Attire+and+Equipment



If you thought competitive swimming was not an expensive sport then you are wrong. You have to get equipment from flippers to goggles to tempo trainers and racing suits... don't even get me started on those, they are around $250 for a quality racing suit!

Equipment Fins come in many different styles. They are used on the foot. They make it easier to kick faster. It also gives your legs a better workout because they make you pull more water. There are many different kinds. There are breastroke fins, which are more like webbed feet. There are also long blade fins which the top part of the fin is longer and a little more flexible. There are also short blade fins. They have a shorter top of the fin but the top part of the fin is also much harder. Most fins are made out of a rubber, they come in a lots of different hardnesses. Fins can be used by all levels of swimming. Fins intensify the cardiovascular workout and make you go faster during workouts.
 * Flippers/ Fins **

Paddles are like having webbed fingers. They are placed on the hand to accelerate speed. They help you pull more water with your hands. Most paddles have many small holes to let some water pass through but it is a controled amount to get an ideal workout. Most fins attach around the middle finger and sometimes the wrist too. Like fins there are many different kinds. There are sculling paddles which are supposed to help the forearm. Unlike most paddles they don't cover your palms, they only cover your fingers. There are also flat paddles which are most commonly used. They are suppose to limit stress on the shoulder and increase the distance you pull in a stroke. They help with the muscles in your arm. There are also "fitted" paddles that have a curve in the paddle to help with the swimmer's technique. Paddles can be used for all levels but they may be hard at first.
 * Paddles **[[image:125x85_sculpaddle.jpg align="right"]]


 * Pull buoy **

Pull buoys are used to put between to help not kicking so they can focus on the upper body. They are a couple of different styles but they all do the same thing, It just depends on what you think is the most comfortable. Buoys can be put anywhere between the legs, but the more common ways are between the thighs, the knees, or the ankles. Any level can use the buoy.


 * Kick boards **

Kick boards are used to rest your hands on while you kick. It immobilized the

hands so you can focus on strengthening your kick. They are made out of a very light

material that will float with a little pressure on it. They come in many different styles but they all do

the same thing. The most common is a flat rectangle with a curved top. There are also ones that have a handle to grab on to while swimming or a raised top for maximum comfort for the hands. Any level can use the kickboard.

Snorkles are used for more advanced swimmers. It is used to breathe without turning to the sides and changing your stroke. It because you can focus more on your stroke technique when you don't have to turn your head to breathe. It also helps you practice having a still stable upper body. They come in long and short breathing tubes, also the breathing tube comes in different shapes. They have a head strap to help it be stable, a mouth piece breathe in and out, and a breathing tube which is where the air goes in and comes out.
 * Snorkle **

Tempo trainers are used to help with a consistent stroke cycle. You or your coach set the tempo trainer to a certin beeps per minute then you put it under your cap by your ear. When you hear each beep your hand should hit the waterIt is used to maintain a constant rhythm in your stroke. This is used for more advanced swimmers.
 * Tempo trainer **

Attire

There are many rules for what you can wear during a competition. Some of these rules can be found in rules and regulations under attire rules and regulations.There are lots of different racing suits from a kneeskin to a FSII to a jammer. Below you will learn about each suit and what makes it a racing suit.

Racing suits Racing suits are made out of materials that stick to the skin and are slick in the water. They also usually have a coating on them that makes them slick in water.The fabric is also "low drag" which means if you get the right size there is also most no loose fabric. There is advanced water repellency. That makes it very good for racing because the water doesn't get very absorbed in the suit so it doesn't make it heavy and weigh you down. When you are out of the water with a suit that has advanced water repellency you can pour water on your suit and it will fall down your suit like raindrops on a window. The suit are also made out of a flexible material that moves with your body for maximum speed. Three common racing suits this last year (2011-2012) for women were the Speedo LZR Pro Kneeskin, the Blue 70 NeroTX Female Kneeskin, and the Speedo FSII - Recordbreaker. The three common mens suits this last year (2011-2012) were the Blue 70 NeroTX Male Jammer, the Speedo LZR Pro Jammer, and the Speedo FSII - Jammer. Also for older men some Speedos were "in." As my coach always says, "If putting on your racing suit takes less than 15 minutes go a size down." She says that applies for kneeskins not "normal" suits.

Womens Top 3 Suits

The speedo LZR Pro Kneeskin is a suit that is typically worn by swimmers who are13 and up and have at least a champ time or zone time (regional time). They are said to be ultra-lightwieght and ultra-water repellent. They are said to be made of a fast drying fabric to reduce friction drag. They are made to have a high level of compression to make you as hydrodynamic as possible. This suit usually costs about $260.00.

The Blue 70 NeroTX Female Kneeskin is a high tech suit that is virtually seamless. It is all "welded together" and has the very latest in modern textile fabric technology. They say it is, "compressive, "ultra low drag, and is made of water smart fabric." They also say that,  The entire NeroTX range is ultrasonically welded, further eliminating the  drag that’s created from traditionally sewn suits." Isn't that amazing! This suit is also used for advanced swimmers age 13 and above. This suit costs about $299.99

The Speedo FSII-recordbreaker is a "normal cut suit" with a very modern textile material for fast swimming. It allows the swimmer to have maximum flexiblity and low drag. It is a suit mainly used by children ages 8-13 and is considered the next step down from a kneeskin. These suits usually cost from $109.00-$129.99

Mens Racing suits

The Blue 70 NeroTX Male Jammer is a high tech suit it is seamless and all "welded together," It has the very latest in modern textile fabric technology. They say it is, "highly compressive,ultra low drag, and is made of water smart fabric" also they say that, " The entire neroTX range is ultrasonically welded, further eliminating the  drag that’s created from traditionally sewn suits." Isn't that amazing! This suit is also used for advanced swimmers age 13 and above. This is the male version of the Blue 70 NeroTX Female Kneeskin.This suit costs about $199.99

The Speedo LZR Pro Jammer is a suit that is typically worn by swimmers who are13 and up and have at least a champ time or zone time (regional time). They are said to be ultra-lightweight and ultra-water repellent. They are said to be made of a fast drying fabric to reduce friction drag. They aremade to have a high level of compression to make you as hydrodynamic as possible. It is made to fit each individual swimmer and have optimum comfort.This is the male version of the Speedo LZR Pro Kneeskin.This suit usually costs about $180.00

The Speedo FSII - Jammer This suit is made with a very modern textile material for fast swimming. It allows the swimmer to have maximum flexiblity and low drag. It is a suit mainly used by children ages 8-13 and is considered the next step down from a LZR pro jammer or a Blue 70. These suits usually cost from $119.00-$160.00

Caps Other attire used by most swimmers are caps. Caps are a hat on your head. It protects your hair from the harmful chlorine. If you don't have hair most people don't use a cap, but some still do. There are cap that are latex which is thinner and usually more common. There are also silicone caps which are thicker but slicker and people aren't allergic to them like quite a few people are to latex. Most people race with a flat cap which is a cap without some special design that has extra material on it or they swim with a dome cap. A dome cap is a cap that is very tight and is made with very thick material so it does not wrinkle and create drag.

Goggles Goggles are a very common thing used in swimming to protect your eyes from the water and allow you to see clearly under water while you swim. There are many different styles of goggles and they all are pretty much the same. The only special goggles are a new goggle called the

Fastskin3 Super Elite which are designed to have almost no drag what so ever. They are supposed to be super comfortable, have increased vision span, be leakproof, and more but the cost is about $100 per pair of goggles and that is a little ridiculous for a pair of goggles. Back to home page  Swimming Block   Famous Swimmers   Rules and regulations   Bibliography