Swimming 101
























Terms To Know


Chase Starts - These types of starts are only for long course meets, and only for distances of 100, 200 and 400 meters. They are used to speed up the meet. Swimmers start from alternating ends of the pool. A heat of swimmers is started after the previous heat, which started from the opposite end, has made the final turn and is on their last lap. Here is how it usually works. Girls will start from one end. Boys will start from the other. Each end will have its own starter and timers. The first heat of girls will start. When the slowest girl finishes her last turn the starter on the boys' end will begin to start the first heat of boys. Some young swimmers worry that they may run into or even get passed by the swimmer from the opposite end. That does not happen. By the time all of the starting protocol is complete the swimmers in the previous heat will be well out of the way.