I would like to thank all the parents, and students for their participation in APA's Summer Archery Camp. I had a great time just watching Cadets grow with what I taught them. Every single Cadet improved form and accuracy tremendously! I remember the first day of camp where most students struggled to even hit the target at all, to some shooting tight patterns, and scoring high in points.
I enjoyed watching every Cadet play Archery Tic-Tac-Toe, elimination (bragging rights for the week), and of course shooting at balloons. What Cadets may not realize is: They were challenged in shooting techniques with all those games we played.
I personally have definitely noticed a dramatic change in all the students' form and accuracy! I am sincerely impressed with the cadets' enthusiasm and willingness to achieve perfection within this sport. I look forward to helping those who want to compete, and am doing my best to organize a team with APA. Please be patient, as there is lots to coordinate with other school programs going on as well during the week and needs to be coordinated by the athletics director.
We are currently looking into APA Archery, just the same as any other sport or athletic program within the school. We are awaiting a list of other schools involved in archery, in order for us to compete against, during the school year. Archery will need to be coordinated with other school activities such as boys/girls basketball and volleyball to include use of the school gymnasium for practices and competition during the normal school week. As soon as APA can get all activities coordinated, information will be posted within the APA Website/Athletics link. Again, we have a NASP State Tournament, which is held in Muncie every year (usually around April), open for any Cadet wanting to join our team. If we have any archers who score in the top during State Tournament, they can advance to Nationals, which were held in Reno-NV last year.
I've had both Parents and Cadets talk to me about purchasing equipment to own, for their personal use and training at home. I think this is an awesome idea! This would allow Cadets to practice at home as much as allowed. Cadets of course would still be entitled to use school archery equipment during archery practices at school. I would be more than willing to give information on specifics of equipment needed to include, bow, arrows, type of target needed, and regulation distances to shoot from, so that transition between use of school and personal equipment would be identical.
I thank you all, for allowing me the privilege of teaching archery to Cadets! I look forward to working with any of the Cadets wanting to continue their shooting skills.
Coach DeGies