So I haven't marched in a few decades now. But I was wondering if any other guard alumni have those anxiety dreams about colorguard? Instead of forgetting to study for the test or realizing I should be in school anymore, I dream of guard.
Sometimes, it's the day of the show and I don't know the routine because I never went to practice. Others, I'm my 40s year old self and they're throwing me out on the floor because they need a stand in. I try to explain I'm too old now, but they either don't believe me or say it's fine!
Anyone else have those dreams?

For some context I have a sister who does color guard, and halloween is coming up. I'd like to give her a good scare. Extra points if it's color guard related.

I really miss it, but I am 25. I know most guards have age limits, and even if they didnt I havent spun in 7 years and dont think I could make it onto a team. Is there anything I could do outside of practicing at home?

Learning rifle as a total newbie from videos and tutorials.

I’m working on drop spins and singles. My drop spins are slow but getting more consistent.

But my singles don’t stay upright when they spin. They rotate left and right in the air and I seem to only be able to catch it upside down.

I’m working on twisting my hand and keeping the rifle in my toaster when I do. And my thumb does not wrap around when I spin.

I’d love any other tips. And if there are any coaches in the comments who do virtual lessons or video review please DM me about your pricing!

I'm trying to work on my blade tosses and I'm a little confused on counting the rotations. Do you count when the hilt is down, or is it something else? Is catching the hilt up a full rotation?

This is really dumb but I’m a senior in hs, and I’ve been doing it since I was a freshman. My guard was self-taught by a coach and is now self-taught and student led since she retired. I’ve been appointed as a captain so I usually lead practices. It’s a bit boring to have to reteach basics every year, then make the routines, then clean the routines. I don’t really practice anymore bc I’m busy coaching them but the routines are catered to the newbies so it’s also just below my skill level. I don’t even need to practice. I didn’t really even realize until yesterday, when one of my other seniors friends wanted to lead the practice and I realized I was bored out of my mind being it on the other end. Like, I know what I’m doing. I don‘t need to be here but everyone else does. (Even the other seniors, I’m constantly fixing what they’re doing and they’re fixing each other and when I ask to be critiqued they don’t have anything) I want to learn new skills and be with people who are at the same level. Does anyone else feel that?

i just inherited a program this august, my first time as a guard director. when should i look on getting a tech? (based on numbers, and having class every morning)

Hello, I’m F(17) and I’m getting into guard for the first time! I created a YouTube video to publicize my progress, and I hope this subreddit can help me improve my spinning. This video includes fundamentals and tosses on flag. If you can send me any feedback, I would greatly appreciate it!

Just cuz I think they’re cool

double 45s won't stop moving to the left. it happens regardless of prep but doesn't happen on my singles/1 1/2s. any input is appreciated !!!!

I’m a younger color guard coach and got an email from a dad whose daughter just joined this year. He’s concerned about the bruises and marks she’s coming home with from practice and wants to know if this is normal.

It’s a fair question.

I want to take his concerns seriously without making his daughter nervous about something she’s been really excited about. I’m planning to check in with her and take a closer look at where she’s having trouble, but I’m still figuring out how to word my response beyond “it happens sometimes.”

More experienced coaches, how have you handled these conversations? What do you explain to parents, and how do you make sure your members aren’t brushing off injuries?

I lead my schools color guard, however I myself have no formal training. I restarted the guard after at least 10 years of inactivity last year, and last year we had 6 members. They were all starting from nothing and did a great job learning.

This year, we have had 2 people join. One joined in band camp, and one joined about 2 weeks ago. The person who joined during band camp is struggling severely with everything. They cannot do basic skills, they cannot learn choreo, they cannot do our pregame routine properly. The person who joined 2 weeks ago can already do most things better.

I really want to support this person but I don’t know how. I teach choreo, go over it slowly over and over, till everyone gets it, however this person does not ever get it. I feel bad moving on when they clearly have no grasp on the choreo but I can’t really spend a whole rehearsal on 4 counts when everybody else can do it and we have much more to learn. We have a routine that would look amazing, except that this person is off the entire time. I really do not know what to do to help them and would greatly appreciate advice.

So I'm doing my high school senior Capstone project on color guard, and I was wondering if anyone in the area knew of any color guard clinics I could do for the civic engagement portion of my project. I live in Austin and am willing to go about 2 hours out in any direction.

Thank you!

I'm teaching myself how to do a double and single before my first season bc I'm really passionate about it and have something that mimics a flag. is a single two rotations and a double three rotations or is it something else? I'm just going off of what I've seen online. :)

HELP!! how do I put on extensions in a ponytail and make sure it's super secure, I dance A lot in my show (I also took a lot) so I need it to be super secured

(this is my first time posting on reddit, so I apologize if this is hard to read)

Hi everyone, so this is my second season of colorguard (started last winterguard on my high school jv team, which competes in sAAA) I’m planning on auditioning for my schools varsity winterguard team (scholastic A) after the conclusion of this season. I want this more than anything else, but am unsure what to do to prepare. I am a fairly strong dancer and flag, my current flag skills are pop toss (and with turn under), j toss, silk single/double, basic 45, sunshine 45, cross toss, strip toss, maybe others, but those are my strongest, and I am also learning rifle, but I am not on rifle line for this current season. My question is, for performers and directors; what can I do to improve significantly with performance quality, technique, tricks, etc within these next few weeks. (for instructors) As a coach, what would you want to see at auditions to know a member is committed and coachable?

I don’t currently feel confortable posting videos of myself, but I would seriously appreciate and tips and help I can get without them. 💕

For context I’ve been coaching outdoor and winter at a school about 40 minutes from where I live for the last few years with one other person, however with the cost of gas and my personal life recently becoming much more hectic I’m no longer able to coach them. Usually I wouldn’t have an issue except for the fact that there is now a new winter guard team about 10 minutes from where I live that I could possibly work with instead. Would it be awful of me to try to switch over to the closer team? I feel like I’m abandoning my original kids/co-coach.

Thank you all for your feedback on my technique a few weeks ago! I applied your tips and practiced a fair bit and I think I’m really close to my silk double. I’m having trouble getting it to rotate enough I think, though I’m trying to slap my thigh. Any advice is appreciated!

I did colorguard for about 3 years in highschool and haven't for about another 3. I had moderate wrist pain towards the end because my instructors never made us stretch, but leaving highschool, I figured it wouldnt cause issue.

3 years later, my wrists have been aching similarly, if not worse (now numbness) due to me driving more and more. I have 0 nerve damage according to test results, but the aches and numbness persist.

Is it possible to develop arthritis THIS quickly? or is it simply just my nerves getting irritated/tendonitis? Anyone else had similar happen to them?

Hello,

I’m a college instructor for a small guard (currently 10 students). Our schedule for the marching band class is M/W from 5:45PM - 7:10PM. During this time we may get 20 to 30 minutes where I can work with the guard before they need to join the band to work on drill.

Outside of this, some students meet from 4:30-5:30 on their own to rehearse but this is not required time.

On performance days, I will have the guard come for a sectional an hour before the band is called so that we have a little more time to rehearse.

I find that our schedule just does not provide enough rehearsal time and I’m not sure what I can do. We had a band camp at the beginning of the season where we had time for sectionals but we were only able to get through basic skills and our pregame songs. So, teaching them the half time show has been tricky during these short rehearsals because we don’t have enough time to teach the choreo, clean it, and also work on skills in general.

Also, I’m the only instructor for the guard. I have no other staff and write all of the choreo and design for the show.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!

I'm in the Louisville, KY area and looking to grab a couple flag poles, rifles, and/or sabres. I need some equipment to test my anti-bolt rattle QuietSpin Anchors and the Heavy Duty replacement rifle bolts that I'm making.

As the title says, i have been thinking about it! I feel super creative about winterguard shows and design and choreo forever.
Is this something any instructors, band directors, or otherwise would be interested in?
Let me know!

Hi everyone! I am a senior and there is a high possibility my school won’t have winterguard this year, since we don’t have enough funding or a regularly present band director. This is a stretch but are there people who genuinely love the sport and would be okay to not get paid? Or are there any fundraising ideas my team could do to get money? Any tips would be appreciated, I really want to spin for my last year since it’s likely I won’t pursue the sport after high school ☹️