Inside Athletics
- Overview
- TAS Philosophy of Athletics
- Positive Coaching Alliance
- Athletics Program Overview Videos
- Athletics Council
Overview
The mission of the athletics department at Taipei American School is to develop future leaders by cultivating an environment that promotes education, healthy competition, and personal growth through athletics. The department supports the mission and standards of Taipei American School by providing equitable opportunities for student-athletes to participate in quality international athletic competition while placing an intrinsic value on integrity, ethical conduct, academic excellence, athletic achievement and competitive spirit.
Athletics participation is offered at the varsity, junior varsity, freshman, Grade 7 & 8, and Grade 6 levels for boys and girls. Our teams practice after school Monday through Friday. Varsity teams practice every weekday, JV teams four days a week, freshman teams three days a week, and Middle School teams two to three days a week. An activity bus runs for students who participate in sports after school. Most competitions are held during the week, but there are occasional weekend commitments.
For an overview of the TAS Athletics Sports Program, please view the TAS Athletics Sports Program Offerings Matrix.
At the end of each season, our varsity teams compete in the IASAS tournament.
The athletic department posts all information on sports offerings and hosting dates within the Athletics Acknowledgement form on PowerSchool. To access this form, please log in to your PowerSchool account and click the Athletics Permission icon in the left-hand navigation menu.
IMPORTANT: Parents, please ensure to read the Athletics Acknowledgment form with your student and provide your digital signature at the bottom of the page. This signature gives permission for your child to participate in US athletics.
TAS Philosophy of Athletics
The fundamental principle for competitive athletics at TAS is serving the education of the student. Athletics promotes and supplements the regular curricular program at school. Our concern is the personal development of each athlete, and even though winning is important, the coach’s primary interest is the athletes personal growth and emotional stability. With this in mind, each coach should make every attempt to instill in our athletes the following attitudes:
a) the competitive urge to excel
b) the commitment to be the best that they can be
c) the acceptance of officials’ decisions without argument
d) an understanding of their sport
e) the love and respect for their sport
f) a high sense of honor, duty and ethical character that is necessary for team play
g) the knowledge that participation is its own reward, and the special privileges for participants are not to be expected or condoned
h) a cooperative spirit
i) a sense of representing their community
Positive Coaching Alliance
As a part of TAS' continued focus on Character Education, the school is partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a well-researched, reputable US-based organization dedicated to developing “Better Athletes, Better People” by working to provide all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building youth sports experience. All coaches complete an annual PCA certification. Please visit https://www.positivecoach.org/ for more information on PCA.
All coaches have completed the Double-Goal Coach certification through Positive Coaching Alliance. A Double Goal Coach’s goal is to create Triple Impact Competitor. These competitors focus on:
- Making yourself better
- Making your teammates better
- Making the game better
Other than an obvious endeavor for success in terms of score line, we will use the programs tools to ensure that athletes are better individuals, better teammates and honor the game.
Parents should become part of the team culture by also embracing these ideals and can also use the tools to join in this process. You may be interested in the parent section of the PCA website where you can learn more about how to be a Double-Goal Parent!
Fill their Emotional Tank
We have a magic ratio of 5:1. That is 5 positive comments before you can make a criticism of suggestion for improvement. It is important that an athlete’s emotional tank is full. Criticism empties an emotional tank and is not helpful in the progress of any athlete. Advice is normally best coming from the team coach.
The Tree of Mastery - The E.L.M Tree
Effort over Outcome.
Setting an effort goal rewards the athlete regardless of an outcome that they do not have control over. An example is a batter setting the goal to run hard through first base on a grounder, rather than the goal being to beat the throw to first base. Outcome goals can discourage effort. Eventually Effort Goals will begin, over-time, to achieve the desired outcome.
Effort should be rewarded over Outcome.
Learning
It is essential that we continue to learn in every practice and in every game. A positive result may come without learning but this is not progress. Learning as an individual and as a team combines to make a stronger team and team culture
Mistakes
All athletes make mistakes – even the pros. Accepting that it is okay to make a mistake and learning to deal with a mistake are important tools in growing as a Double Goal Athlete. Coaches will give students the tools to cope with disappointment and learn from their mistakes.
Athletics Program Overview Videos
Athletics Council
The Athletics Council is an indispensable student-run volunteer organization that works hard behind the scenes to ensure that our on-campus athletics events run smoothly.
Athletics Council members’ responsibilities include:
- serving as ambassadors for the school during IASAS and exchanges
- scoreboard operation
- scorekeeping
- assisting game officials with ball retrieval and other tasks
- working the grill
- cultivating future Athletics Council members coming up through the middle school ranks
If you see someone in an “AC” shirt or hoodie, please thank them for all that they do for our athletics programs!
Safety Protocols
- AQI Protocols
- Head Injury and Suspected Concussion Protocol
- Lightning Policy
- IASAS Heat Management Guidelines
AQI Protocols
For information on how the TAS administration determines the air quality index on campus, please visit this page. See below for athletics-specific policies related to student safety.
Head Injury and Suspected Concussion Protocol
Viewable in the Student-Athlete/Parent Handbook
Any student who experiences a head injury (bump, jolt, or blow) will be assessed and observed for a minimum of 30 minutes for a suspected concussion by the head athletic trainer. The SCAT3 sideline assessment will be used.
If a student with a head injury experiences one or more of the signs and symptoms of a concussion at any time during the initial observation period, he/she will be suspected of a concussion and immediately removed from play. The student will not return to play until they are evaluated by the head athletic trainer or medical doctor and have received medical clearance for return to play.
If a concussion is suspected, the athlete should not be left alone and should be monitored for worsening symptoms. If symptoms worsen and become emergent, the student will be transported to the nearest emergency department.
If no signs or symptoms of a concussion are present during the initial observation period, return to play is still not advisable. A parent/guardian will be notified of the risks of returning to play. Any activity should proceed with caution, understanding that symptoms can appear over time, and that the student should be observed closely during and after the activity.
Any athlete that is diagnosed with a concussion will not return to play on the day of injury. They will be required to complete the school’s return to play protocol and be released by the head athletic trainer (before returning to any physical activities). If the athlete was examined by a medical doctor, a doctor’s note must be provided and given to the school nurse and head athletic trainer before the student can return to physical activities.
Lightning Policy
Viewable in the Student-Athlete/Parent Handbook
Protocol to Evacuate Outdoor Locations: At the sight of a lightning flash, all outdoor activities must cease, and all students, coaches, administrators and any other by-standers should take shelter inside of a building. There is a 30 minute, flash-free period prior to return to play outdoors. Example: At the sight of a lightning flash, the Athletic Trainer will start a 30-minute running clock. Every new flash restarts the clock. When the 30-minute timer runs out, return to outdoor activities may commence.
Two loud, long whistle blows = Clear all fields, tennis courts, golf facility, and any other outdoor location.
One loud, long whistle blow = It is safe to return to outdoor locations.
Primary Protocol:
Thunder Bolt: This handheld device detects and tracks the motion of storm cells by detecting the lightning activity within the cell. We have one device on campus, located in the health and wellness center with the athletic trainer. This device it set to alarm when electrical activity is 5.5 miles/9km away. When the alarm sounds, the Athletic Trainer on duty will blow the whistle accordingly.
Secondary Protocol: Used when practicing off campus or when Thunder Bolt detection device is not available.
Flash-to Bang-Method: The National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) recommend the use of the flash to bang ratio to help determine when cover should be taken when no lightning detector is available. This method requires no equipment and is an easy way to determine the distance from the last lighting strike. To use the flash-to-bang method, begin counting on the lightning flash, and stop counting when the associated thunder is heard. Divide this number (in seconds) by 5 to determine the distance (in miles) to the lightning flash. For example, if the time in seconds between the lightning being spotted and the thunder being hear is equal to 30, divide that by 5, and you get 6 (30/5=6). Therefore, that lightning flash was approximately 6 miles away from the observer. While lightning has been recorded to strike at 10 miles, the rule of thumb used for safety is a 6 mile/9.6km distance. Thus, seeking shelter is recommended if lightning is 6 miles/9.6 km away or less.
Examples of safe and unsafe locations:
1. Safe Locations:
a. A building normally occupied by people, with wiring and plumbing that has been grounded.
b. If buildings are not available, then certain other spaces are considered safe: vehicles, including school buses, with a hard metal roof (not convertibles or golf carts) with the windows shut. Individuals should not touch the metal framework of the vehicle as well as the steering wheel, ignition keys, and/or radio.
2. Unsafe Locations:
a. The showers or plumbing of a building, as well as electrical appliances in a building during a thunderstorm should be avoided.
b. Small covered shelters outside, such as dugouts, bleachers, rain shelters, golf shelters, picnic shelters.
i. Areas connected to or near light poles, towers and fences
ii. Any location which is the highest point in the area
IASAS Heat Management Guidelines
IASAS HEAT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & SPORTS
Viewable in the Student-Athlete/Parent Handbook
- The Heat Index will be the chosen measure of heat. Each school is responsible for monitoring Heat Index for IASAS tournaments Staff involved in overseeing IASAS activities need to check readings prior to engaging in these activities to be aware of the zone they are currently in.
- Heat Index should ideally be displayed during tournaments
- Athletic Staff & Tournament Officials should monitor temperature on a regular basis and adjust based on the zone they are in
| Heat Index below 33°C |
The following actions are standard practice for all IASAS Outdoor Activities
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Heat Index 33-40°C |
All actions as per Heat Index Ratings under 33°C additionally:
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Heat Index 41-54°C |
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Heat Index above 54°C
Heat Stroke Imminent & Extreme Risk |
All non-airconditioned activities are cancelled |