In competitive swimming, the term short course (abbreviated SC) is used to identify a swimming pool that is 25 metres (27.34 yd) in length. The term is also often included in meet names when conducted in a short course pool. "Short course" is the second type of pool configuration currently recognized by World Aquatics and other swimming bodies for pool competition; the other/primary pool length being "long course", where the pool is 50 meters in length. Swimming events at the Olympics and at the World Aquatics Championships are conducted in a long-course pool. The "World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m)", colloquially the "short-course worlds", are held in alternate years from the long-course worlds.[1] Short-course competitions may be held in a longer pool into which a temporary barrier has been placed 25 metres from one end as a turning point.[2]
In the United States, the term "short course" is more commonly applied to 25 yards (22.86 m) competition, which is more common in that country. Short-course yards is generally abbreviated as "SCY" to differentiate it from short course meters (SCM). The US national federations, USA Swimming[3] and U.S. Masters Swimming,[4] both maintain SCY USA records; FINA does not currently recognize records set in SCY, but does recognize/keep SCM records. USA college (including NCAA competition) and high school swimming are traditionally swum in SCY.
Short-course meter competitions are also denoted by listing of the actual meter distance: "25m" (in swimming, a space is not placed between the number and the m for meter).[5]
Lists of world and other records are kept separately for short- and long-course events; the short-course time is usually faster than the long-course record for the same distance. This is assumed to be connected to the increased number of turns and hence wall push-offs, where swimmers can get powerful leverage from the wall.