Color guard is an exciting activity for middle school students that combines dance, flags, rifles, sabers, and other equipment with choreographed routines and music. Color guard teams perform at various events, compete against other schools, and allow students to develop teamwork, coordination, dance skills, and more.
Overview of Color Guard
Middle school color guard is typically an extension of the school’s marching band. Students perform choreographed routines during band concerts, halftime shows at football games, parades, competitions, and other events. Routines are set to music and incorporate equipment work like spins, tosses, and dance movements.
Standard color guard equipment includes:
- Flags – Made of silk or polyester material on poles
- Rifles – Wooden or plastic mock rifles with straps
- Sabers – Curved plastic or metal sabers
- Dance equipment – Can include pom poms, hoops, balls, etc.
Teams may use various equipment in a routine or specialize in one type. Flag work is the most common. A group of 4-16 members will choreograph routines together and practice for many hours to perfect their choreography and equipment handling.
History of Color Guard
Color guard groups originated from military traditions. Units would march with flags, banners, or weapons to signal troop movements and rally soldiers. As military bands were adapted for school marching bands, they adopted the use of flags and mock rifles to enhance their performances.
High school and college marching bands first established color guard units in the 1950s and 1960s. As these grew in popularity and competitiveness, middle schools began creating their own teams in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, it is very common for middle schools to have a color guard of some kind.
Middle School Color Guard Season
The color guard season aligns with the marching band season and school year. Here is an overview of what the year usually looks like:
- Summer: Tryouts and camp
- Fall: Perform at football games, parades, band competitions
- Winter: Compete in indoor color guard competitions
- Spring: Perform at concerts, ceremonies, and festivals
Mid-summer is when interested students will audition or apply to join color guard. August is typically when intensive camps are held to learn routines, technique, and build teamwork skills.
Once school starts, the color guard performs with the band at various events like pep rallies, parades, and football half-time shows. They help excite and engage the crowds. The team may also compete on weekends in fall band competitions.
After marching band season ends, color guard continues by competing in winter indoor competitions from Jan-April. The winter shows are held in gymnasiums and focus on intricate equipment work and dance choreography instead of marching.
In spring, the color guard performs at school concerts and events until the end of the school year. Then the cycle repeats again over summer vacation.
Requirements to Join
To join middle school color guard, students typically must:
- Be enrolled in 6th-8th grade at the school
- Audition and/or attend try-outs
- Commit to attending all practices and events
- Have a good academic record
- Get a sports physical exam for health clearance
Auditions will test for dance/movement skills, coordination, timing, and potential for improving with training. Guard members need rhythm, flexibility, control, and endurance. Students don’t need any experience though, just potential!
Schools want committed teens who will attend all practices, performances, and competitions. Color guard is truly a team activity and requires everyone to be present and do their part. Events are on nights and weekends too.
Academic standards ensure students are succeeding in classes as well. Directors may require a minimum GPA to tryout. Good grades show responsibility.
Finally, a physical exam helps confirm students are healthy enough for the physical rigors of training. Paperwork and fees may also be required.
Time Commitment
Participating in color guard requires a major time commitment compared to other school activities. On average, middle school teams will have:
- 4-6 hours of practice per week
- 10+ performances/competitions during fall and spring
- 8+ competitions Jan-April for winter guard season
- Occasional weekend camps or clinics
It adds up to 100+ hours over the school year. Members will need to practice flag, rifle, saber, and dance skills for many hours to polish their technique and choreography.
Performances also require travel time and warm up once on site. Weekend competitions can take up the majority of a Saturday or Sunday. There are also performances at school football and basketball games under the lights.
For students who really love color guard though, the time commitment is worthwhile. They get to perform, compete, bond with teammates, and improve their skills across an entire school year.
Practices
Color guard needs consistent, disciplined practices to perfect their routines. Here are some key things middle school teams will work on at practice:
- Equipment fundamentals – Spinning, tossing, catching, posture, staging
- Dance and movement – Learning choreography, improving flexibility
- Routine drilling – Practicing the complete show repeatedly
- Stamina – Building up strength and endurance for performances
- Teamwork – Working as a cohesive unit and supporting each other
Practice begins by warming up muscles and doing equipment drills. Then they start learning the choreography in small sections and eventually piecing it together into the full routine. Drills continue during the season to refine technique and synchronicity.
By constantly running through the show, teens build control, timing, stamina, and confidence for performances. Hours of practice are absolutely necessary for middle school groups to execute a clean routine.
Performance Opportunities
Middle school color guard gets to perform what they’ve worked on at various events throughout the year. Common performance opportunities include:
- Football games – Perform at halftime shows
- Parades – March and perform in community parades
- Band competitions – Compete as part of full band in fall
- Winter guard shows – Compete in indoor contests Jan-April
- School concerts – Perform with band for families and community
- Festivals and ceremonies – Appearances at city events and school functions
Performing helps teams showcase their hard work and skills for crowds and judges. It’s exciting to perform under the lights or compete against other schools. Performances also foster teamwork as groups work together to remember choreography.
Competitions allow for additional performance opportunities and let color guard receive feedback from judges. Teams can use scores and commentary to improve their routines.
Benefits of Joining
There are many benefits to being part of middle school color guard, including:
- Physical exercise – Great workout with all the dancing, spinning, tossing
- Coordination – Enhances motor skills, hand-eye coordination, balance, and agility
- Dance training – Develops dance technique, flexibility, and performance skills
- Confidence – Performing helps build poise, courage, and self-esteem
- Social opportunities – Bonding, teamwork with fellow members
- Responsibility – Juggling practices, performances, and schoolwork teaches time management and commitment
- Creative outlet – Express yourself through dance and choreography
- Travel – Participate in competitions and events outside your hometown
In addition to being great exercise and dance experience, color guard promotes artistry, leadership, and responsibility. Performing together builds lasting friendships and self-confidence. The blend of dance, props, costumes, and music provides a creative outlet for students.
Challenges Students May Face
While highly rewarding, participating in color guard does present some challenges including:
- Time commitment – Significant hours spent practicing, traveling, and performing
- Fitness level – Requires strength, stamina, flexibility, and coordination
- Injuries – Risk of sprains or strains from all the movement
- Cost – Can be expensive with fees, uniforms, travel, etc.
- Peer pressure – Drama or politics among middle school teammates
- Perseverance – Pushing through fatigue, frustration, or setbacks during training
The schedule demands can be draining, especially for young students balancing schoolwork too. Maintaining the necessary fitness level is also challenging. All the equipment work, dance moves, and marching make injuries a possibility as well.
Expenses like uniforms, equipment, camps, and travel can add up. Interpersonal issues may arise with the intensive teamwork required. Teens will also need determination to make it through demanding practices.
With the right attitude and support though, students can take on these challenges successfully. The rewards outweigh the difficulties for most participants.
Costs
Participating in middle school color guard requires some financial investment for things like:
- Membership/activity fees – $50-$300
- Uniforms – $100-$200
- Warmups and jackets – $150+
- Shoes – $30-$80
- Equipment (flags, rifles, etc) – $200+
- Competition fees – $50 per contest
- Travel expenses
- Camps/clinics – $100-$300
Costs vary widely by school and location. Most programs will charge a fee to join that helps cover general expenses. Additional uniform pieces, practice wear, shoes, and equipment will need to be purchased as well.
Families should budget for competition fees, transportation, hotels, and meal costs related to performances. Weekend band camps or specialized clinics also have fees to attend.
All said, expenses for a full year of middle school color guard often total $800-$1,500. Significant support from fundraising, sponsors, and booster clubs can help defray some costs.
Key Positions
Middle school color guard teams typically consist of these key positions:
| Position | Role & Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Instructor | Designs routines, runs practices, directs all aspects of team |
| Captain(s) | Veteran member who leads stretches, runs drills, mentors others |
| Team Manager | Organizes uniforms, equipment, keeps things running smoothly |
| Performer | Main members who learn and execute routines during performances |
The instructor is usually a teacher or professional coach that oversees everything. Captains are selected veterans who help provide leadership.
Managers keep equipment and logistics organized. The performers make up the bulk of members who work together to put on dynamic shows.
Leadership and Teamwork
Color guard relies on strong leadership and teamwork. Responsibilities that build leadership skills include:
- Serving as captain to mentor and guide peers
- Choreographing sections of routines
- Running sections of practice when directed
- Helping new members improve their skills
- Setting a positive example at all times
Teamwork is also essential with members needing to cooperate and support each other. Ways guard promotes teamwork include:
- Synchronizing choreography and formations
- Combining different equipment and dance styles
- Staying motivated together during challenging practices
- Keeping each other accountable for attendance and effort
- Building communication, trust, and chemistry
The interpersonal skills built through color guard are invaluable for adolescents. Captains and older members especially benefit from the chance to mentor and lead peers.
Performance Tips
Here are some helpful tips for middle school students to maximize their color guard performances:
- Project confidence – Use good posture, make eye contact, stay in character
- Play through mistakes – Recover quickly and keep going
- Take deep breaths – Helps calm nerves before going on
- Use warmups – Get muscles ready and focus mind before performing
- Have fun – Smile, let your personality shine through
- Work as a team – Stay in synch, play off each other’s energy
- Listen to the music – Visualize the notes guiding your motions
Having the right mindset of confidence, resilience, and teamwork helps students do their best. Staying loose, having fun, and supporting each other creates an engaging, high-energy performance.
Conclusion
Color guard allows middle school students to blend dance, props, choreography, and music into exciting performances. Teams require many hours of practice to perfect routines featuring flags, rifles, sabers, and dance. Performances at games, parades, concerts, and competitions give teens a creative outlet while building coordination and self-confidence.
The time commitment can be demanding, but participation provides great exercise, artistry, teamwork, and memories. Color guard teaches responsibility and helps students expand their dance training and leadership capabilities. With the right work ethic, color guard can be an extremely rewarding experience for adolescents.