SWIMMING

• Swimming is an activity of propelling oneself through water using the limbs.

•Swimming is an individual sport but can be a team sport as well.
•Swimming can be used for fun and recreation, relaxation, sports, saving lives.
•Swimming is for all ages.
•Swimming can be a fun leisure activity and is a really good low-impact way of
staying in shape.
•Knowing how to Swim could potentially save your life and others.
HISTORY

•Swimming can be dated back to the Stone Age, but did not truly become an organized sport until the
Early 19thcentury.
•Prehistoric man learned to swim in order to cross river and lakes- we know this because cave paintings
from the Stone Age depicting swimmers have been found in Egypt.
•Swimming was not widely practiced until the early 19thcentury, when the National Swimming Society
of Great Britain began to hold competitions.
•1896 swimming became an Olympic sport, beginning with events freestyle and breaststroke. Backstroke
was added in 1904.
•In 1940’s , breaststrokers discovered that they could go faster by bringing both arms forward over their
heads. This practice was immediately forbidden in breaststroke, but gave birth to the butterfly stroke,
whose first official appearance was at the 1956 Olympic games. This style is now one of the four strokes
used in competition.
•Women’s swimming became an Olympic sport in 1912.
Swimming equipment includes a
range of gear that can help
improve technique, increase
comfort, and enhance
performance in the water.
  1. ESSENTIAL
SWIMMING GEAR
 Swimsuit: Swimsuits are designed to minimize drag (the resistance water
places on the swimmer). Competition suits are often made from special
materials that compress the body and reduce drag, allowing for faster swims.
Regular swimsuits are typically made from durable, chlorine-resistant fabrics.
Goggles: These protect the eyes from chlorine
and help swimmers see clearly underwater,
which is essential for maintaining direction and
performing techniques accurately.
Swim Cap: Swim caps are made from latex,
silicone, or lycra. They reduce water resistance,
protect hair from chlorine, and keep long hair
contained, which can improve a swimmer's
streamline position.
Swim Towel: Often made from microfiber,
these towels are highly absorbent and dry
quickly, making them convenient for multiple
uses during a swim session.
Earplugs and Nose Clip: Earplugs prevent water
from entering the ears, reducing the risk of
swimmer’s ear. Nose clips prevent water from
entering the nasal passages, which can be
especially helpful when practicing flip turns or
swimming underwater.
2. TRAINING AIDS
Kickboard: A buoyant board that swimmers hold
onto to focus solely on kicking. This isolates the
leg muscles, allowing swimmers to build strength
and refine their kicking technique without
worrying about arm movement.
 How to Use: Hold the kickboard with both hands at the top, keeping your
arms straight and resting on the board. Your body should be horizontal, with
your face in the water. Focus on your kicking technique, using a flutter kick or
a dolphin kick, depending on what you’re practicing.
 Purpose: Helps isolate the legs so you can focus on strengthening your kick
and improving ankle flexibility. It's also great for building leg endurance.
Pull Buoy: A foam buoy placed between the
thighs to keep the legs afloat, isolating the arms.
It helps swimmers focus on arm strokes and upper
body strength while maintaining a good body
position in the water.
Pull Buoy
 How to Use: Place the pull buoy between your thighs to keep your legs afloat. Cross your ankles lightly to hold it in
place. Begin swimming using only your arms, focusing on your stroke technique and body rotation.
 Purpose: Isolates the upper body, allowing you to work on arm strength and stroke technique. It also helps develop a
strong core by encouraging better body alignment and hip rotation.
 Swim Fins: Short fins that fit over the feet to
provide extra propulsion. They help improve kick
strength, enhance ankle flexibility, and allow
swimmers to move through the water faster. This
can be useful for refining technique and building
endurance.
How to Use: Put on the swim fins, ensuring they fit snugly. Swim as you normally
would, using fins to boost your kick speed and power. Start with shorter intervals
to get used to the additional propulsion and resistance.
 Purpose: Fins enhance kick strength, improve ankle flexibility, and allow you to
swim faster. They’re also useful for practicing drills, as the increased speed helps
you focus on stroke mechanics without getting fatigued as quickly.
Paddles: Hand paddles create more resistance in
the water, forcing swimmers to use more power in
their strokes. They help build upper body strength
and improve stroke efficiency by providing
feedback on hand position and stroke mechanics.
 How to Use: Slip your fingers through the straps so the paddles stay on your hands. Start
swimming, paying attention to how your hands move through the water. Focus on
maintaining proper hand entry and stroke technique.
 Purpose: Hand paddles add resistance, building arm and shoulder strength. They also
improve stroke efficiency by providing feedback on hand placement and movement through
the water.
Snorkel: A snorkel that sits at the front of the
face allows swimmers to breathe continuously
while swimming face-down. It helps swimmers
focus on their technique without turning to
breathe, especially useful for practicing head
position and body alignment.
 How to Use: Put the snorkel mouthpiece in your mouth and ensure the snorkel sits
comfortably along your face. Begin swimming, breathing through the snorkel while keeping
your face down in the water. Practice keeping your head steady and focusing on stroke and
body alignment without the distraction of turning to breathe.
 Purpose: Allows swimmers to concentrate on technique without worrying about breathing.
It’s especially helpful for developing a steady head position and refining body alignment.
Swim Parachute or Drag Belt: These tools add
resistance to the swimmer’s movement. They are
worn around the waist and drag behind, making it
harder to swim forward, which builds power,
endurance, and strength.
 How to Use: Attach the belt around your waist, allowing the parachute or drag
device to trail behind you. Swim as you would normally, focusing on maintaining
form despite the increased resistance.
 Purpose: Increases resistance, building strength and endurance. By creating
drag, it forces you to use more power in each stroke, which can help improve
overall speed and power.
 Each type of equipment serves a purpose to either enhance training by
targeting specific areas of technique or strength, improve comfort and
safety, or add an element of fun to swimming activities. Whether a
beginner or an advanced swimmer, using these tools can make a
significant difference in skill development and overall experience in the
water.
 TYPES OF KICK
Flutter Kick
- a swimming kick; the legs are moved rapidly up and down without bending the knee
s.
Frog Kick
- a swimming kick; knees are drawn upward and outward so the legs can b
e brought together when fully extended.
 Dolphin Kick - a swimming kick; an up and down kick of the feet together.
Scissors Kick
- a kick used in the sidestroke; legs are brought together in a scissoring motio
n.
BREASTSTROKE KICK
BACKSTROKE KICK
BUTTERFLY KICK
FREESTSYLE
Officiating in swimming involves a set of officials who ensure that
competitions are conducted fairly, according to the rules
established by governing bodies like FINA (International Swimming
Federation) or other national organizations.
 FINA, which stands for Fédération
Internationale de Natation, is the
international governing body for aquatic
sports. Founded in 1908, FINA is responsible
for overseeing and organizing competitions,
setting rules, and promoting the development
of aquatic sports worldwide. The
organization's headquarters is located in
Lausanne, Switzerland.
 FINA regulates five major aquatic sports disciplines:

 Swimming – Including pool swimming and open water swimming.

 Diving – Encompassing both platform and springboard diving.
 Water Polo – A team sport played in a pool with the objective of scoring
goals.
 Artistic Swimming – Formerly known as synchronized swimming, it
involves routines performed to music.
 High Diving – A discipline where athletes dive from significantly higher
platforms than traditional diving.
Water polo is a competitive team sport played in water where two teams of seven players try to score
goals by throwing a ball into the other team's goal:
Here are some key aspects of water polo:
•Players
Each team has seven players, including one goalkeeper. Players are usually dressed in matching colored caps.
•Pool
The game is typically played in a deep pool where players can't touch the bottom. The pool size depends on the
gender of the players, with men's pools measuring 30.6 meters by 20 meters and women's pools measuring 25.6
meters by 20 meters.
•Goal
A goal is scored when the ball is thrown or pushed completely between the goalposts and under the crossbar.
•Time
The game is made up of four quarters, each lasting eight minutes.
•Ball possession
Each team has 30 seconds to score a goal or pass the ball to the other team.
•Fouls
Players can commit ordinary fouls or major fouls. Players are ejected for more than three major fouls.
•Shootout
If the score is tied at the end of the game, a shootout determines the winner.
Water polo originated in Great Britain in the 1870s as a form of rugby football played in rivers and
lakes. The name comes from an earlier version of the game where players rode barrels and hit the ball with
sticks. Water polo has been an Olympic sport since 1900 for men and 2000 for women.
WATER POLO
 Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, is a sport that combines swimming, dance, and gymnastics into
a choreographed routine set to music:
 Artistic swimmers perform a series of underwater movements, known as figures, along with arm movements. The sport requires
strength, flexibility, endurance, and a sense of rhythm. Artistic swimmers are known for being some of the fittest athletes in the
world.
 Here are some things to know about artistic swimming:
 Competition categories
 There are four main categories of artistic swimming competition: solos, duets, teams, and combinations.
 Scoring
 Judges score each element of a routine on a scale of 0–10, dropping the highest and lowest scores. The remaining three scores
are averaged and multiplied by the element's degree of difficulty to calculate the final score.
 Suits
 Swimmers' suits are often custom-made to represent the theme of their routine.
 Breathing
 Artistic swimmers need to have a large lung capacity and controlled breathing. Most can hold their breath for around three
minutes.
 Nose plugs
 Swimmers use nose plugs to keep water out of their nostrils during underwater movements.
ARTISTIC SWIMMING
 FINA's responsibilities include:

 Setting Rules: FINA establishes the technical rules for each discipline, ensuring that
competitions are fair and standardized. These rules cover everything from the strokes
allowed in swimming to the height of diving boards.
 Organizing Events: FINA oversees major international competitions, such as the FINA
World Championships, the FINA World Cup series, and the FINA World Junior
Championships. They also work with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to
manage aquatic events in the Olympics.
 Development and Promotion: FINA promotes the growth of aquatic sports worldwide by
supporting training programs, educational initiatives, and development projects in countries
where aquatic sports are less established.
 Anti-Doping: FINA enforces strict anti-doping regulations in collaboration with the World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They conduct regular drug testing and educate athletes on
anti-doping practices.
Roles of Officials in Swimming

 Referee:
 Has overall authority and control over the competition.
 Ensures all officials are in place and that rules are enforced.
 Has the final decision on any rule infraction.
 Signals the start of races and can disqualify swimmers for rule
violations.
 Starter:
 Works under the referee and is responsible for starting each race.
 Ensures a fair start by waiting until all swimmers are ready.
 Uses commands like “Take your mark” and signals the start with an
electronic tone or whistle.
 Clerk of Course (Marshall):
 Organizes swimmers prior to their races and ensures they are in the
correct order.
 Checks that swimmers are in the right lane and have all necessary
identification.

 Timekeepers:
 Record each swimmer’s time using stopwatches or an electronic timing
system.
 Multiple timekeepers may be assigned to each lane to ensure accuracy.
 Stroke Judges:
 Observe swimmers during each stroke to ensure they comply with stroke-
specific rules.
 Watch for infractions such as incorrect arm or leg movements.

 Turn Judges:
 Monitor swimmers at each turn and the finish, ensuring they touch the wall
correctly.
 Check for proper execution of turns and finishes.
 Chief Inspector of Turns:
 Supervises the turn judges and ensures consistent rule application.
 Reports to the referee on any violations.

 Finish Judges:
 Determine the order in which swimmers finish.
 May be responsible for confirming the time recorded by timekeepers.
 Announcer:
 Provides information to the audience, such as race details and results.

 Chief Timekeeper:
 Oversees all timekeepers and coordinates timing procedures.
Equipment Used
in Officiating
Swimming
 Stopwatches:
 Used by timekeepers to manually time races. Often digital for accuracy.
 Electronic Timing System:
 Automatically records times and placements, reducing human error.
 Typically includes touchpads at each lane, starting blocks with sensors,
and a central control unit.
 Whistles:
 Used by referees and starters to signal attention, ready positions, and
race starts.
 Starting System:
 A device that produces an electronic tone to signal the start of a race.
 May include a strobe light for visual confirmation.
 Lap Counters:
 Used in longer races, like the 800m or 1500m freestyle, to display the
number of laps remaining.
LONG QIUZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1