The Portland Porpoise Swim Club
(PPSC) was formed by the City of Portland Recreation Department in
the fall of 1989 as a program within the Aquatics
Division. Since then it has become a private swim club run by a
committed and energetic parent board. The Porpoises aim to
provide the most extensive competitive programming in the area,
with a swim club that offers a foundation of success for every
child, both in and out of the
water.
Our youngest swimmers learn basic
movements in the water such as body position and essential elements
of legally performing the four competitive strokes, and enjoy the
fun of team membership. Developing positive social skills, good
sportsmanship, and fostering a love of swimming are a few of the
intangible skills learned in this group as well. Once these skills
become honed, they then begin to compete in local competitions in
Maine.
From this point our swimmers then
transition into a more competitive group where they learn to apply
the basic skills accrued at the initial level of the club. Swimmers
in this second tier of the Porpoise club begin to master the skills
of all four competitive strokes, body position, and pace clock
utilization.
After successfully completing the
initial levels of the program, the swimmer then moves into the
upper levels of the program that demand a heavier practice workload
that is designed to prepare them to compete at local and statewide
levels, and beyond. Swimmers in this group focus on developing a
level of aerobic fitness that will prepare them for continued
progress and success at the highest levels of the club.
Our elite groups focus on racing
strategy, training ownership, and advanced training techniques.
These groups are designed for the committed, older, and mature
athletes that seek to take their level of personal competition to
their highest level possible.
Many of our high school athletes
choose to represent their school on swim teams. Our athletes have
won Maine State Championships and are preparing for swimming
at regional, collegiate, national, and international levels. PPSC
has sent countless swimmers to college on full scholarships (both
athletic and academic) and one to the Olympics! Three time Olympian
Ian Crocker grew up swimming with the Porpoises and still holds
numerous PPSC and Maine Swimming
records.
If you have questions
about joining PPSC, please contact
Head Coach Matt Baxter.
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