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111-704: Winter Guard International ( WGI ) is an American governing body that sanctions championship events for three competitive performing arts activities: winter guard , percussion ensembles , and indoor wind ensembles . WGI was founded in 1977 in response to inconsistent adjudication and rules of competition which made it difficult for color guards to compete nationally. Today, WGI publishes and maintains an adjudication handbook, with an accompanying "Rules & Regulations", that has been widely adopted. WGI championship events are hosted from January to March and conclude with WGI World Championships in April. The first World Championship

222-549: A national emergency on March 13. The government also purchased large quantities of medical equipment, invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950 to assist. By mid-April, disaster declarations were made by all states and territories as they all had increasing cases. A second wave of infections began in June, following relaxed restrictions in several states, leading to daily cases surpassing 60,000. By mid-October,

333-480: A scoring rubric . Each caption is subdivided into elements such as performance analysis, design analysis, and effect evaluation. The adjudication manual is multi-tiered, meaning each competitive class—Regional A, A Class, Open Class, and World Class—has a set of scoring sheets listing differing criteria and descriptions for each caption. Contemporary Color is a 2016 film directed by Turner Ross and Bill Ross featuring performances of several winter guard teams. The film

444-583: A feeder school of that high school. There are many colleges and universities that sponsor their own winter guards as well, but these guards typically compete as Independent guards. Scholastic guards vary greatly in their ability and resources because they are more dependent on support from sources other than the members themselves, such as their school's band and school funding. In the Scholastic division, there are three classes: Scholastic A , Scholastic Open , and Scholastic World . More divisions may exist at

555-481: A few months after World Championships, to discuss changes to rules of competition, adjudication, and policies and procedures, and to make recommendations to the board of directors. The promotion of competing groups is also the responsibility of the Advisory Boards. Groups that compete at WGI events are required to pay a membership fee, in addition to an attendance fee for each event. Only groups who compete in

666-422: A football field or parade route accompanied by a marching band or drum corps , winter guard teams perform indoors to recorded music. In competitions, winter guard teams are judged in the areas of talent, precision, creativity, and horizontal orchestration (how all the elements create the larger picture/effect). Performances incorporate equipment, props, and dance moves. Judges must keep a running commentary on

777-401: A higher class, but they can only move down a class after a period of inactivity or after a WGI review. For every competition, any team which achieves a score higher than a predetermined threshold is automatically moved up, or "bumped", to the class above its current position, even mid-season. The Scholastic division is made up of guards that have members that all attend the same high school or

888-574: A letter asking the federal government to "shut it down now, and start over". In July and early August, requests multiplied, with a number of experts asking for lockdowns of "six to eight weeks" that they believed would restore the country by October 1, in time to reopen schools and have an in-person election. In August, over 400,000 people attended the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota , and from there, at least 300 people in more than 20 states were infected. The CDC followed up with

999-410: A material called polyethylene , making the rifle sturdier and harder to break. The material can also be colored so that different teams can use different colored rifles. Sometimes, though, the material can warp after several bad drops, which can lead to a bad spin while the rifle is in the air. Some say that, after a prolonged period of regular use, a plastic rifle will tend to smell like sweat because of

1110-748: A potential venue for a new national championships. However, Knaub was encouraged to seek input from others in the activity by Shirlee Whitcomb and Bryan Johnston. Knaub invited color guard educators from across the country to a meeting on May 14, 1977, at the Sheraton Palace Hotel in San Francisco . Those in attendance included: Don Angelica, Marie Czapinski, and Linda Chambers, in addition to Whitcomb, Johnston, and representatives from Western Youth International. All agreed any future national championship should be held independent of any drum corps or marching band events. Knaub suggested scheduling

1221-473: A regional, beginner, class with limited availability (Regional A Class) are excused from paying a membership fee. The fees support general operations, and provide capital for future events, educational services, and research and development. WGI awards academic scholarships to members of competing groups, which are announced during awards ceremonies at World Championships. According to the WGI website, over US$ 35,000

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1332-554: A report on the associated 51 confirmed primary event-associated cases, 21 secondary cases, and five tertiary cases in the neighboring state of Minnesota, where one attendee died of COVID-19. The U.S. passed five million COVID-19 cases by August 8. On September 22, the U.S. passed 200,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. In early October, an unprecedented series of high-profile U.S. political figures and staffers announced they had tested positive for COVID-19. On October 2, Trump announced on Twitter that both he and

1443-636: A single day. By the end of 2022, an estimated 77.5% of Americans had had COVID-19 at least once, according to the CDC. State and local responses to the pandemic during the public health emergency included the requirement to wear a face mask in specified situations (mask mandates), prohibition and cancellation of large-scale gatherings (including festivals and sporting events), stay-at-home orders , and school closures . Disproportionate numbers of cases were observed among Black and Latino populations, as well as elevated levels of vaccine hesitancy, and there

1554-496: A small proportion of overall variants. Although variant XBB was of concern internationally, it was rare in the United States. Recommendations for receiving vaccination booster shots are mixed: while populations at risk of severe disease and death should stay up-to-date, healthy, middle-aged-and-younger populations are rarely at risk of severe illness, and most have adequate immunity. Although the newest bivalent boosters target

1665-645: A standard basketball court. WGI's previous experiments in marching band competition were known as the Friendship Cup. Winds Groups attending WGI events are organized according to a multi-tier system, placed in one of two divisions, and dozens of classes. Divisions are further grouped into classes based on experience and achievement: The following are the divisions and classes represented at World Championships. Notes : WGI Adjudication Manuals for color guards, percussion, and winds, championships divide scoring in set reference criteria known as captions forming

1776-581: A surge in Beijing caused the Biden administration to require U.S. visitors from China, Hong Kong, and Macau to provide proof of COVID-19 negative test results. At the end of the year, the CDC reported that the COVID Omicron XBB.1.5 variant became much more prevalent and represented about 41% of new cases in the U.S. Scientists at Columbia University warned that the rise of subvariants could "result in

1887-476: A surge of breakthrough infections as well as re-infections." On January 11, 2023, the Biden administration decided to renew the COVID-19 public health emergency amid a winter surge of cases related to highly transmissible Omicron subvariants. With relief measures such as automatic Medicaid re-enrollment being decoupled from the emergency declaration, some commentators believed this signaled the final extension of

1998-421: A tape recorder or digital recorder. The judges record the score on a designated sheet to be reviewed by the individual guard instructor(s). After every one in a class has competed and their scores have been tallied, if the instructor(s) so choose they may meet with all the judges to discuss in depth why they received the score they did, ways to improve, what they are doing right etc. The goal of all parties involved,

2109-601: A third surge of cases began; there were over 200,000 new daily cases during parts of December 2020 and January 2021. COVID-19 vaccines became available in December 2020, under emergency use, beginning the national vaccination program , with the first vaccine officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 23, 2021. Studies have shown them to be highly protective against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. In comparison with fully vaccinated people,

2220-655: A two-day national championship called WGI Olympics . The first championship was hosted by Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on April 14–15, 1978. In attendance were twenty-five color guards, the top fifteen advanced to the finals competition. National championships would become the WGI World Championships in 1990. WGI is a nonprofit association governed by a board of directors, with an Executive Director, responsible for day-to-day operations. The board of directors are chosen from among

2331-459: Is allotted a set amount of time to set up staging (including a vinyl floor if the guard is using one, and any props associated with the performance), place all equipment, perform the show, and remove staging, props, and equipment. Setup and tear-down typically run two minutes each, and performances run around five minutes. Judges impose penalties on teams that run past the allotted time. Unlike traditional color guard teams, which perform outdoors on

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2442-407: Is also the representative of the guard during awards ceremonies. Most regional color guard circuits adopt the minimum and maximum performer requirements set by WGI, which varies by division. The Independent World classification has no maximum number of performers. The duration of winter guard shows depends on the class in which the guard is performing. In competition settings, each winter guard team

2553-427: Is awarded annually, and US$ 1,000,000 has been awarded since 1978. Funds for scholarships are raised via raffles drawn during WGI events known as "Fifty-fifty". Using a competition-based approach for organizing events, WGI "aims to showcase youth activities" by pursuing a "high standard of achievement." More than sixty regional championships are hosted every year, from mid-January to the late-March. Many are hosted with

2664-552: Is composed of winter guard teams that do not associate themselves with a school (the exception being university teams). Additionally, these kinds of guards can be much more selective of their members, choosing to be gender-specific or to only have certain numbers of members. In the Independent division, much like the Scholastic division, there are the three classes: Independent A , Independent Open and Independent World . The breakdown of skill level and placement mirrors that of

2775-454: Is more commonly used. Other metal sabres are decorated with intricate engravings or etchings along the blade, which most often carries a much higher price. Sabres have two main parts: the blade and the hilt. The blade has a pointed but dull end, and the length of the blade is dull as well. Like the wooden rifles, electrical tape can be used to improve the grip on the blade of the sabre, which is useful in choreography involving catching or holding

2886-409: Is referred to as percussion theater by WGI. Winds ensembles are small marching music ensembles composed of a variety of instrumentations. These ensembles are distinct from field bands, or marching bands . Many take advantage of marching horns, as well as woodwinds, rhythm sections, and a pit ensemble. Unlike their outdoor counterparts, WGI Winds compete indoors on a performance area roughly the size of

2997-516: Is taken from the season most color guards compete as single units, and not part of marching bands or drum corps. An indoor percussion ensemble or indoor drumline consists of the marching percussion (also called the "battery") and front ensemble (also called pit or front line) sections. Many ensembles, like color guards, are attached to a competing marching band or drum corps, but many are independent ensembles. Indoor percussion integrates musicality, marching and movement, and theater arts. The activity

3108-1043: Is the Mid-York Colorguard Circuit , established in 1965. Another is the AIA circuit, or Atlantic Indoor Association circuit in which teams across Virginia, Washington D.C., and North Carolina participate. These circuits are loosely organized and may not be formally affiliated with WGI. In many cases the circuits predate WGI by a number of years. For example, the Midwest Color Guard Circuit celebrated their 50th anniversary season in 2007. They may also have different competitive structures with additional classes to those in WGI. Circuit classes often will include beginner or novice guards such as Cadet , Novice , B , Regional AAA , Regional AA , Regional A , Regional Open , and Senior . Circuits generally score using WGI standards and judges whether they are formally affiliated with WGI or not. In addition,

3219-416: Is three times the fatality rate of a bad flu season . The number of cases for the months of July through September 2022 was about 0.86 times the number for the same period in 2021, and the number of COVID-attributed deaths likewise averaged 0.42 times the number for the same period in 2021. In October, new variants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 from the dominant BA.5 appeared to be spreading quickly, but comprised only

3330-423: Is to have the performers, staff, and the programs grow and learn. Three primary types of equipment are used in winter guard: flags, rifles, and sabres. Flags may appear in a variety of sizes and formats. Such equipment is used in shows to demonstrate a team's technical ability. Rubber tape, such as electrical tape, is often used to cover the equipment and give it a uniform appearance and protect it from damage during

3441-511: The Biden administration advised Congress of a lack of funding for testing, therapeutics and vaccines, but Republicans continued to block new spending on the pandemic so Democrats removed an emergency aid package from a proposed spending bill. On March 20, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci warned of an "uptick" in cases like Europe had seen recently, stating the U.S. should "be prepared for the possibility that we might get another variant". In April 2022, it

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3552-510: The COVID-19 pandemic , with a performance dedicated to the victims of the 2019 El Paso Shooting . Source(s):   Hatboro-Horsham HS (AA) John Overton HS (AA) Winter guard A winter guard generally consists of performing members under the direction of instructional staff. The staff of a winter guard team are drawn from many different specialties, which sometimes overlap: there are equipment instructors (sometimes one for

3663-691: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci said the mortality from COVID-19 was ten times higher than the common flu . By March 12, diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. exceeded a thousand. Trump declared a national emergency on March 13. On March 16, the White House advised against any gatherings of more than ten people. Three days later, the United States Department of State advised U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel. By

3774-571: The United States , however regional championships have been hosted in Japan , Malaysia , United Kingdom , Netherlands , Philippines , and Costa Rica . Prior to the formation of WGI, national color guard championships, or other high-prestige championships, were held in conjunction with drum corps or marching band championships, such as: VFW , American Legion , CYO , or DCI World Championships. The quality of hosts varied widely, as did as

3885-508: The cluster on December 31, 2019. After China confirmed that the cluster of infections was caused by a novel infectious coronavirus on January 7, 2020, the CDC issued an official health advisory the following day. On January 20, the World Health Organization (WHO) and China both confirmed that human-to-human transmission had occurred. The CDC immediately activated its Emergency operations center (EOC) to respond to

3996-589: The 1 million mark with a presidential proclamation on May 12, ordering flags to be flown at half-staff at all federal facilities through sundown on May 16. In June, the United States concluded the approval process for the vaccination of children under five years of age, with the first vaccines expected to be administered on June 21. On June 12, the U.S. dropped COVID testing requirements for inbound international air travelers, while vaccination requirements largely remained in place for inbound travelers using any mode of cross-border transportation. The number of cases for

4107-677: The 2020 World Championships were cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . The 2021 WGI season was conducted using online tools as a WGI Virtual Season. Participants were given the option to participate in solo, small group, and large group categories. Winter guard is the indoor variant of color guard and is a combination of the use of flags, sabers, mock rifles, and various other equipment and props. Performances include dance and other interpretive movement. Color guards are common among high schools, middle schools, some universities, and also some independent organizations such as drum corps , or they are community organizations. The term "winter guard"

4218-613: The American public for the first time to prepare for a local outbreak. The next day, New York City saw the sickening of its "patient zero", Manhattan attorney Lawrence Garbuz, then thought to be the first community-acquired case. Another case known as "patient zero" in Los Angeles is a man named Gregg Garfield, who spent 64 days in the Burbank Hospital, on a ventilator for 30 days, with a 1% chance to live. Contracting

4329-731: The Arts" is frequently associated with WGI. Winter guard is described by saying "it brings music to life through performance in a competitive format." Because not every color guard has the same skill level, population, or resources available, WGI uses a class division system to help remedy this. There are two divisions, Scholastic and Independent . These divisions include the classes (in descending order) Independent: Independent World Class, Independent Open Class, Independent A Class. Scholastic: Scholastic World, Scholastic Open, Scholastic National A Class, Scholastic Regional A, AA, and AAA. Novice Class and Cadet Class. Guard teams can be chosen to move to

4440-507: The Biden administration felt that there was "enough community protection that we're not going to see a repeat of what we saw last year at this time," referring to the emergence of the Omicron variant. A study of vaccine effectiveness found that U.S.-authorized bivalent mRNA boosters administered to those having already received 2 to 4 monovalent vaccinations provided significant additional protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2. Concerns of

4551-463: The Biden administration on the advice of the CDC, was ended nationwide by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle , a Trump-appointed federal judge in Florida. The Justice Department challenged the ruling several days later, yet masks remained optional on airplanes, buses, and subway systems, except when required by local mandates. The first annual National COVID Week of Remembrance & Action

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4662-565: The CDC confirmed the first person-to-person case in the U.S. The next day, the country declared a public health emergency. Although by that date there were only seven known cases in the U.S., the HHS and CDC reported that there was a likelihood of further cases appearing in the country. The Trump administration evacuated American nationals from Wuhan in January. On February 2, the U.S. enacted travel restrictions to and from China. On February 6,

4773-545: The CDC found that those who were unvaccinated were from 5 to nearly 30 times more likely to become either infected or hospitalized. There has nonetheless been some vaccine hesitancy for various reasons, although side effects are rare. There were also numerous reports that unvaccinated COVID-19 patients strained the capacity of hospitals throughout the country , forcing many to turn away patients with life-threatening diseases. A fourth rise in infections began in March 2021 amidst

4884-475: The December 1977 DCI Rules Congress included representatives from thirteen color guard circuits and adjudicator associations. The representatives adopted a draft adjudication system and rulebook, as well voting on an organizational structure. Lynn Lindstrom, director of the Midwest Color Guard Circuit, was elected the first Executive Director of WGI. Four competition circuits each donated $ 250 to fund WGI's first competitive season of fourteen regional championships and

4995-585: The Delta variant. By July 7, the Delta variant had surpassed the Alpha variant to become the dominant COVID-19 strain in the U.S., according to CDC data. By August the Delta variant accounted for 99 percent of all cases and was found to double the risk of hospitalization for those not yet vaccinated. On August 1, the U.S. passed 35   million cases. By early and mid-August, hospitals in some states with low vaccination rates began to exceed capacity. One-quarter of

5106-553: The First Lady had tested positive for COVID-19 and would immediately quarantine. Trump was given an experimental Regeneron product with two monoclonal antibodies and taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , where he was given remdesivir and dexamethasone . USA Today studied the aftermath of presidential election campaigning, recognizing that causation was impossible to determine. Among their findings, cases increased 35 percent compared to 14 percent for

5217-427: The January 2023 distribution, and the 17 other states which terminated pandemic food supplements prior to the federal end date were all states with Republican-controlled state legislatures. On January 31, 2023, President Biden announced the end to the COVID-19 emergency declarations by May 11, 2023. By February 23, eighteen states had already cut payments for more than 10 million people, and Congress had decided to end

5328-564: The Scholastic division. There are age restrictions in the Independent A and Open classes. A member can perform with an Independent A class group if they are 22 or younger as of March 31 of that year. A member can perform with an Independent Open class group if they are 23 or younger as of March 31 of that year. Although the goal of many winter guards is to compete in the WGI World Championships, most guard competitions take place in regional winter guard circuits. One such circuit

5439-554: The Trump administration reached an agreement with a number of retail outlets, including pharmacies and supermarkets, to make the COVID-19 vaccine free once available. In spite of recommendations by the government not to travel, more than 2   million people flew on airlines during the Thanksgiving period. On December 8, the U.S. passed 15   million cases, with about one out of every 22 Americans having tested positive since

5550-473: The U.S. death toll became the highest in the world when the number of deaths reached 20,000, surpassing that of Italy . On April 19, the CMS added new regulations requiring nursing homes to inform residents, their families and representatives, of COVID-19 cases in their facilities. On April 28, the total number of confirmed cases across the country surpassed 1   million. By May 27, less than four months after

5661-471: The U.S. passed 25   million cases, with one of every 13 Americans testing positive for COVID-19. On January 29, a nationwide requirement for use of face masks on public transit and other forms of public transportation was issued by the CDC and the federal Transportation Security Administration , to go into effect on February 1. (Subsequently, extended, the federal mask mandate for public transportation remains in effect in April 2022.) On February 22,

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5772-418: The U.S. passed 30   million cases, just as a number of states began to expand the eligibility age for COVID-19 vaccines. Experts began warning against public relaxation of COVID-19 mitigation measures as vaccines continue to be administered, with CDC director Rochelle Walensky , warning of a new rise in cases. By April 7, the Alpha variant had become the dominant COVID-19 strain in the U.S. On April 12,

5883-498: The U.S. passed 45   million cases. On November 26, Biden announced that the U.S. will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other African countries due to concerns over a new variant from the area , called Omicron. At the beginning of January 2022, the number of cases per day exceeded 1 million. As of February 1, fatality rates were 63% higher in the U.S. than other large wealthy countries, due in part to far lower vaccination rates compared to those countries. On March 9,

5994-443: The U.S. passed 500,000 deaths, just five weeks after the country passed 400,000 deaths. By March 5, more than 2,750 cases of COVID-19 variants were detected in 47 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico . In the first prime time address of his presidency, on March 11, Biden announced his plan to push states to make vaccines available to all adults by May 1, with the aim of making small gatherings possible by July 4 . On March 24,

6105-419: The U.S. population had been infected with the virus as of March 2021, about four times higher than the official reported numbers. On May 4, Biden announced a new goal of having 70 percent of all adults in the U.S. receive at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot by July 4, along with steps to vaccinate teenagers and more inaccessible populations. The country ultimately did not reach that goal, with only 67 percent of

6216-580: The U.S. population resides in eight states—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Texas—but, by mid-August, these states together had a half of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the nation. By the end of the month, the ICUs of five of those—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and Texas—were over 90% full. On September 8, the U.S. passed 40   million cases. By September 15, one in every 500 Americans had died from COVID-19. By September 20, COVID-19 had killed over 675,000 Americans,

6327-465: The U.S. reported its first cases of a new "double mutant" SARS-CoV-2 variant from India , later called Delta, in California. By April 25, the country's seven-day average of new infections was reported to be decreasing, but concerns were raised about drops in vaccine demand in certain parts of the U.S., which were attributed to vaccine hesitancy . On April 29, the CDC estimated that roughly 35% of

6438-596: The United Kingdom , later called Alpha, the CDC announced testing requirements for American passengers traveling from the UK , to be administered within 72 hours, starting on December 28. On December 29, the U.S. reported the first case of this variant in Colorado. The patient had no travel history, leading the CDC to say, "Given the small fraction of US infections that have been sequenced, the variant could already be in

6549-556: The United States On December 31, 2019, China announced the discovery of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan . The first American case was reported on January 20, and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency on January 31. Restrictions were placed on flights arriving from China, but the initial U.S. response to the pandemic was otherwise slow in terms of preparing

6660-408: The United States without having been detected." On January 1, 2021, the U.S. passed 20   million cases, representing an increase of more than a million over the past week and 10   million in less than two months. On January 6, the CDC announced that it had found at least 52 confirmed cases of the Alpha variant, and it also stressed that there could already be more cases in the country. In

6771-413: The activity does not exist. " On Guard: A Story of American Youth " is 2023 documentary film directed by Allen Otto and executive produced by Jim Czarnecki. The film follows the journey of an all-female color guard team at Bel Air High School whose goal is to qualify for the 2020 WGI World Championships , which were ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic , with a performance dedicated to

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6882-414: The activity has started. There are judges who judge separate elements of a show – such as general effect, movement, equipment, and penalty points – and score the groups accordingly. Because this activity not only exists in the United States but all around the world, major competitions worldwide are sanctioned and managed by Winter Guard International. This is the governing organization that makes and changes

6993-522: The activity. Arguably, the foundational equipment in color guard or winter guard is the flag. While winter guard flags take many different sizes and shapes, a standard size is a six-foot metal, fiberglass, or plastic pole with a 36 inch tall by 54 in wide silk, often including custom sewn or digitally printed designs. Flags with shorter poles and larger silks, called "swing flags", are popular for creating large visual impact as performers can manipulate two flags at once. These flags are often incorporated into

7104-424: The activity. The organization is promoted using the tagline: Sport of the Arts . Each of the three competitive divisions (color guard, percussion and winds) are led by Advisory Boards who are responsible for the "adjudication and competitive attributes" of sanctioned events. Advisory boards are also responsible for nominating and electing members to the board of directors. The Advisory Boards meet annually, usually

7215-528: The aid of WGI's regional circuit partners. Regional championships attract hundreds of color guards, percussion and winds ensembles, and thousands of participants. To qualify for World Championships, groups must compete in at least one regional championship. World Championships regularly attracts over 350 color guards, 250 percussion ensembles, and over 40 winds groups. Championships occur over two consecutive weekends in early or mid-April. Future World Championships dates have been reserved until 2024. In March 2020,

7326-407: The artistic element of the performance, even though they are not practical for tossing or spinning, due to the weight and length of the silk. Other flags may range from 5 feet to 7 feet depending upon the intended effect of the piece of equipment. Longer flags are not practical to spin or toss but generally serve as holders for large pieces of material. Designed visually similarly to actual rifles ,

7437-429: The championship during the winter months when most color guards competed locally—after marching band season when scholastic bands focused on concert events, but prior to the drum corps season. Whitcomb, Czapinski, and Chambers, advocated for a regional championship system with a national championship at the end of the winter season. The name "Winter Guard International" was suggested by Don Angelica. A follow-up meeting at

7548-456: The different types of music chosen and the themes of the shows. Dance is incorporated into the show to complement equipment work and drill, and is performed as seamlessly throughout the show as any other movements. Winter Guard International is not only a national competition but it is also an organization that has been around for many years. Unlike other traditional sports, the rules and regulations have been changed and altered many times since

7659-402: The directors of competing groups, and at-large members are chosen from the community of color guard, percussion, and winds educators. The board of directors is legally and financially responsible for the conduct of the organization. In 2022, WGI's various programs and activities generated US$ 8.025 million in revenues. The mission of organization is to provide a venue for young people to achieve

7770-540: The earliest confirmed American death with COVID-19 (that of a 57-year-old woman) occurred in Santa Clara County, California . The CDC did not report its confirmation until April 21, by which point nine other COVID-19 deaths had occurred in Santa Clara County. The virus had been circulating undetected at least since early January and possibly as early as November. On February 25, the CDC warned

7881-741: The emergency declaration. Although some states had already ended emergency SNAP benefits enacted during the pandemic, the USDA announced that emergency allotments for the remaining 32 states, the District of Columbia , Guam , and the U.S. Virgin Islands would end after the February 2023 distribution. Leaders of some anti-hunger organizations believed that the end of the $ 95-per-month additional benefit would strain local food pantries and food banks. South Carolina , which ended emergency food grants after

7992-454: The estimated number of American deaths from the Spanish flu in 1918. As a result, COVID-19 became the deadliest respiratory pandemic in recent American history. The Associated Press called the new numbers a "colossal tragedy" because, despite a century of advances in science, the country failed to take full advantage of vaccines. On October 1, the U.S. passed 700,000 deaths. On October 18,

8103-486: The extraordinary through performance and competition. WGI organizes "high-energy and enjoyable" events for color guard, called winter guard, percussion and winds, divisions. The organization also aims to improve quality of the competing groups through leadership development and education. This includes standardized adjudication. WGI frequently partners with companies that provide services and products to competing groups, as well as leading educators in other fields to highlight

8214-447: The first few days [of January], which doesn't sound like a lot, but our community is very small," Henderson said. "The last couple of weeks, we have seen single digits every day. I certainly won't speak for other counties, but I think we're probably heading in that direction where if they're not closing down, they're decreasing hours and staff." On April 18, 2022, the federal transportation mask mandate, which had been extended to May 3 by

8325-401: The following days, more cases of the variant were reported in other states, leading former CDC director Tom Frieden to express his concerns that the U.S. will soon face "close to a worst-case scenario". It was believed the variant had been present in the U.S. since October. On January 19, the U.S. passed 400,000 deaths, just five weeks after the country passed 300,000 deaths. On January 22,

8436-581: The healthcare system, stopping other travel, and testing . The first known American deaths occurred in February and in late February President Donald Trump proposed allocating $ 2.5 billion to fight the outbreak. Instead, Congress approved $ 8.3 billion with only Senator Rand Paul and two House representatives ( Andy Biggs and Ken Buck ) voting against, and Trump signed the bill, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 , on March 6. Trump declared

8547-411: The local/regional level, such as Regional A, or Novice. In many places there is also a middle school class, often called Cadet . Scholastic A teams tend to be a step above the regional level and are the lowest level to compete in WGI. Scholastic Open teams are an intermediate level for competition. The Scholastic World division includes the highest caliber of winter guard teams. The Independent division

8658-552: The mandate. The CDC was criticized for the confusion resulting from the announcement, as it did not remove existing state and local mandates. The guidance also did not remove the federal mask mandate on public transportation. On June 15, the U.S. passed 600,000 deaths, though the number of daily deaths had decreased due to vaccination efforts. By June, COVID-19 cases rose again, especially in Arkansas, Nevada, Missouri, and Wyoming. The rising numbers were believed to be attributable to

8769-487: The material is heavier and more durable. Additionally, wood is less slick and can be weighed custom to someone's specifications. Plastic rifles tend to be a little more forgiving and easier to handle. Some people may not like plastic rifles because they can become slick and hard to handle, either when it's raining or just from the sweat from the user's hands. Some plastic rifles come with a manufacture's guarantee that they will not break under normal usage. Most are made out of

8880-596: The middle of March, all fifty states were able to perform tests with a doctor's approval, either from the CDC or from commercial labs. However, the number of available test kits remained limited. As cases began spreading throughout the nation, federal and state agencies began taking urgent steps to prepare for a surge of hospital patients. Among the actions was establishing additional places for patients in case hospitals became overwhelmed. Throughout March and early April, several state, city, and county governments imposed "stay at home" quarantines on their populations to stem

8991-450: The months leading up to November, deaths from COVID-19 substantially decreased, attributed to high levels of population immunity (through vaccination or prior infection), and improvements in early treatment for patients at risk for severe disease. The CDC recommended vaccinations, treatments for immunocompromised individuals and to reduce severity of the disease, and continuing to wear masks in public. Nonetheless, Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that

9102-555: The months of January through June 2022 was about 2.4 times the number for the same period in 2021, and the number of COVID-attributed deaths likewise averaged 0.74 times the number in 2021. Nonetheless, as of July 14, only 21 states have active COVID-19 emergency orders in place, and there are no state-level mask requirements still in force. The number of cases for July and August 2022 was 3,672,358 and 3,154,320, respectively, with 11,963 and 15,943 COVID-attributed deaths, respectively. The totals for these two months reflect about 1.6 times

9213-734: The most of any country, and the 17th highest per capita worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic ranks as the deadliest disaster in the country's history . It was the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020, behind heart disease and cancer. From 2019 to 2020, U.S. life expectancy dropped by three years for Hispanic and Latino Americans , 2.9   years for African Americans , and 1.2   years for white Americans . In 2021, U.S. deaths due to COVID-19 rose, and life expectancy fell. Sources: Official reports from state health officials Sources: Official reports from state health officials In November 2019, COVID-19 infections had first broken out in Wuhan , China. China publicly reported

9324-494: The number of cases and 0.81 times the number of deaths from the same months in 2021. On September 18, 2022, in an appearance on 60 Minutes , president Joe Biden declared his belief that the COVID-19 pandemic was "over" in the United States. This assessment met some debate in the medical community: at the time, the United ;States had roughly 400 deaths from the disease per day, and when extrapolated to 150,000 per year

9435-621: The outbreak in China. Also, the first report of a COVID-19 case in the U.S. was publicly reported, though the All of Us study (released in 2021) showed five states already had cases weeks earlier. After other cases were reported, on January 30, the WHO declared a Public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) – its highest level of alarm  – warning that "all countries should be prepared for containment." The same day,

9546-470: The outbreak, but Congress instead approved $ 8.3 billion with only Senator Rand Paul and Representatives Andy Biggs and Ken Buck voting against, and Trump signed the bill on March 6. By March 11, the virus had spread to 110 countries, and the WHO officially declared a pandemic . The CDC had already warned that large numbers of people needing hospital care could overload the healthcare system, which would lead to otherwise preventable deaths. Director of

9657-559: The overall adult population having done so by July 4. On May 6, a study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimated that the true COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. was more than 900,000 people. On May 9, Dr. Fauci confirmed that the U.S. death toll was likely undercounted. On May 13, the CDC changed its guidance and said that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks in most situations. Some states ended their mask mandates shortly after, while others maintained

9768-399: The pandemic began. On December 14, the U.S. passed 300,000 deaths, representing an average of more than 961 deaths per day since the first known death on February 6. More than 50,000 deaths were reported in the past month, with an average of 2,403 daily deaths occurring in the past week. On December 24, following concerns over a probably more easily transmissible new SARS-CoV-2 variant from

9879-551: The pandemic reached the U.S., 100,000 Americans had died with COVID-19. State economic reopenings and lack of widespread mask orders resulted in a sharp rise in cases across most of the continental U.S. outside of the Northeast. A study conducted in May 2020 indicated that the true number of COVID-19 cases in the United States was much higher than the number of confirmed cases with some locations having 6–24 times higher infections, which

9990-424: The performance area, in addition to where each member goes at which specific time during the performance. In some cases, all of these roles are fulfilled by one sole director. A winter guard team usually has one or multiple captains or student leaders who serve as leaders as well as performing members. The captain may assume minor administrative duties and lead the team when instructors are not available. The captain

10101-421: The performer's hands. Wooden rifles can be more challenging to use because each rifle is slightly different and may not be weighted precisely the same. Most wooden rifles are made of either poplar or aspen wood. It is recommended to tape wooden rifles as to keep the ends protected and make it more durable, as well as for cosmetics. Electrical tape is the first choice of most winter guards because you can get

10212-522: The program early, exchanging additional benefits for a new permanent program that provides extra money to low-income families to replace school meals during the summer. On April 10, 2023, President Biden signed into law a resolution terminating the national emergency, effective immediately. This national emergency was separate from the public health emergency, which remained in effect until May 11, 2023. A late-summer wave of COVID-19 cases, as reflected by tests at pharmacies and healthcare settings, marked

10323-560: The quality of venues and adjudication. As an example, the 1977 "national" color guard championship was held in conjunction with DCI World Championships in Denver . The venue was far too small, there was no functional air conditioning, and the performance area required color guards to maneuver around structural columns. In 1977, then director of the Seattle Imperials, Stanley Knaub, secured a sponsor—Western Youth International—and

10434-551: The recent BA.4 and BA.5 variants and their risks are low, some experts recommend new strategies to develop vaccines with broader effectiveness. In a survey of vaccination booster intake (after completing a primary series), about 15% reported receiving the updated booster. The rates varied racially with 19% among White, non-Hispanic people, about 11% among Hispanic people, and about 7% among non-Hispanic American Indians, Alaska Native people, Black people, and those of multiple races, leading to concerns of vaccination access inequity. In

10545-429: The rifles used in winter guard often weigh between 2 and 5 pounds (about 1–2.25 kilograms). Most winter guard rifles have a length of 30–39 inches (about 76–99 centimeters) and are composed of seven parts: Rifles can be made out of either wood or plastic . Some prefer plastic rifles because they are much more often the same weight and size if they are meant to be so. Others prefer wooden rifles because

10656-816: The rise of the Alpha variant , a more easily transmissible variant first detected in the United Kingdom . That was followed by a rise of the Delta variant , an even more infectious mutation first detected in India , leading to increased efforts to ensure safety. The January 2022 emergence of the Omicron variant , which was first discovered in South Africa , led to record highs in hospitalizations and cases in early 2022, with as many as 1.5 million new infections reported in

10767-637: The rules and regulations for this activity. The rules that are written by WGI apply to every winter guard group competing in the World Championships no matter what country they are from. The World Championships are held every year in the United States. Most recently they have been held at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio with some prelims and semi-finals held elsewhere around the Dayton area and Cincinnati area. The phrase "Sport of

10878-496: The sabre by its blade. As with rifles, a piece of black or non-white tape placed near the center of rotation is used as a "spotter", making it easier to locate the fast-moving blade while it is rotating in the air. Sabres are used primarily by more advanced guard members. Guard members incorporate many different styles of dance into their shows. The most common styles of dance used are modern, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, and ballet. The different styles of dances are chosen depending on

10989-468: The spread of the virus. By March 26, The New York Times data showed the United States to have the highest number of known cases of any country. By March 27, the country had reported over 100,000 cases. On April 2, at President Trump's direction, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and CDC ordered additional preventive guidelines to the long-term care facility industry. On April 11,

11100-626: The state after a Trump rally in Beltrami County, Minnesota . One case was traced to a Joe Biden rally in Duluth, Minnesota . On November 9, President-elect Biden's transition team announced his COVID-19 Advisory Board . On the same day, the total number of cases had surpassed ten million while the total had risen by over a million in the ten days prior, averaging 102,300 new cases per day. Pfizer also announced that its COVID-19 vaccine may be up to ninety percent effective. In November,

11211-503: The tape in any color to match the show. Water is the main antagonist to wooden rifles; it can destroy a rifle and make it completely unusable. However, if cared for properly and used correctly, rifles can last for a long time. Sabres, which are designed much like the real sabres with the same name, are elegant sword-like pieces of equipment used in winter guard, with length ranging from about 30–39 inches (about 76–99 centimeters). They can either be plastic or metal, though metal

11322-399: The unit, sometimes broken out into the individual sections), dance instructors, and drill instructors. The equipment instructors create the choreography performed with equipment and teach it to the guard. The dance instructors create and teach the movement choreography in the show. The drill instructors focus on the position of the guard members relative to one another and to the boundaries of

11433-1482: The victims of the 2019 El Paso Shooting . Contemporary Color is a 2016 documentary film directed by Turner Ross and Bill Ross IV featuring the performances of winter guard teams. The film was produced as a collaboration between David Byrne , Michael Gottwald, Dan Janvey and Josh Penn. Credits Winter Guard International (WGI) official website South Florida Winter Guard Association (SFWGA) official website Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit (FFCC) official website Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC) official website CGN - Color Guard Nederland WGUK - Winter Guard UK Colorguard Historical Society (CGHS) website Atlantic Indoor Association (AIA) website Ohio Indoor Performance Association (OIPA) website Mid-York Color Guard Circuit (MYCGC) website Northeast Color Guard Circuit (NECGC) website Michigan Color Guard Circuit (MCGC) website Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network (MAIN) website New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) website Southern Association for performance arts Midwest Color Guard Circuit Southeastern Colorguard Circuit Eastern Massachusetts Drum and Bugle Corps Association* Keystone Indoor Drill Association - MD & PA North Texas Colorguard Association (NTCA) website Northwest Pageantry Association (NWPA) website Sample Winterguard movement (Youtube) Rocky Mountain Color Guard Ohio Circuit COVID-19 pandemic in

11544-579: The virus from a ski trip, Garfield was able to return to the slopes, although with some fingers and toes amputated. In February, Vice President Mike Pence took over for HHS Secretary Alex Azar as chair of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , with Trump saying, "We are very, very ready for this, for anything, whether it's going to be a breakout of larger proportions, or whether we're at that very low level." In late February Trump proposed allocating $ 2.5 billion to fight

11655-555: The winter guard activity is growing outside of the United States. In Europe, Color Guard Nederland (Netherlands) (CGN) and Winter Guard United Kingdom (WGUK) have recently affiliated with organizations from France and Germany to form the European Indoor Arts Alliance (EIAA) with the goal of creating a European Union-wide platform for the growth of the color guard activity in Europe, where the scholastic branch of

11766-431: Was a sharp increase in reported incidents of xenophobia and racism against Asian Americans . Clusters of infections and deaths occurred in many areas. The COVID-19 pandemic also saw the emergence of misinformation and conspiracy theories , and highlighted weaknesses in the U.S. public health system. In the United States, there have been 103,436,829 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 1,207,479 confirmed deaths,

11877-532: Was further confirmed by a later population-wide serosurvey. On July 6, the United States Department of State announced the country's withdrawal from WHO effective July 6, 2021. On July 10, the CDC adopted the Infection Fatality Ratio (IFR), "the number of individuals who die of the disease among all infected individuals (symptomatic and asymptomatic)", as a new metric for disease severity. In July, US PIRG and 150 health professionals sent

11988-438: Was held from April 24–30, with mayors and other political officials declaring the week of remembrance in their respective jurisdictions as part of a national movement led by a collection of COVID advocacy groups. According to data compiled by NBC News, the U.S. death toll reached 1 million on May 4, 2022, the largest-recorded death toll in any single country, followed by Brazil, with about 660,000 deaths. The White House confirmed

12099-488: Was hosted at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on April 15, 1978. World championships for percussion ensembles began in 1992, and indoor marching bands, called winds, in 2015. A series of field band competitions, promoted as the WGI Friendship Cup were hosted from 1997 to 2003. The next World Championships is scheduled for April 2025 at UD Arena . A majority of WGI's championships are hosted in

12210-425: Was produced as a collaboration between David Byrne , Michael Gottwald, Dan Janvey and Josh Penn. Similarly, "On Guard: A Story of American Youth" is 2023 documentary film directed by Allen Otto and executive produced by Jim Czarnecki. The film follows the journey of an all-female color guard team at Bel Air High School whose goal is to qualify for the 2020 WGI World Championships, which were ultimately canceled due to

12321-683: Was reported by CNN that COVID-19 numbers reached pandemic lows across the US, resulting in many testing sites closing their doors. With testing sites seeing as low as single digits per day, Director of Public Health Services Division of the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency in North Carolina Sarah Henderson suggested that she expected most counties to see closures soon, if they had not already. "We were seeing an excess of 100 patients at our testing site in

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