A tradition unlike any other. Established 1974, the Orca Swim Team is a youth swimming team on the Eastside of Tucson, AZ.
The mission of the Orca Swim Team is to help every ORCA reach their potential as a swimmer and as an individual while building a strong team commitment to the sport of swimming through the team values of Sportsmanship, Spirit, Motivation, Dedication, and Excellence.
In freestyle events, the competitor may swim any stroke (except in the freestyle leg of the Medley Relay and Individual Medley). The stroke most commonly used is sometimes called the crawl, which is characterized by the alternate stroking of the arms over the surface of the water surface and an alternating (up-and-down) flutter kick. On turns and finishes, some part of the swimmer, must touch the wall. Most swimmers do a flip turn, although this is not required.
Backstroke consists of an alternating motion of the arms with a flutter kick while on the back. On turns, swimmers may rotate to the stomach and perform a flip turn and some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. Again, this is not required. The swimmer must finish on the back.
The breaststroke, which is the oldest stroke dating back hundreds of years, requires simultaneous movements of the arms on the same horizontal plane. The hands are pressed out from in front of the breast in a heart shaped pattern and recovered under or on the surface of the water. The kick is a simultaneous somewhat circular motion similar to the action of a frog. On turns and at the finish, the swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously at, above or below the water surface.
Some consider the butterfly, also known as Fly, to be the most beautiful of the strokes. It features a simultaneous recovery of the arms over the water combined with an undulating dolphin kick. In the kick, the swimmer must keep both legs together and may not flutter, scissors or use the breaststroke kick. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously on the turns and the finish. The butterfly is the newest stroke and was developed in the early 1950s as a variation of the breaststroke. It became an Olympic stroke in 1956 in Melbourne.
Rules
The technical rules of swimming are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and to promote uniformity in the sport. Each swimming stroke has specific rules designed to ensure that no swimmer gets an unfair competitive advantage over another swimmer.
Officials
Officials are present at all competitions to enforce the technical rules of swimming so the competition is fair and equitable. When an official sees an action that violates a rule for a particular stroke, they will note the disqualification or DQ and the swimmer will be notified at the end of that race.
Events
Swimmers will swim 1-3 individual events and 0-2 relays at each swim meet. The individual events are Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle. The relays are the Medley Relay (swum in order – back, breast, fly, free) and the Free Relay, all legs are freestyle
Orcas Swim Team
3101 N Sabino Canyon Rd
Tucson, Arizona 85715
Email: orcasswimteamaz@gmail.com