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VSC was established in
November 1977 through the efforts of Paul Bretscher, a former
Valparaiso High School swimmer, who recognized the need for a year
round competitive swimming program in the community. VSC is a
non-profit, USA age group swim club which provides coaching to
develop competitive swimmers in the Valparaiso area. The program is
open to swimmers age 5-18 who have met the basic minimum skills
requirement. The team consists of all levels of swimmers from
novice to state and zone qualifiers.
USA Swimming is the major sanctioning body for age group swimmers
in the USA. USA makes the rules and sets policies for over 250 swim
clubs in the country. All VSC swimmers are required to join USA
Swimming. Each member will receive a USS number, which is required
to participate in sanctioned swim meets. Additionally, VSC is
covered under USA's liability insurance policy.
Valparaiso Swim Club has a cooperative relationship with
Valparaiso High School whereby VSC supports the VHS Boys and Girls
Swimming Teams in exchange for the opportunity to utilize the high
school pool. VSC serves as a "minor league" developmental program
bringing competent, competitive swimmers to the high school
program.
It is the philosophy of the Valparaiso Swim Club that producing
champion swimmers is of secondary importance to the physical and
emotional development of each child. We believe a child's success
is not primarily measured in terms of winning races, but rather in
terms of improvement. VSC strives to develop in each child an
excitement about competitive swimming, a respect for the abilities
of others, an appreciation of the importance of hard work and self
discipline, a desire to constantly improve, the ability to win or
lose graciously, and a pride in self and fellow swimmers. Team
success is based on learning to work with others for the
achievement of the group goals with the understanding that
individual needs can be met through group effort.
Membership in VSC is open to children ages 5-18, who can pass a
skills evaluation which is held on designated evenings before the
start of each season. This is not a learn to swim program. Previous
swimming instruction is generally required before a child will have
the basic minimum skills. During the skills evaluation, the swimmer
must be able to perform the basic skills of freestyle and
backstroke, using rotary breathing with the freestyle stroke. The
endurance to swim the length of a 25 yard pool is preferred, but
not always a requirement for younger children. After the swimmer
passes the skills evaluation, the Head Coach will place the swimmer
on the appropriate team based on his/her skill level.
Once the swimmer has passed the skills evaluation, a trial period
is offered so they can determine if this is a sport they would like
to do. In order to get a good "feel" for the VSC experience,
we strongly recommend attending practice everyday during the trial
period. If the swimmer decides to continue, the deposit will be
applied to their USS membership fee.
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