BACK GLIDE -    Coasting through the water in a horizontal, face up position after pushing off from a solid surface or after the power phase of a stroke of some strokes, i.e. Elementary Backstroke

BACKCRAWL – Introduced in 1902, this stroke is also called the backstroke and is the fastest stroke on the back.

BOBBING – The skill of repeatedly submerging (and exhaling) and emerging (and inhaling) from the water.  This also can be done in the deep water pushing off the bottom to emerge to the surface.

BODY ROLL – A rotating movement of the body around the long axis.

BREASTSTROKE – The oldest known swimming stroke that allows the swimmer to momentarily rest between strokes.  The head can be kept out of the water. 

BREASTSTROKE KICK – also called the Frog Kick, is a strong kick that allows the swimmer good forward propulsion on breaststroke or elementary backstroke.

BUOYANCY – The upward force a fluid exerts on bodies floating on or submerged in it.

BUTTERFLY STROKE – A two-arm stroke that uses the dolphin kick.  The key to the stroke is relaxation and using the whole body in a flowing motion.

CATCH – The stage in an arm stroke when the swimmer first engages the water in a way to start moving; the start of the power phase.

DIVE – Entering the pool head first from the deck or diving board.

DOLPHIN KICK- The kick that is used when performing the butterfly stroke with the legs together.

DRAG – The resistance of water on a body moving through it.

DROWNING – Death by suffocation in water.

ELEMENTARY BACKSTROKE – This resting stroke uses the Frog Kick and is used for recreation, survival swimming and exercising muscle groups not used in other strokes. 

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) – Trained personnel dispatched through local emergency numbers to provide emergency care for ill or injured people.

FEET FIRST SURFACE DIVE – A technique for descending under water from the surface with the feet leading.

FINNING – A technique for moving through the water on the back using a pushing motion with the arms under water.

FLIP TURN – A fast and efficient turn done in a tuck position; used in lap swimming and in the freestyle and backstroke events in competition.

FLUTTER KICK – The kick that is used with the front and back crawl strokes.

FREESTYLE – A competitive event that allows any stroke, although the Front Crawl is generally used.

FROG KICK –  (see Breaststroke Kick)

FRONT CRAWL – Sometimes called Freestyle, is the fastest stroke. 

GLIDE – The stage of a stroke after the power phase when the body keeps moving without additional swimmer effort.

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – An event in which the competitor swims each quarter of the total distance using a different competitive stroke in a prescribed order (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, front crawl)

INHALE – Swimmers always inhale through the mouth.  Never with the nose.

INVERTED BREASTSTROKE – A method of performing the breaststroke on the back.  It is a resting stroke which combinations the breaststroke and the elementary backstroke.

LONG AXIS – An imaginary line going through the center of the body from head to feet that divides the body equally into left and right parts.

MASTERS – A classification in some organizations for swimmers 19 years old and older and divers 21 years old and older.

OPEN TURN – A simple turn used in noncompetitive situations.

POWER PHASE – The stage when the arm or leg stroke is moving the body in the desired direction.

PRONE – On the front, face down

RECOVERY – The phase of a stroke when the arms or legs relax and return to the starting position.

RESCUE BREATHING – A technique of breathing for a non-breathing victim.

ROTARY KICK – A kicking technique used for treading water; sometimes called the eggbeater kick.

SCISSORS KICK – This is a propulsive kick for the sidestroke which gives the swimmer a good rest between strokes.

SIDE STROKE –  This stroke was invented to give breaststrokers more speed.  It is done on the side with the face out of the water.  Variations include – Over Arm Sidestroke.

SUPINE – On the back, face up.

SURFACE DIVE – A skill used to go under water when swimming on the surface.  Used to retrieve objects from the bottom.   Surface dives include – tuck, pike and feet-first.

TREADING WATER – A skill using arm and leg movements to stay vertical in the same location with the head out of the water.

TRUDGEN STROKE – This stroke is similar to the front crawl except the kick used is the scissors kick with more body roll.  Additional strokes include Trudgen Crawl and Double Trudgen.

UNDERWATER SWIMMING – skill allows one to recover lost objects, avoid surface hazards and explore the underwater world. 

Information taken from “The American National Red Cross – Swimming & Water Safety ” 2004.