Colorguard
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Colorguard is a combination of military drill, also called marching, and the use of flags, sabres or rifles. Colorguarding first began during the English reign around the same time of the Civil War. A band would accompany the soldiers to play music to keep their spirits up and to keep them in beat. Along with the band, they also had a soldier holding a flag with their colors on it.
Colorguarding can be found in some colleges, universities and high schools. Members of colorguarding teams march along with their fellow marching band members. Today the guard uses dance cheorgraphy, colors, and other props to visually appeal the eye during a marching band show. Without a colorguard many marching bands cannot compete because colorguard is a major part of their score. Usually marching bands and colorguard performs during football games during halftime. When in competition the colorguard is based on general effect and coordination of all members, the use of props such as flags, rifles, and sabres, and dance. Colorguard has been considered to be both an athletic competition and an art; members dance along while using the flags to incorporate a spectacular show. Due to its popularity, it has been considered that colorguard be included in the Olympics games #redirect [[Template:Fact]].
Colorguard has often come under fire from christian groups, paticularly Fred Phelps, for being unusually open to homosexuals, especially lesbians #redirect [[Template:Fact]].
Winterguard
Winterguard is similar to colorguard, except the members are not part of a marching band and they only perform through the winter season indoors, usually in a gym. At the end of the season in March, Championships are held and gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to the top three teams in each division. Winterguard is becoming even more popular and many schools hold competitions to see which school has the best guard. In the East Coast MAIN and NJA/TIA are the most common circuts. There is also a national circuit, WGI, in which ensembles from all over the nation participate.
Winterguard is not a sport, since it involves judges. It is, in fact, an athletic competition, similar to cheerleading. It not only requires artistic talent, but a certain amount of physical ability to participate in the winterguard.
External links
Colorguard links
Winterguard links
[Winterguard International]
[Winterguard.com (Site of Paradigm Winter Guard)]
[Winter Guard Association of Southern California]
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