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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. New swimmers
start on either the Green or the Blue team.
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. See the main home page for details and scheduling
information. 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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