Swim Terms

Best Possible Average (BPA) - This means try to swim all of the efforts in the set as fast as you can to produce the fastest average overall pace. Example: If doing 4 x 100, it would be better to swim 1:20, 1:21, 1:19, 1:20 (average 1:20) than to do 1:18, 1:18, 1:20, 1:28 (average 1:21).  

Bilateral Breathing - This typically means breathing every three strokes, but can refer to any breathing pattern where you breathe on both left and right sides. 

Build - Increasing speed throughout the effort.  Easy in the beginning, gradually building to fast at the end while still maintaining good form. 

Choice - Choice efforts are your "choice" of swim stroke. i.e. You don't have to do freestyle. 

Descending (Desc) - This is a set where you swim each successive repeat faster than the last.  For example: 4 x 50 Descending could be 1st 50 in 43", 2nd 50 in 42", 3rd 50 in 41", 4th 50 in 40".  An alternative could be 8 x 100 Descending 1-4, 5-8.  In this example, you'd descend as in first example 1-4 and then start over at easy pace with repeat 5 and descend again to 8. 

DPS - Distance per Stroke. 

IMO - Individual Medley Order (Fly, Back, Breast, Free) - Rotate through each stroke after each pool length, lap, or as directed in session description.  If you're unable to do fly, just do freestyle. 

Gear (big or small) - Swimming in a 'small gear' refers to swimming with a less forceful stroke with higher cadence.  Swimming in a 'big gear' refers to swimming with a very forceful long stroke focusing on distance per stroke. 

Negative Split - Swim faster on the second half of a repeat than the first. 

Pull buoy:  A pull buoy is a small flotation device held between the thighs while swimming helping the swimmer maintain a horizontal body position without kicking.

Toes Tapping (TT) - With toes pointing straight back, you should feel the insides of your big toes brush lightly against each other as you kick through your stroke.

Zone Out - Forget everything.  Free your mind.  Just try to be comfortable in the water.

 

 

Tag:  TD343 

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