What is Winter Guard?
Winter guard is the sport of indoor color guard. Modern color guard is a combination of the use of flags, sabers, mock rifles, and other equipment, as well as dance and other interpretive movement. Most color guards are found in high schools, middle schools and some universities, but independent organizations exist as well, affiliated more with a geographical location or drum corps, rather than a school system.
Classification & Divisions
Independent Classification
Ensembles classified as “Independent” are self-organized, self-funded groups, sometimes extensions of college programs.
Divisions include
Independent World
Independent Open
Independent A.
Scholastic Classification
Ensembles classified as “Scholastic” are groups that perform on behalf of their school, usually high schools.
Divisions include
Scholastic World
Scholastic Open
Scholastic A.
What is a Division?
The competitive division a school is placed in determines the scale of the judging. World Class is judged on advanced skill sets, Open Class is judged on intermediate skill sets, and Class A is judged on beginner skill sets.
Schools in each division include:
World Class
American Fork High School
Open Class
Westlake High School
Cedar Valley
Class A
Herriman High School
Bingham High School
Alta High School
Judging
When a colorguard group is being judged, the evaluation is divided into two main areas: Repertoire (what the show is) and Performance Effect (how well the performers bring it to life). These are broken down into several key captions, including General Effect, Staging, and Musicality, which together determine the overall entertainment value of the program.
General Effect & Repertoire
General Effect combines show design and performance to create "Entertainment Value" that emotionally engages the audience. Repertoire includes the overall plan, sound design, staging, and visual elements like costumes and props.
Production Value & Design
This involves the continuous evolution of visual and audio elements. Sound design is foundational, shaping the mood, pacing, and impact of the show, even when the music is ambient.
Staging & Coordination
Staging refers to the placement and movement of performers on the floor, while coordination is the successful blending of multiple visual and musical elements to enrich the performance.
Effects & Musicality
The text defines various types of effects (Aesthetic, Emotional, Intellectual) and emphasizes "musicality"—how the visual performance illustrates or harmonizes with the sound design.
Performance & Communication
Ultimately, the performers must sustain their character, generate genuine emotion, and communicate the show's mood and nuance to successfully engage the audience.