A Winterguard is similar to a marching band in that it performs and
competes with a musical and marching show.
However, it is more deeply steeped in a broader variety of the
performance arts. Winterguard employs the more elementary aspects of marching
band as well as elements of dance and the theater to more deeply portray and
convey the emotions of the production. What
separates winterguard from dance and the theater is the performers’ use of
flags, rifles, and sabres as well as other props. Performances and competitions are held indoors in gymnasiums
to taped, rather than live, music. The
show will be anywhere from 4 to 7 minutes in length which is shorter than a
marching band show but, due to the smaller number of performers and the more
intimate performing venue, it is more of an intense experience for the performer
as well as the audience.
The Winterguard activity has been in existence in the United States for over
twenty-five years and in the last decade has become very popular nationwide. The
popularity of this activity in the US has been expanded to include Winter Guards
from Canada, Europe, Japan and Africa. Their
local circuits, which in turn, look for guidance from Winter Guard International
(WGI) govern these guards. Both the
local circuits and WGI host and sponsor competitions culminating yearly at WGI
Championships held in April. All of
these organizations are non-profit, educationally based groups.
Locally, we are governed by the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association, which again, sets guidelines, coordinates the running of festivals and learning academies, trains and supports a judges association, and provides scholarships to students in local colorguards.
(submitted 2/24/00 by MCCGA Public Relations Officer, Becky Minor)
Several Missouri winter guard directors founded the Mid Continent Color Guard Association (MCCGA) in the fall of 1993. These directors sought to offer an organization supporting the growth of the winter guard activity in the state of Missouri. Jeff Storey was the original MCCGA President. Under Mr. Storey’s administration a handful of local performing guards grew to include units from St. Louis, Springfield, and the Kansas City areas. Within two years, the organization grew to provide performance opportunities for guards from southern Iowa and southwestern Illinois.
In 1996, Doug Tremere became the President, and growth in and around St. Louis reached an all time high. Today, 50% of the MCCGA membership is from the St. Louis area. By 1998, interest in the winter guard activity was growing rapidly in the four-state region as well, and membership continues growing today.
| Year | Number of Guard Units | Number of Percussion Units |
| 1996 | 23 | n/a |
| 1997 | 32 | n/a |
| 1998 | 35 | n/a |
| 1999 | 45 | 3 |
| 2000 | 55 | 10 |
| 2001 | (projected) 65 | (projected) 16 |
In 1998, MCCGA founded a comprehensive website to promote communication with the large geographical region. Guard members view this site across the country and around the world. It is our primary source of communication and helps keep a growing circuit feel like a small family. Keeping communication lines open has allowed us to create an enthusiastic winter guard audience. By 1999, the circuit championships attracted over 40 guards and close to 1,500 audience members.
Our growth today has made it necessary to research alternative locations and formats for our circuit championships. This year 55 guards will perform within the MCCGA circuit. Performance excellence continues to grow as well. However, exposure to world-class units is an important next step for our membership.
The growth of our Independent A class has also created longevity of membership. Today, three independent guards including The PRIDE and National Avenue, from Southwest Missouri State University, and the Sky Ryders, from Shawnee Mission, KS, post-high school opportunities for our scholastic performers.
(submitted 2/23/00 by MCCGA President, Randy Timm)
Essentially, there are three categories which five judges review. The categories are:
General Effect (GE - two judges)
Ensemble Analysis (EA - one judge)
Individual Analysis (IA - two judges)
Within the category of Individual Analysis there is a judge who reviews movement and another other focusing on equipment work. If you look at the overall picture, GE takes two-fifths of the point total... so, the effect category is very important.
All of the judges look at essentially "what-you're-doing" and "how-well-you're-doing-it". The new WGI philosophy puts an emphasis on the "how-well-you're-doing-it" category this year.
Promotion Scores and Classification
MCCGA places its guards in an educational model of classification rather than by school size! As an education major, this model of classification just makes more sense to me, but it often confuses directors, fans and students!
Essentially, Division IV is a "first year" experience classification. It is meant to be a place where first year guards perform without a heavy competitive emphasis. It is the classification where groups are introduced to the winter guard activity.
Division III is for those guards just getting started... second year on up. It is judged by the Winter Guard International (WGI) "REGIONAL A" sheets. This classification heavily emphasizes growth.
Division II is the classification for guards at a "formation" stage. These guards are "breaking into" the WGI activity. They are judged on the WGI SCHOLASTIC A sheets... which emphasize growth as well as excellence and innovation.
Division I is the WGI SCHOLASTIC A class. This is the class in which area guards compete nationally and are preparing to move into higher international rankings/classifications such as SCHOLASTIC OPEN class and SCHOLASTIC WORLD class.
Sometimes a guard will achieve a higher level than the unit director or students anticipated. In this case the guard is promoted to a higher classification where they would be with other "like guards". In other words, they have grown to higher levels... and are promoted to the appropriate growth category. Just like you wouldn't keep a third grader in first grade... if they were completing third grade work!
(submitted 2/23/00 by MCCGA President, Randy Timm)
Guards are judged on what is written for the performer and how well they achieve what was written. Drops on equipment should have a negative effect on the excellence of performance and can also negatively affect the intent of that part of the show.
(submitted 2/24/00 by Linda Huck)
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