Awards: The ribbons presented at a meet to swimmer from each event who placed first, second, third, fourth or participant. Also, the committee of volunteers who fill out the ribbons. See SSL's Awards Policy for details.

Backstroke Flags: Flags erected over the pool which indicate to the backstroke swimmer that there are five yards/meters left to the end of the pool.

Bye: A day in which a meet is not scheduled for a particular team.

Championship Meet: The meet at the end of the season in which all SSL teams participate. Individual ribbons and metals are awarded, as well as, team trophies. Swimmers are entered on the basis of their best times recorded during the season, available seeding openings and their attendance.

Clerk of Course: The designated area where swimmers are to assemble to receive their events cards before swimming each event.

D.Q. (Disqualify): The determination of the official(s) of a false start, illegal stroke, or illegal turn, see SSL's DQ Policy for details.

Dual Meet: A swim meet with two teams.

Event: A numbered swim meet category, which is divided into age group, male/female, type of stroke and length of pool. Each event has a two heat maximum, except for freestyle which can have more. See the event list.

Event Card: The printed form handed to each swimmer at the Clerk of Course which indicates the swimmer's name (or names if a relay event), age group, event number, heat number, type of event, and distance. Swimmers hand their cards to the timers prior to the start of a heat. Timers write in the official times and the card is then passed to the scorers.

Exhibition: A meet which a swimmer receives time for an event, but is not eligible for points, see SSL's Exhibition Policy for details.

False Start: When a swimmer leaves the starting block before the starting signal is given. Two false starts in an event will disqualify that swimmer for the event.

Free Relay: An event in which four swimmers comprise a relay team swimming freestyle.

Heat: A subdivision of an event when there are more swimmers seeded than can swim at once. Individual events that have more than two heats should be identified with the Clerk of Course before the start of the Meet. Slowest heats swim first; fastest heats swim last in any event. The line-up should clearly indicate the fastest swimmers in each event. Fastest swimmers are in; “heat 2,” the next fastest swimmers in “heat 1,” etc.

Invitational: A competitive swim meet at which the team is invited to compete. Swimmer signs up to be included in the meet individually as part of the team and select the event(s) in which they would like to participate.

Lane: The specified area in which the swimmer is assigned to swim. Lane assignments for each heat are determined by the Clerk of Course with the fastest swimmers from each team assigned to the inside lanes and the slowest swimmers assigned to the outside lanes.

Lane Line: Continuous floating markers which separate the pool into lanes.

Lap: Swimming from one end of the pool to the other.

Line-up: The order in which swimmers are entered into each heat of each event at a meet.

Long Course: 50 yard/meter pool.

Medley Relay: An event in which four swimmers comprise a relay team with each swimming one of the following strokes in order: back, breast, butterfly, freestyle.

Meet Director: Usually the president of the Parents’ Board who makes sure the meet is properly set up, running smoothly, and all committees are manned, communicates with officials, and attends to any problems which might arise.

Official: Announces events to swimmers at the starting blocks, signals them to start and determines and calls false starts illegal strokes, and illegal turns.

Runner: Volunteer who carries the timed score cards from the timers to the scorers after a heat.

Scorer: Volunteer who records the order of finish and times of each swimmer in all events and compiles the team score.

Scratch: To withdraw from a scheduled event.

Seed: To distribute swimmers into heats according to their previously-recorded times.

Short Course: 25 yd/meter pool.

Split Times: The time recorded for one segment of a long event or relay.

SRST: Strongsville Recreation Swim Team.

SSL: Strongsville Swim League - Team List

SSL Pools: Pools List and Directions

Starting Blocks: The diving blocks at the end of the pool on which the swimmers take their marks and dive into the pool receive the signal

Timer: Volunteer who determines and records times using stopwatch. There are usually two times per lame and one back-up timer covering all lanes.