Useful terms to know:

• Open Meets – Swimming competitions that contain events ranging from 50m to 400m across all strokes. Competitions run over the course of a weekend. Each swimmer enters events individually, usually between 3 and 8, at younger ages under advice from coaches.

• Galas – Swimming competitions that contain individual events and relays. Entered as a team selected by the coaches. Competitions run over the course of an evening.

• Qualifying times – Specific times required to enter certain open meets. Must be achieved at other open meets. Cannot be attained at galas.

• Disqualification – A swimmer being disqualified from a swim for committing an illegal infringement, such as a false start or an illegal turn.

• Long Course – A 50m (Olympic sized) pool.

• Short Course – A 25m pool.