LAS Sports & Arts
As part of a balanced program and the LAS Philosophy, the Leysin American School offers a balanced program of study, sports, the arts, recreation and cultural travel. Sports and Arts at LAS are just as important to our curriculum as academic studies and help to mold our students into model citizens of the world.
A Message from LAS Athletic Director, Ethan Harris:
We are the Goats! Our school mascot is the mighty ibex, a wild mountain goat of high alpine habitats such as Leysin. Ibex are tough, agile and hardy, able to climb on bare rock and survive on sparse vegetation. They have also been known to crush the competition! Get inside the huddle, put your hand in and on three...one, two, three...GOATS!
The Teams
Fall Sports Teams
- Boys Basketball (Varsity & JV)
- Girls Basketball
- Boys Volleyball
- Girls Volleyball (Varsity & JV)
- Boys Football
- Girls Football
- Boys Rugby
- Co-ed Swimming (practices during Winter & Spring)
- Co-ed Tennis (also competes in Spring)
Winter Sports Teams
- Ski and Snowboard Freestyle Teams
- Alpine Ski Team
- Co-ed Swimming
Spring Sports Teams
- Track
- Tennis
- Co-ed Swimming
The Value of Team Sports
At LAS we believe that exercise and fitness contribute to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. A pattern of physical exercise that is implemented during adolescence can continue for many years to come. Our students can choose among recreational activities or participate on a competitive sports team.
Team sports allow students to experience the value of teamwork, engage in leadership roles and enjoy the benefits of healthy competition, all while having fun and making new friends. Students who play on a sports team often learn to manage their free time and excel academically.
Sportsmanship
A significant lesson to be learned from organized sport is that of fair-play and sportsmanship.Our dedicated coaches instill the importance of sportsmanship from the first practice to the last game and beyond. Our student-athletes are expected to uphold the virtues of good sportsmanship such as winning graciously, accepting failure with dignity, and always showing respect for our opponents and officials.
Our Athletic Leagues
The LAS Goats comprise several teams that represent our school in Leysin and throughout Switzerland. We compete in two leagues, the Swiss Group of International Schools (SGIS, www.sgischools.com), and the Association des Directeurs des Instituts de Suisse Romande (ADISR, www.adisr.ch). SGIS events consist of weekend tournaments hosted by various international schools throughout Switzerland while the ADISR schedule makes up our weekly matches within a league of private schools located in French-speaking Switzerland. LAS also competes in several non-league and invitational tournaments.
Seasons of Play
Most of the sports competition takes place during the Fall semester. Try-outs are held during the first week of classes, and teams practice two to three times a week after school. Sports teams typically have one ADISR match each week and attend a few multi-school tournaments throughout the year. ADISR play-offs and finals are held in late November. LAS annually hosts the SGIS Volleyball Championships in early November for both boys and girls. Some of our teams attend tournaments throughout the year, such as Swimming and Tennis. Track is a sport that trains and competes in the Spring term.
Mission Statement of the Athletic Department
The educational aim of the Athletic program is to teach and encourage students:
- To acquire the ability to function in a team
- To have the strength to continue even when facing failure
- To be a gracious winner
- To practice "Fair Play" and to display good sportsmanship
- To develop interpersonal relationship skills including conflict management
- To develop social skills and create new friendships and bonds
- To learn how to plan one's free time creatively and efficiently
- To learn how to balance recreation and work
To accomplish these goals, the Athletic Department organizes:
- Team sport practices
- After-school activities
- Meets, competitions and tournaments
- Alternative study times when events conflict with school and study time
- Award ceremonies or assemblies
Non-Physical Activities (which may be offered depending upon enrollment):
• Astronomy
• Community Service (helping local underprivileged children)
• IB Art
• Open Mic (music band/concert club)
• Jazz Band
• School Newspaper
• Yearbook
• Assisting Children in Need (charity group)
• Habitat for Humanity
• Event Planners
For more information about LAS Athletics, contact our Athletic Director and Activities Coordinator, Ethan Harris, eharris@las.ch.
