If a specific dress code has been announced (i.e. black dance clothes), then be sure to follow that. If not, use common sense. Wear fabric shorts, tennis shoes, and a t-shirt that fits well. Your clothes should not be tight but they should fit well enough that your pole won't get caught in them. Do not wear jeans, flip flops, or anything revealing... you need to wear clothes that cover you but that still allow you to move. Also, if your hair can be pulled back, then do so... you will be much more comfortable.

• registration/application form
• cold water bottle (for a short clinic)
• water jug with ice(for a long clinic)
• cell phone (guard practice is notorious for running late)

If your form was supposed to be turned in before tryouts, but you forgot to turn it in, don't automatically assume that you cannot try out... most guards will take forms after their due date.The guard should provide you with all the equipment you need (most likely it will only be a flag for tryouts), so don't worry about that.

Most guard tryouts consist of a 1-4 day afterschool clinic where they will teach you basics and a very short tryout routine, and then on the last day, you'll have the actual tryouts. You will probably meet in the band hall or guard room on the first day for the clinic... if you don't know where that is, just ask someone - they should be happy to tell you. Maybe your tryouts will be different, but at my tryouts, there is always big group of old people ready and waiting to greet any new people who are there to try out. They will give you a flag and you'll probably wait around for other newbies to show up. Then you'll probably head to the gym (or maybe just stay in the band hall) to actually start the clinic. Usually the director will introduce themself and maybe give a little spiel about what the requirements are for guard. You should start with stretching... you're still going to be sore the next day, but this will help a little. Then you'll probably move on to the different parts of the flag, do some basics, yada, yada, yada, and then you'll be done (for that day!)

On the actual day of tryouts, you will probably try out in groups with 2-5 people. (I'm so sorry for you if you have to try out alone!). There will be 2 or 3 judges sitting on one side of the gym, who will either write things down as you perform or talk into a tape recorder. You will go to your spot... either you will have been told before where to go, or it will be marked on the floor. You instructor will probably be in the gym to start the music. You'll perform your routine, do any other stuff that is part of the audition, and then you're done! Don't be nervous if a judge stares at you and then quickly writes something down... they write down good and bad.

I know that at my first tryouts, I was terrified of standing in the front, because I thought everybody would be watching me. However, you can't let the fear of messing up keep you from actually doing the work. These people know what it's like to have never picked up a flag before... they were there once, too! So just get out there and do the work, and if you mess up, know that it's okay! If you're lucky, an old person or the instructor will have seen it, and will help you... don't think that are being mean! You should always appreciate help from more experienced people!

At first when you're tossing, you're not going to want to let go, because you think you're going to drop your flag. Well, the bad news is, you probably are... but, that's NORMAL! The good news is, most likely every other new person in there will drop, too. At least you won't be alone! But even if you are the only one that drops, it's okay... just be sure that you learn from it! Figure out what you're doing wrong and what you need to do to fix it. It is always better to toss and drop than to not toss at all! I promise, it's really not that embarrassing after a while... you'll get used to it!

Whenever you don't understand something, even if you think it's stupid and won't matter, ASK someone for help! Old people and the instructor are there to help you... they want to make you better! So whenever you are unsure, ask until you are confident! Chances are, someone else had your question but was too afraid to ask, so you probably helped them out, too!

Tryouts might be overwhelming at first... you will be learning lots of new things in a very short amount of time, and it might seem like everybody is understanding something except for you. DON'T GIVE UP! Keep at it, and keep trying, and things will start to come easier. Even if you mess up something, or drop your flag, or whatever, it's not the end of the world! The most important thing is colorguard is that you try your best... my guard director used to say, "In colorguard, we don't look for perfection, we look for POTENTIAL." At tryouts, it's not about what you can do now, it's about what you will be able to do in the future!

NOTE (for veterans who are trying out): There was a little bit more to the quote... it really went, "In colorguard, we don't look for perfection, we look for POTENTIAL. Except for people who this is their 4th year trying out... from them I expect perfection! Okay, maybe not perfection... but pretty darn close!"

As soon as you can, bring a tape recorder to practice so that you can record the music for your routine. That way, you can take it home to practice. Or, if you happen to be "technologically advanced", you can ask to borrow the CD and burn the song, or you could just find it on the internet and buy it (downloads cost like 88 cents), and then put it on a CD. Whatever you do, get a copy of the music so that you can PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

Most guards will let you take your flag home overnight to practice with... take advantage of this! Any extra practicing that you do at home will reflect in your performance at the next day of the clinic. Just going and standing out in your yard for a while and doing drop spins will help! You could also get a group of people who are trying out together and you guys could all practice together... that's even better! Whatever you do, just practice!

3 very important things to remember! You are going to have a natural tendency at first to watch your hands... but, from the very beginning, you should try your hardest NOT to. They will still be there, even if you aren't looking at them! Also, it's necessary to look up, because you need to be able to see other people so that you can make sure you're together. Plus, it makes you look confident... and you should always act confident while you are spinning your flag, even if you're not. Being confident in your work allows you to focus more on projecting to the judges without having to thing about every single count. Your judges will notice! Lastly, SMILE! A smile will earn major points at tryouts... you need to look like you're having fun! (Hopefully, you ARE having fun!)

On the day of tryouts, you are going to be nervous (and hopefully excited)... but be confident in yourself and your abilities. You have gone to every single day of the clinic. You have learned this routine and you do know it. Now it's time to focus on the smaller things, the extras things you do that judges WILL notice... first of all, smile... remember your free hands and where they should be... stay together with the other flags... yank sails as soon as you can... etc. And if you do mess up, it's okay. Just get back in! A great recovery will score major points! You can do this... good luck!

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