in swimmers’ times. – Sectional, League, “ZONE”, and “NATIONALS”