Often, platforms used for our communication (scoreboards, single page PDFs, mobile phone width text fields in the newsletter) may limit the number of characters that can be used on a single  line.  For example, when listing upcoming events, acronyms are used for the:

  • meet name
  • venue
  • course
  • and status of the meet

The level of assumed knowledge may be daunting to those new to our swimming community, especially if they personally do not have competitive swimming experience to draw upon.  This page attempts to shed light on some of the terms unique to our great sport.  If you come across any terms you are not familiar with which aren't listed here, please approach us so we can add an explanation to the lists below.  

DESIGNATED SWIM MEETS

Please ONLY enter targeted meets advertised through the AIS Sharks weekly Swimming Newsletter.

The Swimming Department MUST accompany swimmers to all Singapore Aquatic Meets and MUST follow school protocol, submitting Variations to Routine through the Logistics Committee. Therefore, one off requests will not be entertained as the process contains a lot of paperwork and can take 6-10 weeks.

Please refer to our AIS Competition Calendar (found on our Calendar & Schedule page) and the weekly newsletters for upcoming meets.

We appreciate your cooperation.

HOLIDAY TRAINING

Traditionally,  AIS offers a total of 5 weeks of training throughout the year, during the following breaks:

  • Week 0 (Orientation Week) the last week in January before school returns
  • The 2 weeks during the April holidays
  • The 2 weeks during the September / October break

Spots are limited 30 swimmers (45 swimmers during Orientation Week). Initially, these placements will be offered to the Sharks Competitive Squads.  Sharks may register for Holiday Training via ecommerce.ais.com.sg . Spaces not filled may potentially be offered to Marlins, Teen Squad and Junior Squad.

AIS Sharks are effectively offered two training blocks:

  • 23 weeks - Orientation Week until the Conclusion of Term 2
  • 21 weeks - Commencement of Term 3 to the Conclusion of Term 4

MEET PROGRAMMES (usually published within 24 hours of a meet commencing) 

Programmes detail can include:

  • event number
  • event distance
  • event stroke
  • approximate time the race will be held
  • heats
  • lane assignment
  • titleholder time (last year's winning time)
  • records

Please do not request the programme in advance.  The coaches will disseminate programmes as soon as they are published via: 

  • the Newsletter
  • Google Classroom
  • the parent WhatsApp chat group
  • email

Programmes are usually published less than 24 hours prior to the commencement of a meet.  This minimises scratchings and empty lanes, ensuring the meet is run efficiently.

CONFERENCES  AIS BELONGS TO:

  • ACSIS - Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools
  • AISA - Australian International Schools Association
  • SEASAC - South East Asia Student Activities Conference
  • SA - Singapore Aquatics

ACRONYMS USED FOR MEETS WE REGULARLY ATTEND:

  • JS ACSIS - Junior School Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (11 years & under)
  • MS ACSIS - Middle School Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (11-14 years competing as 12U & 14U)
  • HS ACSIS - High School Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (13 years & over)
  • SEASAC Jr -  South East Asia Student Activities Conference for Juniors (11-14 years) 
  • SEASAC Sr - South East Asia Student Activities Conference for Seniors (usually 13-19 years)
  • SNAGs - Singapore National Age Group (Junior & Senior)
  • SNAG Jr - Singapore National Age Group Junior (12 years & under)
  • SNAG Sr - Singapore National Age Group Senior (13 years & over)
  • SNSC - Singapore National Swimming Championships

AGE GROUPS SYSTEMS:

Unfortunately, this can be very complexed and confusing, even for veteran parents, swimmers, and coaches.  The hosts of a meet (or the governing body sanctioning the carnival) decide which age group bands will be used and what cut off date will be applied.  There is no consistency.  

The most straight forward and arguably fairest system used is the 'age as on Day 1 of the meet' method.  This system is used by Swimming Australia and affiliated governing state and territory bodies.  This system is also used for most Australian Clubs, and for the majority of International School invitations in Singapore.  ACSIS moved to this system in 2024, but  unfortunately, this system is not used for, SEASAC, Australian Schools, or for Aquatics Singapore meets.

Aquatics Singapore and schools in Australia use the calendar year athletes were born in.  For instance, all swimmers born in 2011 will always swim together.  This means students born in the first quarter of the year should theoretically always have a maturation advantage over those born late in the year.

The most confusing systems, which often presents as a challenge for communication, is when a conference has multiple meets throughout the year, pitched at different age groups.    For instance, SEASAC uses the first day of the Senior Championships to set the age groups for the whole year, then applies this to all 3 meets.  3 months later, at the Junior Championships 25% of 12-year-old students swimming in the 11-12 year dual age group, would have already turned 13!

DUAL AGE GROUPS:

Often, meet organisers break the age divisions up into dual age bands, where students may find themselves 'at the top of an age group' or 'on the bottom of an age group'.  

Examples:

  • JS ACSIS uses 8-9 years & 10-11 years age bands
  • MS ACSIS uses 11-12 years & 13-14 years age brackets
  • SEASAC Junior students swim in 11-12 years and 13-14 years age divisions

LONG COURSE & SHORT COURSE:

The field of play in Australia & Singapore is usually either:

  • Long Course Metres (LCM) 50m pool
  • Short Course Metres (SCM) 25m pool

Other parts of the world use:

  • Long Course Yards (LCY).  We are not aware of any present day meets conducted in 55 yard pools.  Meets like the Empire Games and the Olympics used to have events like 110 yards Backstroke, 220 yards Breaststroke, 440 yards Freestyle 
  • Short Course Yards (SCY).  The American collegiate system uses 25 yard pools

Traditionally in Australia the swimming calendar is broken into 2 distinct seasons:

  • Long Course Metres - September through April
  • Short Course Metres - May through August

In Singapore, our calendar is less systematic and predictable, competing at (see abbreviation section below):

  • ACSIS -  always Short Course
  • AISA Games - always Short Course
  • SEASAC - always Short Course
  • Singapore Aquatic meets - Short Course meets not consistently offered. Traditionally, most Cities & Nations offering 1 Open Long Course Championships & 1 Open Short Course Championships.  Singapore Aquatics sometimes offer 2 Long course Open meets meets in a calendar year.
  • World Cup - usually Short Course, unless leading into the Olympics

Young novice competitors can be faster in a straight line. As race turns are developed and the athletes develop their underwater streamline kick and strengthen their glutes & quads, short course times should be much faster when compared to equivalent long course events.

The following American article covers some of the difference between long course and short course. 

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/long-course-vs-short-course-a-look-at-some-differences/

LONG COURE TO SHORT COURSE CONVERSIONS & VICE VERSA

Largely a thing of the past, this tool can be used to convert times from one course to another.  Note, this link has two calculators, one open and one which includes age and gender.   Physical maturation plays a significant role in Short Course times being faster than Long Course times.

Conversion tables are rarely used anymore as governing bodies usually stipulate that swimmers must achieve qualifying times in the course that they wish to enter. e.g. Australian Age only accept Long Course qualifying times as the Australian Championships are held in a 50m pool.

https://swimswam.com/swimming-times-conversion-tool/

SPLITS

The time swum for each length in races involving turns.

NEGATIVE SPLITS

Swimming the second half of a race faster than the first half.

RACE PACE

Holding the splits necessary for a specific events e.g. 4 x 50m @ 200m Pace

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY & MEDLEY RELAYS

MEDLEY ORDER: The individual medley (IM) is swum as Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.  Short Course the medley events are 100 IM (rarely contested) and 200 IM.  Long Course the medley events are 200 IM & 400 IM.

MEDLEY RELAYS:  The legs of a Medley Relay are swum in alphabetical order.  Backstroke is first as Backstrokers start in the water.

RELAYS - TEAM FIRST MENTALITY

Relays are often Double points.  Students who have finished racing their individual events are encouraged to stay to support the team until the end of the meet.  If a student has a genuine clash this should be discussed with coach prior to the meet.  All swimmers must say goodbye to their coach before leaving the venue. This is important from both a Safeguarding / Duty of Care and from a Team perspective.  Supporting the team is fun and ensures we have backup swimmers for relays, incase someone falls sick or gets injured.

RELAY SPLITS

Only the lead off leg of a relay can be used as a Personal Best or an official time.  The subsequent legs (there's usually 4 swimmers in a relay) get a flying start, as they can move on the blocks and lean right out over the water as the previous swimmer touches the wall.  This can give the swimmer a 0.5-0.7 second advantage.

WE COMPETE AGAINST:

Australian International Schools Association (AISA) Schools:

  • AIS Dhaka
  • AIS Hongkong
  • AIS Indonesia
  • AIS Malaysia
  • AIS Phnom Penh
  • AIS Sharjah
  • Victorian International School Sharjah
  • AIS Thailand
  • AIS Vietnam

Athletic Conference of Singapore Internationals Schools (ACSIS):

  • CIS - Canadian International School (Huskies)
  • DCIS - Dover Court International 
  • DCSG - Dulwich College Singapore
  • GESS - German European School Singapore
  • HWA - Hwa Chong International School
  • NIS - Nexus International School
  • NLCS - North London Collegiate School
  • OFS - Overseas Family School
  • SAIS - Stamford American International School (Lions)
  • SJII - Saint Joseph's Institution International
  • UWC Dover - United World College Dover (Phoenix)
  • UWC East - United World College East (Dragons)
  • XCL WA - XCL World Academy

Cognita Schools:

  • SAIS SGP - Stamford American International School (Lions), Singapore
  • SAIS HKG - Stamford International School (Lions) Hong Hong

SEASAC Schools:

  • BPS - Bangkok Patana School (Tigersharks), BKK, THA
  • BSJ - British School Jakarta (Bulldogs), JK, IND
  • CDNIS - Canadian International School of Hong Kong (Timberwolves), HKG, CHN
  • GISKL - Garden International School, KL, MYS
  • HIS - Harrow International School (Lions) , BKK, THA
  • Klass Torpedoes - The Alice Smith School, KL, MYS
  • NIST - New International School Thailand (Falcons), BKK, THA
  • RIS - R Phoenix
  • SAIS - Stamford International School (Lions), SGP
  • SSIS - Saigon South International School, BKK, THA
  • TTS - Tanglin Trust School (Merlions), SGP
  • UWCSEA Dover - United World College South East Asia Dover (Phoenix), SGP
  • UWCSEA East - United World College South East Asia East (Dragons) SGP

Other Schools:

  • MCM - Marlborough College Malaysia, JB, MYS
  • SAS - Singapore American School (Eagles), SGP

Aquatics Singapore affiliated Clubs:

  • Chinese Swimming Club
  • Swimfast

ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS:

3-Letter City Codes for places we compete:

  • ADL - Adelaide
  • BKK - Bangkok
  • BNE - Brisbane
  • OOL - The Gold Coast
  • HCMC - Ho Chi Minh City
  • HKG - Hong Kong
  • KUL - Kuala Lumpur
  • MLB - Melbourne
  • PER - Perth
  • SGP - Singapore
  • SYD - Sydney

3-Letter Countries Codes:

  • AUS - Australia
  • CHN - China
  • IDN - Indonesia
  • MYS - Malaysia
  • SGP - Singapore
  • THA - Thailand
  • VNM - Vietnam

Age group abbreviations:

  • yrs/U - Years & Under eg. 12yrs/U (often used in Australia)
  • yrs/O - Years & Over eg. 13yrs/O (often used in Australia)
  • 12/U - 12 years & under (often used by ACSIS and the AIS Sports Department)

Governing Bodies:

  • AusSWIM - Australian Swimming
  • SAL - Swimming Australia Limited
  • SCTA - Swimming Coaches & Teachers Australia (formerly ASCTA - Australian Swimming Coaches & Teachers Association)
  • World Aquatics (formerly FINA)
  • Singapore Aquatics (formerly SSA - Singapore Swimming Association)

Meet Programs & Scoreboards:

  • DNS - Did Not Start
  • DQ - Disqualification
  • LC - Long Course
  • SC - Short Course
  • LCM / SCM - Long Course Meters / Long Course Meters
  • LCY / SCY - Long Course Yards / Short Course Yards
  • SNSC - Singapore National Swimming Championships
  • MC - Multi Class. Events for Swimmers with Disabilities.

Records (on TV, Scoreboards, Programs):

  • All Comer: Fastest ever (visitors times included)
  • Titleholder: Winner last year
  • CR - Commonwealth Record 
  • MR - Meet Record 
  • OR - Olympic Record
  • WR -World Record

Other:

  • LTS - Learn To Swim 
  • OCBCAQ - The Aquatic Centre at the National Stadium sponsored by the Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation
  • QTs - Qualifying Times
  • PB - Personal Best
  • TBA - To Be Advised
  • TBC - To Be Confirmed
  • TT - Time Trial

COMMON WORKOUT ABBREVIATIONS ON THE WHITEBOARD:

STROKES:

  • BF or Fly - Butterfly
  • BK or Back - Backstroke
  • BR or Breast - Breaststroke
  • FS or Free - Freestyle
  • IM - Individual Medley
  • MO - Medley Order
  • RMO - Reverse Medley Order
  • CH - Choice

SKILLS & DRILLS:

  • S/Line - Streamline
  • Bx - No Breathing
  • B3 - Breathe every 3 strokes
  • K - Kick
  • D- Drill
  • P - Pull
  • S - Swim
  • DPS - Distance Per Stroke
  • UWK - Underwater Kick

INTENSITY:

  • SC - Stroke Count (cadence)
  • SR - Stroke Rate (revs per minute measured with a fancy stopwatch)
  • D.1-3 or DESC. 1-4 - DESCEND.  Each repeat gets faster. i.e. 4 x 25 - all repeats will be different.
  • B - Build. Increasing output and velocity throughout each repeat i.e. 4 x 25 - all repeats will be the same. 
  • BBM - Beats Below Max (Heart Rate)
  • EXP - Explosions 
  • HVOs - Hyper Velocity Overloads
  • MM - Mini Max (max speed with minimal strokes
  • WU - Warm Up
  • SD - Swim Down