The Basics of Competitive Swimming

In competitive swimming, whichever swimmer, swims earliest, the given distance, is the winner. Competitive swimming was introduced in 19th century and there are 34 competitive swimming events held, segregated 17 each for male and females.

Men and women Olympic swimmers compete in the Summer Olympic Games' 13 swimming events. The Olympic holds these competitions in a 50-meter pool. The international organization that governs competitive swimming is Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) also known as the International Swimming Federation.

Competitive swimming has four strokes- Backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and the freestyle. A swimmer can use any stroke in freestyle. Individual strokes or a combination of these strokes are used in an event known as the individual medley or IM. The sequence of strokes in this event is - butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and finally, freestyle.

There also are 2 swim relays - Medley and the Freestyle. The sequence of strokes in Medley relay is backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and lastly, freestyle. Ia relay event, there are 4 swimmers, who swim an apportioned distance of the total length of the event. This length can be 200 meters, 400 meters or 800 meters. In the 800 meters, only freestyle stroke must be used.

Usually, a full-size pool used for competitive swimming in the United States is 50 meters long and 25 meters wide. This pool size allows both short and long racecourses. In competitive swimming, the equivalent of the referee or the umpire is the official. Disqualification of a swimmer happens when an official catches that swimmer breaking any rule regarding the particular stroke that he or she is using.

Swimming leagues for teenagers and children are sponsored in many schools, communities or organizations in the United States. Swimming teams form a part of these leagues, which adhere to the rules of swimming and to the usage of standardized strokes. These leagues however, have a shorter length of the competitive swimming competition. Scheduling of their swim meets is in summer, although without any association with an organization, national or international.

The national team, often have the swimmers associated with these leagues joining them. Consequentially, teenagers and children is highly encouraged by their parents to join these leagues and these children are in complete agreement to this, realizing this to be a apt start to their dream of participation in competitive swimming events.