News

Hello Parents -  

Welcome to the 2023 / 2024 LILA Archery season and your archer becoming part of the current Western National Championship team (GO DRAGONS)!  My name is Coach Megan Leach, and I will have the privilege, along with Coach Roxanne Rydeen of providing most of the team communication this season. All our Archery Coaches are BAI Certified and have been involved with LILA for many years, and we enjoy it thoroughly! In total, we have a coaching staff of 14 dedicated individuals with a variety of skill sets. However, we are always looking to add as our team grows.

Personally, I grew up in a family that values being outdoors (including archery). From a young age, I was exposed to hiking, camping, hunting and fishing. I have instilled this love into my 3 children who have all attended LILA since Kinder. For the first time this year,  my husband Joe (also a coach) and I will have all 3 of our children on the team. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the sport and how to make it a great learning experience for our whole team. As a certified ER Registered Nurse, I will be the point person for team medical needs at tournaments and practice so please communicate any needs that your archer has to ensure a safe and enjoyable season for all.

Here are some details you need to know now:  

• First, I ask that you please respond to this email to let me know it was received; I want to make sure I have correct email addresses and that you receive this, and future information.

• Second, attached is the NASP rules for 2024. It includes specifics on the equipment that is used. Please know that we have a large amount of equipment that is available to be used and it is not required that you purchase anything for your archer.  

• Third, please review the NASP websites (and the app). There is a ton of information about tournaments and archer statistics that can be helpful. 

  • https://nasptournaments.org/TournamentExplorer.aspx 

  • https://www.naspschools.org/magic-of-nasp/

• And lastly, read all the information below regarding our team and season and make sure your archer has this information.   

We will be practicing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 6-8 PM @ at BOTH the upper and lower school gyms. We will be assigning archers to their building location closer to the start of practice. Please know that we ask that archers attend at least 2 practices per week. Our first practice will be Tuesday, November 14th.  Have your son or daughter ready for practice (t-shirt, comfortable clothing, hair tied back, water). On the first night of practice, we will hold a new family informational session in the upper school cafeteria. We have found that our new families benefit from learning all that goes into committing to this and would like to start out right from the start. Please be on time to practices and tournaments; we will need archers to assist in set up and take down of the equipment each night.  If for whatever reason, your archer cannot make a practice, please email prior to practice. 

Our first tournament is scheduled for 1/6/2024 in Faribault, Minnesota with a tournament most weekends from then on. Parents are encouraged to come to tournaments and cheer on your archers but we can arrange rides to and from tournaments for archers who are in need. Please know that the team’s success requires the generosity, support, and positive participation of families. Consider supporting our team in any way you can.

Looking forward to meeting everyone on the 14th! I know it's going to be a great season and I'm looking forward to a lot of fun.    

Thanks,  

Megan Leach