Q&A for How to Do Color Guard

You shouldn't be. In fact, boys are welcomed on most color guards.

Being on a color guard team requires daily or otherwise regular practice, which generally includes warm-up stretches and workouts, drills, and choreography. You can perform similar conditioning if you are planning to join a team; the main thing is to be consistent in training every day if you can.

Not usually, but it depends on the type of color guard team you'll be joining. Generally, if you're joining a school team, dance experience won't be necessary.

It is a very good idea! There is always room for improvement and joining winter guard will help you keep up your skills until next color guard season.

Ask the leader of your color guard, as it will depend on him or her and how the guard's system for alternates works. As an alternate, you might get to perform if someone in the main guard drops out, gets injured, or is sick, either for one performance or for the remainder of the season. This may or may not include out-of-town performances, so check with your instructor. Continue putting in the work and showing up to practices so that you're ready if the time comes for you to perform.

It depends on your show, but most of the time, yes, color guard and winter guard team members are expected to smile.

Normally, tryouts are held in the spring, but you can ask your color guard instructor or band teacher to be 100% sure. I'm currently a color guard coach myself, and for auditions I don't expect people to be perfect, I just want to see if someone has a basic ability, and the drive and confidence to do well.

No, unless your school has a rule that specifies you must take part in both. Most of the time, they operate as separate programs, especially since the color guard often performs while the band is playing.

I wouldn't really stress about it, just prepare yourself to work hard. This skill is helpful for both auditions and being on the team itself. Most guards expect those auditioning to have very little experience, if any. If you really feel the need to prepare more, try to get in contact with a member of the color guard you are auditioning for and ask for help. A lot of times (at least at my school), members will help any incoming people who ask for it. Otherwise, just really preparing your body for a lot of physical work is the best way to prepare.

Yes. If you want an advantage during tryouts, strengthen your calves for marching, and your wrists and core for the flag portion.

Depending on how your school is, you’ll usually learn the basics of flags, stretches, and many other things before you actually start to learn choreography. You don't really need any experience to try out.

Dance isn't really used much in color guard, although they may incorporate some dance elements in their routines and performances. I would recommend holding off on learning any dancing moves until you know more about the routines you'll be doing.

Color Guard is not a job. It is a sport, and you are not a player, you are a twirler. You can work on your English with online programs.

Color guard isn't that much of dance and flexibility. I don't really have either and I made it. If you really are concerned about it, you can do simple stretches.

Pick it up and act like you meant to do that. If it is a solo and you have wiggle room, make it look really cool when you pick it up. Otherwise, just act confident and keep going.