1. Introduction
Can a school of only 500 students train the nation’s first championship basketball team? The answer to that is, “Yes!” The Tai-Ping Elementary School basketball team has participated in overseas competitions on four separate occasions and the team is considered as a leading force among Kaohsiung City elementary schools (Min Chung Daily News, 06/21/1990). As Tai-Ping Elementary continues to promote basketball, the principles of fair play, determination and hard work are imported not only to the players, but to the teachers, coaches and the parents of the students as well.
2. Origin of the Basketball Program
The Tai-Ping Elementary School basketball program began in 1984, headed by two teachers; Hsu Chih Fu and Yang Yong Hua. When the program began, it was on the outskirts of town with poor facilities and equipment. This however did not dampen the spirit of the teachers or the students.
3. The Transformation of the Basketball Team
Although the team only won four games in their first season, subsequent seasons saw the team continually improve and in 1994 were runner-up in the National Junior Basketball girls Group. In the same year, the school also represented Taiwan in the Finland Dolphin Cup International Basketball Tournament taking first place. One of the players, Jiang Yi Lan, was chosen for the Asian Youth Cup team in 1999.
4. A New Record is Made
The school was also represented at the 1996 and 1999 tournaments winning both the boy’s and girl’s championships. In 200, the boy’s team won the National Junior Boys Basketball Championship after nearly two decades of failure on the part of Kaohsiung City’s elementary schools winning the tournament. Also, in 2000 both the boy’s and girl’s teams received runner-up, best player award (Chen Yun Sun, Lin Yi Jun), and best coach award (Xu Zhi Fu) in the Italy Como Cup International basketball Tournament. The school received a warm welcome as the only East-Asian team in attendance. In 2002 Tai-Ping Elementary School participated in a sports cultural exchange with main land China. In 2004 once again the girl’s team were winners of the tournament for their fourth title. All of Tai-Ping elementary school shares in the joy and pride of its sports team’s accomplishments.
5. Current Promotion of Basketball
The school now makes good use of a new, comfortable, air-conditioned indoor arena and electronic scoreboard timer. It has hosted and co-hosted Ministry of Education competitions in Kaohsiung City. Tai-Ping Elementary School as established sports education classes, the first of which began in 1998. The goal of these classes is to educate students in sports and health while improving the children’s health by providing them with fun physical activities.
6. The Health and Vitality of Tai-Ping Elementary
From its early beginnings over twenty years ago, to its modern facilities, Tai-Ping Elementary continues to promote the sport of basketball because of its usefulness in teaching the successful principles of cooperation, dedication, and enthusiasm. These principles are imparted not only to players but to teachers, coaches and parents. The basketball program provides a win-win situation for the school in that students learn valuable physical fitness as well as being instilled with a sense of enthusiasm over the successes of the various teams.