Walden Green Wave

Breaststroke: This stroke must be done on the stomach with some part of the head surfacing during each stroke sequence, except on starts and turns when one underwater pull and kick are allowed, in that order. The kick must be a squeezing action with no downward thrust of the legs, all on the same horizontal plane, recovering forward from the chest. The swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously at all turns and the finish. 

Backstroke: Swimmers must remain on their backs until they touch the wall for a turn or finish. Any means of stroke or kick is allowed. The pennants hanging across the pool are situated to prepare the swimmer for the approaching wall. 

Butterfly: The leg kick(s) must be a downward thrust, which is simultaneous action. The arm pull must be simultaneous and the arms must recover forward over the top of the water only. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously at all turns and the finish. 

Freestyle "Free": means any stroke imaginable, but most swimmers choose the crawl, the fastest of the strokes. Any part of the body may touch the wall at turns and the finish. This is the first stroke emphasized and virtually all new swimmers will compete in freestyle events.

Boys and girls swim each event separately. The events for each stroke go from youngest to oldest. The girls in a given age group swim the event first, followed by the boys. 

Meets start with the Medley Relay

• All age groups swim the Medley Relay, including 8 and under. 

• It is a relay consisting of 4 swimmers that have been assigned by the coach.
• The Medley Relay has a specific stroke order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. Since the younger children only swim one lap each, those swimmers swimming the breaststroke and freestyle portion of the relay must be at the opposite end of the pool, not the starting block end. Those swimmers will start in the water.

The Next event it usually the Individual Medley or (IM)

• The IM is swam by swimmers 11 and older.
• It consists of 4 laps. Each lap is a different stroke.
• The stroke order is Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle.

Freestyle Events usually come next

• For ages 5-8 they will swim 1 length of the pool. 
• For ages 9 and up they will swim 2 lengths of the pool.

Backstroke Events follow

• For ages 5-10 they will swim 1 length of the pool.
• For ages 11 and up they will swim 2 lengths of the pool.

Breaststroke is next

• For ages 5-10 they will swim 1 length of the pool.
• For ages 11 and up they will swim 2 lengths of the pool.

Butterfly follows

• For ages 5-10 they will swim 1 length of the pool.
• For ages 11 and up they will swim 2 lengths of the pool

The Meet then concludes with the Freestyle Relays

• The children love relays and get a real sense of being part of a team by competing in them.
• Unforeseen circumstances may result in a child being placed in the relay at last minute, so never leave meets early! 
• The relay team has 4 swimmers. 

Disqualification (DQ’d): A swimmer may be disqualified if they are not executing the stroke according to USA Swimming rules, if they dive in early, perform an incorrect flip turn or any number of other infractions. Although this can be upsetting to a child, “DQs” are very common and should be regarded as part of the learning process.

Event: The race in which a swimmer will participate.

False Start: Leaving the blocks before the sound of the starter's signal.

Stroke Judge: The official that determines the legality of a swimmer's stroke or his/her turns.

Time Standards: Qualifying times that have been set by Regional and National Committees for all events.