The Portage Porpoise Swim Club offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the Portage Porpoise Swim Club to offer age specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging each individual and developing each individual to the best of THEIR abilities.

Please contact Head Coach Kate to schedule a tryout,  Click Here to send us an email request for more information.

Frequently asked questions:

How long is the Swim Season?

We have 2 swim seasons per year: Fall/Winter, which goes from early September to mid-February (approximately 25 weeks), and Spring/Summer, which goes from early April to mid-July (approximately 16 weeks). Our awards banquets are typically held in March and August. Registrations for the next season are typically late March and late August.

How much does it cost and how can I pay?

Fall/Winter season dues are $325, payable in full, in 3 installments by check, or in 5 installments by credit card or ACH debit. Spring/Summer dues are $165, payable in full, in two installments by check, or 3 installments by credit card or ACH debit. Those who elect to make payments by credit card or ACH debit must register their accounts in Team Unify, as well as provide written permission to do so

When are payments due?

Payments are due on the first of the month. You are expected to keep up to date on what you owe and make payments accordingly. For those paying automatically by credit card or ACH debit, the system will automatically charge their registered account for any balances due.

What if my swimmer wants to quit?

Should you decide to remove your swimmer from the team within the first two weeks of the regular season, we will refund your membership dues, less a $40 processing fee. Membership fees are not refundable after the first two weeks unless there is extreme hardship (severe illness/injury, family relocation).

Are there any discounts or scholarships available?

For families with multiple swimmers, there is a $20 per swimmer discount on dues after the first swimmer. We do not currently offer any scholarships or reduced membership fees.

Are there other payments due at registration?

In addition to the registration dues, each swimmer must become a member of USA Swimming, a fee that we collect and turn in to that organization. Swimmers who join in the Fall must purchase an annual USA Swim Card, currently $56. Swimmers who join in the summer must purchase a seasonal USA Swim Card, currently $33.50 and good until the end of August. Families who receive reduced lunch benefits may purchase a swim card for $7 providing they can provide proof of the reduced lunch benefit. Payment for the USA Swim Card must be made in full at the time of registration and is not refundable. Benefits include:
* Subscription to USA swimming's award-winning Splash Magazine.
* Opportunity to swim in USA Swimming meets, open only to members!
* Eligibility to participate in local and national swimming camps.
* Opportunity to qualify to become a member of the U.S. World or Olympic Swim Teams!
* Ability to track your times through a "My USA Swimming" account.
* Excess accident and liability insurance – covers all USA Swimming-sanctioned activities.
* Opportunity to receive a certificate of accomplishment by achieving Top 10 times.
* Discounts on travel – special rates on United for travel to USA Swimming events. Check out this link for more information http://www.usaswimming.org

Is there anything else I have to pay for?

We have an apparel order at the beginning of each season for those who want to purchase a team t-shirt or other apparel (not required). There is not a specific team suit at this time. For competition, we ask that swimmers wear a red or black suit, if possible, and a team cap (available for purchase at the pool desk). Additional practice equipment may be recommended. Currently, our head coach recommends practice fins for all swimmers (a team order is generally placed for fins at the beginning of each season; used fins may be available for purchase or swap from older swimmers). Participation in invitational meets is extra (see swim meets below).

Does my swimmer have to compete if he or she joins the team?

No!  Competing is always optional; however, it is strongly encouraged. Yes, swimming is a great exercise that will help encourage healthy habits for a lifetime, but most kids are not motivated by those kinds of "adult" goals. Kids' goals are more immediate, whether they're highly competitive or not. They want to feel that they can do something. Competitive swimming is a terrific way for kids to feel a sense of individual achievement while at the same time being part of a team. While not every swimmer can come in first, every swimmer can strive to achieve their personal best in every event they swim. Dropping a second or more off your previous time in an event is always a reason to celebrate and proves that hard work at practice pays off. 

 What are my Parent Obligations?
 

PPSC is a parent-run organization. The only hired professionals associated with our team are our coaches. What this means is, we are entirely dependent on the support of our parents for everything else. Because of this, we have a per-family fundraising and volunteer requirement for each season.
Fundraising: Fall/Winter—$100 ($100 deposit); Spring/Summer—$50 ($50 deposit)
Volunteering: Fall/Winter—10 hours ($100 deposit); Spring/Summer—5 hours ($50 deposit)
At the time of registration, each family is required to deposit 2 undated checks—one for fundraising, the other for volunteer hours—in case those obligations remain unfulfilled at the end of the season. The checks of families who successfully complete their obligations will be returned at the end of each season.

What if I don’t want to do the fundraiser or am unable to volunteer?

A fundraiser buyout is available—at the time of registration only —for those who do not want to participate. The Fall/Winter buyout: $80; Spring/Summer buyout: $40. Must be paid in full at registration.
Someone who absolutely does not care to volunteer could elect to have us cash their volunteer deposit check immediately, but we strongly discourage this as we hope that everyone can find a way to participate.

When are practices and is attendance mandatory?

Unless otherwise noted on the team calendar, all groups practice 5 days a week, Monday-Friday. Group 1 (beginners) practices from 5:30 to 6:15; Group 2 (intermediate 10 and unders) practices from 5:30 to 7:00; Group 3 (intermediate-advanced 11 and overs) practices from 6:15 until 8:15. Additional dryland sessions or altered practice schedules due to holidays/meet schedules may be announced, and parents are encouraged to check the team calendar on the website or pool bulletin board frequently. Attendance at practice, and swimmer progress, is up to the parent and the swimmer. Three days per week is strongly encouraged for beginners, and 4-5 days per week is recommended for more advanced swimmers.

Can I watch my swimmer practice?

Absolutely! We encourage parents to come to practices and see what goes on. Please sit in the bleachers and keep younger siblings with you (swimmers and siblings are not allowed to be unsupervised in the lobby area or other parts of the high school). Restrooms are located in the lobby to the left of door “O.” Please refrain from coaching your swimmer from the stands. It is confusing to the swimmer and disruptive to the practice. Parents are not allowed on the pool deck. If you need to communicate something urgent to your swimmer, ask the board member manning the pool desk.

What about the swim meets? Are there additional charges?

There are basically two types of swim meets: dual meets (between our team and one other team), and invitationals (where several teams compete). Dual meets generally last about 3 hours. The head coach selects the events each swimmer swims in a dual meet. We typically have about 2-4 dual meets during the Fall/Winter season and about 2 -3 dual meets during the Spring/Summer season. There are no charges for participation in dual meets
 Invitationals typically take place over a weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) with events for each age group spread out over a 3-day or 2-day period. For 3-day invites, there will typically be one session on Friday evening, followed by morning and afternoon sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Events are scheduled by age group, with some swimmers swimming in the morning sessions, and others swimming in the afternoon. Parents can select their swimmer’s events for an invite or have the head coach select them. All invites charge a $1.50 per swimmer surcharge, in addition to a per-event charge (varies from $2 to $6 per event entered). Some invites charge admission.
Currently all invites are “away” meets. We typically have 1-2 “travel” invites (farther than 45 minutes from Portage High School) per season. All other invites are schedules with teams in our conference (LaPorte, Union Township, Crown Point, Highland, Hobart, Lake Central, Gary, Merrillville, Duneland). The meet schedule will be posted on the team bulletin board and on the team calendar.

Does my swimmer have to compete?

Participating in swim meets is not required. Many of our swimmers swim for recreation only and are not interested in competing. For new swimmers, dual meets are the best introduction to competitive swimming. Our conference meet, at the end of each regular season (mid-February and mid-July) is considered our “championship meet.” While participation is not required, we consider this meet more than any other to be an “ALL TEAM” effort.

How to I stay up to date on team information?

Upon registering for the team, all families are given an account on our Team Unify website. Almost all team communication is done by email, so a valid email account is extremely important. If you are having trouble at any time accessing your Team Unify account, please make sure you ask a board member for help. Check the website regularly for calendar updates, news items, events to register for, social activities, volunteer opportunities, and photos. You can also log in to your account to check your balance, set up autopay, or change personal contact information. In addition, important information will be posted on the team bulletin board at the pool.

How do I contact the coach or the board?

Between the hours of 5:30 and 8:15, our coaches are coaching, and we ask that you allow them to give the swimmers their full attention by not attempting to talk to them during this time. You may email the head coach at any time with questions or to schedule a private meeting.
Board members staff the pool desk every week day from 5:30 to 7:00. They are there to answer your questions, take your payments, and discuss any concerns you have.

Kate Mullen, head coach: headcoach@ppscswim.com
Jen Santaquilani, President: president@ppscswim.com
Andre Breault, Vice President: vicepresident@ppscswim.com
 Holli Boyle, Secretary: secretary@ppscswim.com
Yolanda Edwards, Treasurer: treasure@ppscswim.com
Emily Vogt-Skish, Membership and Apparel: membershipandapparel@ppscswim.com
Melissa Ford, Ways and Means: waysandmeans@ppscswim.com
 Lorri Davenport, Social: socialdirector@ppscswim.com