Events & Strokes 101
LST Age Croup Classifications
- 8 & under
- 9-10
- 11-12
- 13-14
- 15-18
Champs: Single-year age groups for individual events, so for example, 7 year olds boys will compete against only other 7 year old boys.
Events
Swimmers can swim a max of 3 individual events plus 2 relays. Relays are determined by coaches.
8 & Under Events
(listed in Swim Meet Order)
- Medley Relay: 100-yard medley relay (4 swimmers, each doing 1 length of the pool in a different stroke: backstroke, then breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle)
- Back: 25-yard backstroke (one length of the pool)
- IM: 100-yard Individual Medley (one length of each stroke butterfly, then backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle)
- Breast: 25-yard breaststroke (one length of the pool)
- 50 Free: 50-yard freestyle (two lengths of the pool)
- Fly: 25-yard butterfly (one length of the pool)
- 25 Free: 25-yard freestyle (one length of the pool)
- Free Relay: 100-yard freestyle relay (4 swimmers)
9-12 Events
Introduces 50-yard events in all strokes (2 pool lengths)
- Medley Relay: 100-yard medley relay (4 swimmers, each doing 1 length of the pool in a different stroke: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle)
- Back: 50-yard backstroke
- IM: 100-yard Individual Medley (butterfly, then backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle)
- Breast: 50-yard breaststroke
- 100 Free: 100-yard freestyle
- Fly: 50-yard butterfly
- 50 Free: 50-yard freestyle
- Free Relay: 100-yard freestyle relay (4 swimmers)
13-18 Events
Introduces the 200-yard relay, with each swimmer swimming a 50-yard leg
- Medley Relay: 200-yard medley relay (4 swimmers, each doing 2 lengths of the pool in a different stroke: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle)
- Back: 50-yard backstroke
- IM: 100-yard Individual Medley (butterfly, then backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle)
- Breast: 50-yard breaststroke
- 100 Free: 100-yard freestyle
- Fly: 50-yard butterfly
- 50 Free: 50-yard freestyle
- Free Relay: 200-yard freestyle relay (4 swimmers)
Swimming Strokes
Freestyle Swimming
- Technically refers to “any stroke” but universally swum as front crawl in competition
- Alternating arm pulls with continuous flutter kick
- Regular side breathing rhythm maintaining forward momentum
- Most efficient stroke for covering distance at speed
- Foundation stroke all competitive swimmers must master
Freestyle events at all distances are the most entered competitions at swim meets, with nearly all swimmers competing in at least one freestyle race.
Backstroke Swimming
Backstroke provides the only competitive stroke swum on the back, creating unique technical and strategic considerations.
- Alternating arm recovery over water while on back
- Continuous flutter kick providing propulsion and body position
- Looking upward throughout the race except during turns
- Start executed from in the water rather than diving blocks
- Underwater dolphin kick phase after start and each turn
Flags positioned five yards from each wall provide critical position information helping swimmers time turns and finishes without looking.
Breaststroke Swimming
- Simultaneous arm pull from extended position to chest
- Frog-kick leg action with feet turned outward
- Hands must touch the wall simultaneously during turns and finish
- One arm pull and one kick per stroke cycle
- Head must break the surface during each stroke cycle except after start and turns
Breaststroke generates more disqualifications than other strokes due to technical rule complexity
Butterfly Swimming
- Simultaneous over-water arm recovery in windmill motion
- Dolphin kick typically executed twice per arm cycle
- Undulating body motion coordinating arms, kick, and breathing
- Simultaneous two-hand touch required at turns and finish
- High energy expenditure requiring strength and technique
Individual Medley
- Butterfly: First length of the race
- Backstroke: Second length
- Breaststroke: Third length
- Freestyle: Final length
Medley Relay Stroke
Unlike individual medley, medley relays follow backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle order:
- First swimmer: Backstroke (starts in water)
- Second swimmer: Breaststroke
- Third swimmer: Butterfly
- Fourth swimmer: Freestyle
For more information about Swim Meets, click here.
