STROKES: PSWL meets have 5 individual events and 2 relay events.   Learning each stroke takes practice.  Many new swimmers will pick up a backstroke and possibly a fly or breast during their first  season. Coaches will teach swimmers the correct technique.  Parents please ask if you questions about your swimmers progress over the season.  If you have questions ask a coach after the practice, not during - they are quite busy on the deck.   Also a good source for information is veteran parents - they might know the answer or direct you to one of the teams officials.

Instead of trying to describe the strokes, the videos below are examples of each event demonstrated by some of the best in the world. Olympians competing at the 2007 Duel in the Pool, a meet between  the United States and Australia.

 8&U swim 25 meters, 1 length of the pool

 All other ages swim 50 meters ( 2 lengths)

BACKSTROKE - Meet Events 28-37

8&U swim 25 meters, 1 length of the pool

 All other ages swim 50 meters ( 2 lengths)

8&U swim 25 meters, 1 length of the pool

All other ages swim 50 meters ( 2 lengths)

Note: This stroke is harder than it looks.  It  takes practice to get this one right.

BUTTERFLY - Events 48-57

8&U & 9-10 swim 25 meters

All other ages swim 50 meters ( 2 lengths)

Note: This stroke is physically demanding, but once a swimmer gets it - it can be less challenging than Breast.

FREE RELAY - Events 58-67

 4 swimmers swim 4 freestyle legs.  ages 12 and under  each swimmer swims 25 meters for a total of 100 meters.  13 and older will swim 50 meters to complete a 200 meter distance.  They are very exciting to watch!!!

MEDLEY RELAY - EVENTS 1-9

4 swimmers swim, each swim a different stroke.  First Back, then Breast, Fly and finish with Free.  ages 9-12 each swimmer swims 25 meters for a total of 100 meters.  13 and older will swim 50 meters to complete a 200 meter distance. 

Something interesting about this event... 8 and under swim this event mixed. Boys and Girls compete together.  This is done to help field a relay team - sometimes is hard to find a group that can swim some of the tougher strokes (Breast & Fly)