Glossary

Artistic impression mark: Artistic impression marks are awarded for choreography, music interpretation and manner of presentation (40% of routine performance score) 

Bling: general term for forms of embellishment of artistic swimming routine suits.  Bling can consist of sequins which are sewn onto the suit to highlight specific areas or to create patterns, gems which are glued onto the suit, glitter which is glued onto the suit, and other forms of embellishment. 

Boost: an area of highlight within a routine, which normally involves a swimmer being emerged from the water, with the work of the rest of the team 

Championship score: is comprised of 50% team figure marks & 50% routine score (artistic & technical marks). The championship score determines the routines final placing at the competition. There is no championship score in junior (16-20) events, junior events have a separate routine score for tech routines and free routines. 

Combo: Free combination routines are performed by 8 to 10 swimmers, incorporating solos, duets, trios, and team segments, all within the same routine. 

Difficulty mark: assessment by judges of the quality of being hard to achieve, usually based on the complexity of movements and other factors.  Accounts for 30% of total score in routine performance 

Dry land Activities: core strength and flexibility training that is practiced outside the water.  A key aspect of artistic swim training. 

Duet: a routine comprised of 2 swimmers 

Eggbeater: a technique of keeping the swimmer afloat and stationary by consistent rhythmic leg movements.  

Element:  a specific series of positions, transitions and movements that are required in a technical competition, usually for Junior (16+) and older athletes. 

Execution mark: assessment by judges as to the level of excellence in performing highly specialized skills, including level of synchronization of swimmers as they perform movements.  It typically makes up 30% of the score for routine performance 

Figure: a specified skill performed in front of a panel of judges by one swimmer at a time (e.g. sail boat alternate, barracuda).  Figures consist of a position (or positions), transition(s), and movements and are strived to be executed in a precise and controlled manner.   

Gelling: the process of applying flavorless gelatin (Knox) to a swimmer’s hair to keep it in place. Typically done for major routine competitions.  

Headpiece: a decorative item that is placed on the hair after gelling, to add artistic flare. Headpieces generally match the bathing suit.

Invitational Meet: a competition hosted by a club and not Ontario Artistic Swimming. The host club determines the events and rules (e.g. swimmers may not compete in figures at all at some meets, or perform only 2 figures) 

Land drill: This is a dry land training activity that synchro swimmers do usually to music in order to practice the counts in their routines. 

LTAD: the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model is a framework for an optimal training, competition and recovery schedule for each stage of athletic development.  The LTAD program is designed to create a progressive pathway towards physical activity for life, and also a pathway toward excellence.

Pattern: formations made by the spatial relationship between members of a team. The pool pattern is the pathway the swimmers take through the water.

Penalty: a disadvantage imposed on a swimmer or team for infringement of rules, such as going over the time limit . Penalties are typically point deductions from a swimmer’s or a team’s score.

Position: singular, stationary components of a figure, executed in combination with movements or transitions to form the entire figure, eg: BALLET LEG DOUBLE: From a Back Layout Position the knees are drawn toward the chest, with toes at the surface to assume a Tub Position. The knees are straightened to assume a Surface Ballet Leg Double Position. Without movement of the thighs, the legs are returned to Tub Position. The knees are straightened to resume a Back Layout Position.

Pre-swimmers: Swimmers who perform figures and routines for the judges before the competitors to enable the judges to discuss criteria for the event. Pre-Swimmers marks do not count in the final results. 

Propulsion: the process by which the swimmer uses their arms and/or legs to move through the water; a driving force.

Routine competition: swimmers compete in routines (team, duet, solo) and receive judges’ marks 

Sculling: the propulsive moves a swimmer makes with their hands and forearms. In artistic swimming there are about 10 different types of sculls used for different purposes.  Some enable you to stay stationary while executing a move with your legs; others allow you to spin; still others enable you to travel through the water.

Solo: a routine comprised of a single swimmer 

Spacing: Club spacing occurs only at some meets. Each club is allotted pool time to run through routines with music. This enables the swimmers and coaches to get used to a different pool (depth, width etc.) as well as hear their team music on a different sound system. The swimmers typically wear their club spacing suits and club caps. 

Team: a routine comprised of 4-10 swimmers 

Technical Elements: specific skills that are required to be in 16-20 (Junior) tech routines in a specific order 

Warm-up: a time slot given to swimmers at practice and at meets for swimmers to limber up their muscles gradually before practice or competition; important for injury prevention.