Expectations
All members are expected to be prepared, early to practice and appropriately dressed. And, all members are expected to practice at home and make up any missed rehearsals with their section leaders.
- Prepared means that members should be equipped with copies of choreography sheets and coordinates, a pencil, a bottle of water, a snack, and one roll of black and one roll of white electrical tape (which can be found at Home Depot or Lowes).
- Early means that members are on the field at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start time, and have already used the restroom, applied sunscreen, filled their water bottle, gotten a flag, etc.
- Appropriately dressed means that members are wearing weather-appropriate, athletic clothing and sneakers. Members should never wear any of the following to rehearsal: jeans, low-cut or spaghetti strap tops, flip-flops, skirts or dresses.
Survival Tips
- In case of absence: Contact Mrs. Wickman and your section leaders at least one day ahead of time to let them know you will not be at rehearsal.
- For the sanity of your parental unit: please arrange your ride to drop you off 10 minutes before rehearsal, and to pick you up 15 minutes after rehearsal. Warm-up starts at the very second that rehearsal is scheduled to begin and we will rehearse up until the very second that practice is scheduled to end - any announcements will happen after practice ends and students are expected to help clean up and put away their own equipment.
- Members should not expect to have time to text or talk on cell phones during rehearsal. Scheduled water breaks are used for group bonding time, so leave your phone in your bag.
- Always eat a good breakfast before a long day of guard or band camp. Poptarts and a coffee beverage will not prepare you for a long day in the hot sun. Eat lots of fruit and protein and drink lots of water.
- Bring snacks to eat during breaks. Band and guard camps are not the time to cut calories - you're going to burn them off during practice anyway.
- Sore muscles are not an excuse for under-performing at guard practice. Stretching under hot water in the shower will help, but also make sure that you are exercising every day to keep in shape for the long days ahead.
- Having a sunburn is not an excuse for under-performing at guard practice. Always wear sunscreen.
- Being cold is not an excuse for under-performing at guard practice. Check the weather ahead of time and bring a jacket or sweatshirt as needed.
- Getting rained on is not an excuse for having illegible or disintegrated coordinates and sheets. Keep them in ziplock bags or replace them before the next rehearsal.
- Get it together: have a bag that is specifically for colorguard stuff and always keep everything you need for guard practice in it, including: sweatshirt, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, water bottle, snacks, coordinates, choreography sheets, tape, pencils, ziplock bags.
- Keep your phone in a ziplock bag. It will get rained on at some point.
- We do not expect you to be perfect the first time you try something, but we do expect everyone to keep an open mind, try your best and practice at home or with other members on your own time.
- Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect! Do not practice with poor technique.
- If you find that you always mess up in the same place, stop yourself and practice it correctly three times in a row to break the bad habit.
- Practice a lot during the summer-time. Once school starts you won't have as much time to practice because you'll have homework.
- If you need help, ask for it! Don't be afraid to admit that something is challenging for you. We are all on the same team, and we need everyone to succeed.
- During the time between school and guard sectionals, study with your guard friends and get some work done. Time is a precious commodity when you're in marching band; learn to use it well.
- Leave the drama on the sidelines: throughout the summer and fall you will spend a lot of time with your new guard friends and high school is full of drama. We all understand that young people have not developed a good filter between their brains and their mouths yet, but we still have to work together. So, when you walk on to the practice field, leave your conflicts, comments and general drama behind, and focus on the work.
- Do not use social media as a place to make comments about things going on with other guard or band members. This only causes difficulties both on and off the field, and we don't have time for conflicts during rehearsal.
- Colorguard is challenging, but it's also supposed to be fun!