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Basic Colorguard Questions

• What is the difference between colorguard and winterguard?
• What are the requirements to join colorguard?
• What is the different equipment you can spin in colorguard?
• What will help me do well in colorguard?
• What are the some of the flag basics?
• What if my school doesn't have a colorguard?

Basic Winterguard Questions

• What is the difference between the classes at winterguard competitions?
• What is the difference between scholastic guards and independent guards?
• Why does winterguard perform on a floor mat?
• Who are all the different judges at winterguard competitions?
• What is a cadet guard?
• Should we have props or not?
• What if my school or town doesn't have a winterguard? How can I start one?

More Colorguard Questions

• Why does everyone think colorguard is easy?
• Why does no one know what colorguard is?
• Why do we have to smile all the time?
• What if I hit myself while I'm spinning/tossing/messing around?
• Why do we count so much in colorguard?
• Why is it important to stay together when you're spinning?

Colorguard Attire Questions

• What are lyrical sandals?  What are jazz shoes?
• Why are our outfits so weird/flashy/tight/odd in general?
• Why does guard make-up have to be so clownish?
• What do I do if something on my outfit rips, gets caught, falls off, etc. while we're performing?

Basic Band Questions

• Why do I have to go to band camp if I'm in the colorguard?
• What should I wear/take to band camp?
• What should I expect at my first football game?
• What are all the commands that the band uses?

What is the difference between colorguard and winterguard?

Colorguard is when you perform during football season with the band.  You may attend competitions, but always with the band.  You may also do various parades or band events.  The colorguard season ends when football season is over.  Winterguard is when the colorguard performs indoors without the band.  Usually you perform inside a gym or stadium on a large floor tarp.  You perform to pre-recorded music and there is usually a lot more dancing involved.  You will almost definitely attend some kind of competitions, and other than that, you probably will only have a few (if any) other performances.

What are the requirements to join colorguard?

There are no height, sex, or size requirements.  However, unless your school has a cadet guard (for 8th graders and under), then you will have to be in at least the 9th grade to join guard.  You may have to be enrolled in the concert band class (not to play an instrument, just to have a place to put the colorguard), or if you are lucky, your school might actually have a colorguard class.  You will have to attend band camp in the summer and all afterschool band rehearsals.  You will be required to attend football games, competitions, and any other performances (parades, community events, etc.).  Depending on how big your band budget is, you may or may not have to buy your own outfit, shoes, and equipment.  If your school has 2 guards, then you may have to have had previous experience to be on the top guard.  You are also required to be passing to perform.  Otherwise, the biggest colorguard requirement is that you are willing to work hard, smile big, and be completely dedicated.

What is the different equipment you can spin in colorguard?

Your first year in colorguard, probably the only thing you will spin is flags.  Flags come in all different shapes and sizes; poles can range from 3 feet long (swing flags) to 6 1/2 feet (normal size) to 14-20 (gigantic, and usually only for one little part).  Silks can be long, short, with tails, shiny, plain, rectangular, teardrop shaped, etc.  Flags can also have bolts or not (generally you don't do tosses without bolts) and poles can be all different colors from clear to hot pink.

After you learn to spin flags, you can learn to spin rifle and sabre.  Rifles come in 36" and 39" lengths, generally, and are usually white (but they come in black, too).  Sometimes they have leather straps attached, sometimes not.  Usually, the lighter they are, the easier they are to spin.  I don't know a whole lot about sabre, except that they can be shiny silver or have a white blade and black hilt.

What will help me do well in colorguard?

Colorguard is a performance sport.  In colorguard, you should be ready for anything.  If you keep a positive attitude, you are miles ahead of the game.  Giving up & being negative are the worst colorguard roadblocks.  Basically always give it your all, practice as much as you can, and remember to keep going even when it gets hard.  Check out Technique and Tryout Tips for more info.

What are some of the flag basics?

The very first flag basic is not actual work, it's a position.  "Right-shoulder" is probably the first thing you will learn.  It is a very common position to be at, and what it means is that you stand with your right hand at the tab and your left hand on the bottom stopper.  You left hand should be at about your belly button, and your right arm is extended upward.  Left shoulder is also a position you might start from, especially if you're in a guard like mine, where we learn to do all basics with both hands (not just with the right).  It is the same as right shoulder, only your left hand is at the tab, and your right hand is at the bottom stopper.

Drop spins are the most commonly learned flag basic.  The flag spins parallel to your body, and on every count, it goes around halfway.  So, you grab when it's down, then you grab when it's up, then down, then up, etc.  Your thumbs should point up when your flag is up, and down when your flag is down.  You will usually do many of these at a time, usually as a warmup.  They can be done starting with either the right hand or the left hand.  If you start by holding the flag with your right hand, then the flag should spin counter-clockwise; if you start with the flag in your left hand, then the flag will spin clockwise.

Augmented spins are drop spins, only slowed down.  Instead of grabbing on every single count, you grab on every other count.  So it's like grab down, hold, grab up, hold, grab down, hold, etc.

Speed spins (also called "double fast") are a little more advanced kind of drop spin.  The flag still spins parallel to your body, but the difference is that on every count, the flag goes around 3/4 of the way.  So, you grab when the flag is down, then you grab when the flag is flat (silk pointing left), then you grab when it is up, then you grab when it is flat (silk pointing right), then down, then flat, then up, then flat, etc.  It gives the appearance that your flag is spinning really fast, even though it's not really going that fast.

Peggy spins are yet another kind of drop spin.  They are similar to speed spins, but they are not the same.  With a peggy spin, the first count is down just like a drop spin, and both thumbs point down.  The second count is up, but instead of grabbing thumbs up, you grab PALM up... as in, you stick your hand out, palm up, and grab the pole between your pointer finger and thumb.  When your fingers wrap around the pole, your thumb should end up pointing down.  The third count is what distinguishes a peggy spin - the flag should be up again.  So, after you grab on count two, the flag goes all the way around again.  Here, you should grab with your left hand, thumbs down.  The fourth count is just a half-turn, so the flag should be down.  This time, you should grab PALM up, the same way as before.  For count five, you will pull the flag all the way around again, back to pointing down, and start the whole thing over, by grabbing thumbs down like a regular drop spin and then doing the rest.  Because of the way you position your hands for peggy spins, it gives the appearance that your flag is moving up and down, but it should always spin smoothly, at the same tempo... no part should be faster than another.

Butterflies are another kind of basic.  You start by holding the flag at your belly button, hands together, with your left hand on top.  The first move is to pivot your hips to the left and point the flag down, with your arms sticking straight out to the side (no bent elbows... that's cheating).  Next, you bring the flag to point up, by slicing next to your left hip (move the flag in a clock-wise direction).  Your arms should still be straight out to the side, and you should barely move your elbows when you move the flag... this is mostly a wrist move.  The third part is to bring your flag back to pointing down, and this time the back stopper slices next to your left hip.  The last move is to slice across your toes and make the flag point straight up, straight in front of your body.  One thing to remember when you do butterflies is that you don't have to keep a "death grip" on the flag... usually holding on with a few fingers is just fine and will make it easier to make your motions "flowy".

Windmills are my favorite basic.  Start by holding the flag at your belly button with your right hand.  Your first move is to slice across your toes (moving the flag in a counter-clockwise direction) and stick your arm straight out to the side with the flag pointing down.  Next, twist your wrist and the flag should point straight up.  (You should not bend your elbow to do that)  After that,  bend your elbow and bring your hand right behind your head.  The flag should be behind your back, pointing down.  The last part is to bring the flag back in front of you, pointing up.  Remember to bring your hand all the way around the left side of your face, because otherwise, you will be cutting your plane.

What if my school doesn't have a colorguard?

If your school doesn't have a colorguard, your best bet is to meet with band director and see if they would be interested in beginning one.  Talk about how you would pay for equipment and costumes (would the members pay, Band Boosters, etc.), because chances are, the band's budget will not have room to pay for everything.  Figure out who would be your director, which probably means that the band director will have to start searching around for one (make sure that they are okay with that).  If you get the okay from the band director, start advertising.  Put up posters and flyers around your school and make announcements advertising an informational meeting.  See if you get a good response, because if you don't you're going to have to generate more interest.  If you do get a good response, figure out when you can hold tryouts and who will be teaching at tryouts (if you don't already have a guard director who's going to do it).  When you have a team, hopefully you will have a guard director, too, and they will handle from there on out!

NOTE: If your school doesn't have a marching band, all is not lost.  True, you probably will not be able to have a colorguard, but you can still talk to your principal about starting a winterguard.  It will probably much harder to come up with money for a director, equipment, competitions, etc, but it can still be done.  See Basic Winterguard Questions for more info on starting your own winterguard.

What is the difference between scholastic guards and independent guards?

Scholastic guards are winterguards that are based out of a school and have only students from that school on the guard.  Independent guards are not based out of a school, and usually the members are out of high school.  You can still be in high school and compete on an independent guard, but it doesn't work the other way around.  You must be in school and passing to compete in a scholastic guard.

Why does winterguard perform on a floor mat?

The tarp that the winterguard performs on has two main purposes.  The first job of a colorguard floor is to protect the actual floor (the ground) that we are performing or practicing on.  Colorguard equipment can leave major dents and dings if it falls hard enough, and we would hate for that to happen, especially if we are performing at another school.  The other purpose of a floor is so that no matter where we perform, we always know where our spots are and where we're supposed to line up.  Almost all floor mats have a halfway point marked, and some even have every 5' marked.  Sometimes guards mark where props go, where they set their equipment, and/or where a certain line or arc is supposed to be. 

Who are all the different judges at winterguard competitions?

There are 6 judges at a winterguard competition.  First you have the timing & penalties judge, who stands on the floor and watches to make sure you are within your time limits, don't balloon the tarp, don't cross the line, and basically don't break the rules.  Next are the 2 GE (general effect) judges, who grade you on the overall the effect of your show, the basic design, and how expressive/imaginative/creative/etc. it is.  The ensemble analysis judge takes a deeper look at the quality of the actual work involved in the show, including staging, equipment, and body.  The equipment judge specifically looks at how difficult your equipment work is (the equipment vocabulary) and how well you perform it.  Last you have the movement judge, who looks only at how difficult your dance/body work is (the movement vocabulary) and how well you perform it.

The GE judges and ensemble judge sit at the top of the bleachers.  The movement and equipment judges sit in the lower section of the bleachers.  The timing & penalties judge is on the floor.

Thank you to WGI for the above information.

What is a cadet guard?

A cadet guard is a scholastic guard made up of only students who are eighth-graders or younger.  Their work is usually very basic, and they usually only have flags (sometimes they have rifles).

Should we have props or not?

Props are helpful to winterguard shows, because they help convey the emotions you are trying to get across.  They are also very handy for hiding equipment and guard members who are not performing at some point in the show.  However, judges tend to give higher scores to those guards who do not have props.  Not having props forces the guard to perform for their entire show, because they can't go hide for 16 counts or anything.  This shows a higher level of difficulty that often means higher scores.

What if my school or town doesn't have a winterguard? How can I start one?

The best way to get involved with winterguard if there is not one near you, whether you are in school or not, is to find the closest independent guard and join them.  Most independent guards don't practice all that often, so even if you have to commute a couple of hours or so to wherever they practice, it wouldn't be all the time.  I think that if you really want to do winterguard that bad, it will be worth the commute.

However, if you are determined to start your own, there are ways.  For high school students without a winterguard at their school, the best way to go about starting one is to talk to your band director.  Schedule a meeting with them and lay out how you would recruit members, how you would pay for circuit dues, and how you would get a director.  Most band directors will be excited that you have done your homework (less work for them!), and will seriously consider helping you out.  You are just going to have to take the initiative to get things organized, and then to get things done.

For people out of high school looking to start your own independent winterguard, the best way to go about starting one is to get people interested.  Make sure that there are people IN ADVANCE who will join, pay dues, come to practice, and compete.  I would start by looking for a director in your area.  You could post flyers, advertise in the newspaper, put it on some online colorguard forums, etc.  Think about how you are going to pay for the director (unless you can convince them to volunteer), competitions, circuit dues, equipment, a place to practice, etc.  If you think you can cover it with membership dues, that's great.  However, you may need to look at coporate sponsorships.  When you have a director and members, make sure that you register with your area's winterguard circuit and pay your dues to them.  Figure out a show, costumes, etc, and then register for some competitions.  If you have the will (and you have a good director and teammates), you can make it happen.

Why does everyone think colorguard is easy?

People who are spectators to colorguard have a tendency to think it is easy.  Obviously, we know they are sadly mistaken, but it is a credit to YOUR TALENT, because you can do something so effortlessly that it looks like you put no work into doing it.  If you feel like you aren't getting the credit you deserve, just be secure in the knowledge that if THEY tried to spin, they'd probably end up with a broken nose or something... and it would serve them right!

Why does no one know what colorguard is?

Colorguard is generally the forgotten school activity, because it doesn't quite fit under "athletics" and it doesn't quite fit under "fine arts".  Since we get lumped in with the band so much, people forget that we are a separate entity.  And because we know how good band directors are about getting announcements on the intercom, news about our winterguard competitions, practices, and tryouts gets left off a lot.  Basically, colorguard is not a very well publicized activity, so not very many people have heard of it.

Why do we have to smile all the time?

The colorguard is expected to smile because judges want us to look like we're having fun... and we are, right?!?!  Our smiles show off our enthusiasm and our confidence.  It's like we know how well we can perform and we are grinning because we know we're going to kick the other band's butt!

What if I hit myself while I'm spinning/tossing/messing around?

Boo-hoo.  No, really, if you hit yourself, just expect it to hurt for a while and then go away.  You will definitely get bumps and bruises in colorguard, and even though it is shocking at first, you will get used to it.  Before you know it, you'll forget to keep count of how many times you've hit yourself in the head with a flag!  Seriously, though, if you're bleeding or something, then LET SOMEONE KNOW... don't just forget it and keep practicing.  You might seriously be hurt.

Why do we count so much in colorguard?

We count to stay together, and to remember what work goes where.  Generally, whatever your mouth says, your body will do.  So when you know that on 7, you toss, when you're counting and you get to 7, your body will automatically know to toss.

Why is it important to stay together when you're spinning?

A major principle of colorguard is that we are supposed to be carbon copies of each other.  Equipment work is most impressive when it is completely the same and exactly together.  Spinning together shows that you are really thinking about what you are doing and concentrating on looking the same.

What are lyrical sandals?  What are jazz shoes?

Lyrical sandals are half-shoe things that only cover the ball of your foot.  They have a strap that goes between your big toe and your second toe and goes all the way up the top of your foot and around your ankle.  The purpose of them is so that you look barefoot, but you're really not, so you can still dance without sticking to the ground.  Jazz shoes are stretchy leather shoe-type things.  They fit just like a regular shoe and cover your whole foot up to your ankle, but they slide on and fit pretty tight.  The soles are barely there.  Jazz shoes are stretchy enough that you can point your toes and people can tell what you're doing.  Both lyrical sandals and jazz shoes usually come in nude color.

Why are our outfits so weird/flashy/tight/odd in general?

Colorguard outfits are usually not designed for personal comfort or style.  You are very lucky if they fit you in all the right places... they have a habit of showing every bulge, making hips and thighs look large, and being tight across your chest.  However, they were not picked to make you look bad, they were picked to echo the theme of your show.  So, if you have a flashy show, chances are you have flashy outfits.  If you absolutely hate your outfit, go to one (just one!) winterguard competition and you will love your instructor for picking your outfit!  You will see so many ugly outfits that you will be thanking the heavens for yours!

Why does guard make-up have to be so clownish?

Guard make-up has to be dark and clownish because we want our audience to be able to SEE it!  Even though it looks horrible and hooker-ish to you, you would not believe how stadium lights (or plain daylight) will wash you out!  Also remember, your judges and audience are way far away from you, so to them, you just look normal!

What do I do if something on my outfit rips, gets caught, falls off, etc. while we're performing?

If you have a "wardrobe malfunction" with your outfit during a show, you have 2 options.  Either keep going and deal with it, or stop and go recover whatever you lost and try to get back in where you can.  If possible, wait to fix it until you have an equipment change, or the band starts another movement, or there is some (any!) pause in the music.  And, if there is any way to wait until after the show is finished, DO THAT!  If you absolutely must stop (say your whole skirt came off or something), then try and draw as little attention to yourself as possible.  If you get to the sidelines and figure out that you can't fix it or something, then just sit there and wait the show out.  However, do your best to not have to do this.  Remember that everyone has been embarrassed sometime, and by the end of the football season, everyone will have forgotten... you hope!

Why do I have to go to band camp if I'm in the colorguard?

One reason the colorguard has to go to band camp is because they have to march.  Even if you aren't actually marching during the half-time show (which you probably will be), you still have to march on and off the field, and you have to march at parades.  You may think drop spins by themselves are easy, but try doing drop spins, marching towards the wind, keeping your feet in time, and keeping your line straight, and they're a whole different thing!  Another reason is that the colorguard usually doesn't have "colorguard camp".  So, when the band is inside practicing their music, it gives colorguard a good chance to practice basics (jazz running, carves, pretty arms, etc.) or learn the show work.  The last reason is that it shows that the colorguard is willing to stick with the band, and go through all that pain and torture, even when we don't have to.  Major brownie points!

What should I wear/take to band camp?

You should wear shorts and a light-colored t-shirt, along with socks (ankle socks if you are worried about tan lines) and tennis shoes.  Bring sunscreen, a visor or hat, and sunglasses, along with a huge jug of water (get the 1/2 gallon or 1 gallon thermos things) with your name on it.  If you have been given a set card(s), then bring a lanyard to hook them to.  Also, if you are supposed to mark your sets on the practice field, then bring along some chalk.  For actual colorguard purposes, tape is always nice to have.

What should I expect at my first football game?

Your first football game will be a very memorable experience.  Expect to be nervous... not only have you never performed like this before, you've never done your show in public, you're wearing a new outfit, and you feel like a clown in your make-up.  Take some deep breaths and let it all go.  My colorguard always prays before we go on the field, and I highly encourage doing so.  Remember that no matter how you perform, you have a whole crowd of fans!  If you drop your flag, pick it up and get back in!  If someone (or you!) messes up a line you make, or runs into you, or whatever, it's okay.  Just go on!  Expect to have lots of fun... and also expect to be VERY, VERY sweaty after you perform, even if it's cold outside!  When you're watching the other band & colorguard, try to be respectful and don't point or laugh.  Even if they're awesome, hold your comments in until you are back in the stands.  It looks bad if you are talking through their performance!

What are all the commands that the band uses?

The commands for these will probably vary in your band, but most bands have the same basic positions - at rest (at ease), horns down, and horns up (playing position).  "At rest" (also called "at the ready") is the position that your band will use as soon as they reach their spots on the field, but before they start playing.  For my band, we stand feet apart, heads down, and flags stripped and held out to side at an angle.  We do not have a command for this position, it is just understood that we go "to the ready" when we get to our spot. 

"Horns down" (also called parade rest) is our attention position right before the band starts playing, and it's also the carrying position when the band is marching but not playing.  When we come to this position from "at the ready", the drum major claps 4 times and then calls "band ten hut", and we reply by saying "PRIDE!"  We snap our feet together (they point to the 45's), chins up, and flags held at our belly buttons (still stripped).  When we're coming to this position after the band has been playing and our flags were up, the drum major claps 4 times and then calls "band horns down", and we reply by saying "and DOWN".  We go to the horns down position and strip our flags on the 2 counts following "and DOWN."

"Horns up" is the position that we will spin from and the band will play from.  The drum major claps 4 times and calls "band horns up" and we reply with a sort of hiss/sizzle ("tss!").  We snap to right shoulder and spread our feet apart (still pointing to the 45's).  We then go on to march/spin/play.  When we're done with the show, we will return to horns down.

The important things to remember about the commands and positions is to make your movements "snap".  Make everything quick and short.  The same goes for your spoken replies to commands - don't draw them out.  Make them loud and fast.  Also, once you've gotten to a position, don't move or talk.  The idea is to draw the crowd's attention and impress them - DON'T BE LAZY!

If you have a question not listed here, feel free to email me from the link on the About Me page and I'll see if I can answer it.