Things You Might Need to Understand About Color Guard

When people ask, do you start off with telling them you’re in marching band or do you jump straight in with explaining that you’re in color guard? There are so many people that as soon as those two words fall from your lips, they get a glazed look of confusion in their eyes. Personally, I always explained it as performing along side the band on the field. I think it took my parents a good two years to truly understand what I was doing everyday after school and on Saturdays.

So, what is color guard?

Over the years, color guard has been many things. Originally, it was an honors guard of men and women (mostly men) that protected the colors (the American flag). Eventually, it became an honors guard that protected the colors of ANY association. However, it did evolve from military activity to a creative performance. This was thanks to a woman named Peggy Twiggs (ever wonder how Peggy spins got their name), who decided rather than to just stand there and hold the colors, she would spin them. That’s what we do today.

What types of equipment do the people in color guard use?

Well, it’s really an assortment of things. It's more than just a flag. Putting a five-foot silk on a six- or seven-foot pole that has weights on both ends and spinning it isn’t super easy. They also spend wooden or plastic rifles that can measure over 36 inches with weighted bolts screwed on. And we can’t forget the weapon that is one of the most damaging to your hands, the sabre. This is basically a sword in and of itself. Metal blade with a metal hilt, but don’t worry, this blade doesn’t have the sharp edge that you think when you think sword though.

There’s also swing flags which are thin PVC pipes with even longer silks taped them. They give movement a much more flowy effect. I might be forgetting some things but for the most part, that’s the basics of equipment.

What about when they aren't using equipment?

I’m sure if you’ve ever watched a color guard team perform, you’ll know as well as anyone that they don’t just walk around the field. That doesn’t look nice at all. Dance is an extremely big element of guard. It is jazz and ballet based but many directors also incorporate modern forms of dance as well.

What are the struggles of color guard?

This is a memory-based activity. Muscle memory, as well as mental memory. Members have to be able to do all of their choreography and project up to the judge’s boxes. No one can watch another because it shows that they don’t know what they’re doing. There’s also all the random bruising from hitting yourself with the equipment. Members forget it happens and then it’s a constant game of, “Where did these bruises even come from?” Some even have the occasional bystander ask, “Are things okay at home?” We’re fine, just bruised and out of breath.

That’s simply the basics my friends. Color guard is more complex than other performance sports. The further you get in them, the more you learn, and the harder things tend to get. That’s okay though. Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes permanent.

If you enjoyed this piece, make sure to look out for more like it in the future. Could there possibly be a part two in order to look more in depth at certain aspects? Or maybe it's going to explore the more complex side of things? Hopefully, you even leave me a present below. Spin on my friends!