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About the Oregon Association of Synchronized Swimming
Mission The Oregon Association of Synchronized Swimming (OASS) promotes and develops the sport of synchronized swimming in Oregon and southwest Washington. OASS stages competitive meets, holds clinics and conducts judges' training on a regular basis.
Contact us:
Administrative Chair
Jill Starling, Jill_Starling@bsd.beavton.k12.or.us
About the Sport of Synchronized Swimming Synchronized swimming is a sport requiring overall body strength and agility, grace and beauty, split-second timing, musical interpretation, and dramatic flair. It is a unique sport in which power, strength, and technical skill are displayed in an artistically choreographed piece. The competitive rules and manner of judging of synchronized swimming are similar to its counterparts, figure skating and gymnastics. There are three events recognized internationally in synchronized swimming: solo, duet, and team (eight swimmers). In addition to these routine events, each competitor must participate in the compulsory figure competition. The scores earned in this event are added to those of the routine competition to determine each event's winners. To perform a strenuous routine while maintaining an effortless appearance is a very difficult and important quality that is expected by the judges. To understand the physical demands and endurance needed to perform the 3 1/2 to 5 minute routines, consider running while holding your breath for lengths of time up to 30 seconds. The routines demonstrate what has made "synchro" so popular with audiences. Much of the appeal is found in the use of the music to demonstrate the athlete's skills, technique and creativity. Routines are enhanced by the use of original and expressive movements, patterns, rhythms and audience contact.
The most important piece of equipment for synchronized swimmers is the nose clip. Although it may seem unusual, the nose clip is vital because it prevents water from entering the nasal cavity during upside-down movements. A synchro swimmer carries an extra nose clip in her suit in case the one she is wearing gets knocked off during a routine. For lack of a better product, dissolved unflavored gelatin is used to keep the synchronized swimmer's hair in place while she is spinning upside down and moving through the pool. Synchronized swimming is an artistic sport, like ice skating. Sequined suits are meant to enhance the performance. Makeup brings out the swimmer's features, and the smiles you might see plastered on a swimmer's face are meant to deceive the audience into believing that the performance is easy. Would you want to watch a routine if the swimmers looked like they were in pain? In a five minute routine, synchronized swimmers might spend up to one minute under water without air. At the same time, they are using their arms and legs to suspend themselves above water. Doing this is similar to running while holding your breath! A lift is done by raising the body of one or more swimmers up to or above the surface of the water. Swimmers execute lifts with only their body strength and are not allowed to use the bottom of the pool.
Developed by United States Synchronized Swimming
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What's up with the nose clip, hair gel and sequins?