Atlantic Indoor Association

 

On Saturday, September 18, 2011 AIA held it’s annual meeting to elect board members, discuss and vote on rule-change proposals and prepare for the upcoming season.  For the first time ever, the meeting was split between two separate locations, one in Raleigh, North Carolina and one near Richmond, Virginia, connected via teleconference.  During the meeting several significant proposals were passed that will affect many units in the 2011-2012 season.  For color guards these include a re-alignment with WGI timing guidelines for the Colorguard Scholastic Regional A class and significant changes to the Novice and Scholastic Regional A divisions.  Please note that these classification changes do not apply to Percussion units.

 

In 2011-2012 Regional A units will now have a choice between two levels of competition, just as A class color guards have had leveled choices.  The most beginner level of competition will now be the Scholastic Regional A2 (SRA2) class with slightly more experienced but still beginner level units competing in the SRA1 classification.

 

Based on our distribution of units in the 2011 competition season we had approximately 15 units in each A class division with approximately 30 units in the SRA division.  Splitting the SRA class into two will hopefully result in two smaller classes of around 15 units each - similar to the A class divisions.

 

Colorguard Scholastic Regional A2 - This is the most beginning level of competition in the AIA circuit.  This class is adjudicated on the WGI Scholastic Regional A Sheets.  Winter Guards entering this class of competition are the "youngest" or least experienced guards both in terms of individual training, design  and instruction.  These programs are in their first few years of winter guard participation in terms of both instructor and performer.

 

Colorguard Scholastic Regional A1 - This class is adjudicated on the WGI Scholastic Regional A Sheets.  This class is for the more experienced performer, designer and instructors of the two regional A classes in AIA.  Units in this class are composed of beginning level performers and shows are developed to allow the performer to master basic skills.  The goal of this class is uniform achievement from all performers, designers and instructors

 

When deciding whether or not to place your ensemble in SRA2 or SRA1 take the following into consideration:

1. SRA2 is meant for the most beginner units.  These are units with performers, instructors and designers on a beginning level.

2. SRA1 is meant for beginning units who placed in finals at the annual championships event. (minus the top three who advanced to A3) as well as new units who might have more experienced instructors and designers.

 

For the past several years, AIA has maintained a novice class of competition.  This class was meant for the most beginner of units - those new to AIA or in their first year of winter guard competition - in order to provide them a safe place to get to know the circuit and activity.

 

In order to keep this class as a “first year units only” class, a rule was instituted that has been referred to as “the four year rule.”  Essentially, units were only allowed to enter novice class if they were brand new to AIA or if the school had not had a competing unit for more than four years (so that all experienced members had graduated).  Unfortunately, this prohibited groups who were truly novice, such as a group with all new membership and a new coach, from competing novice if their school had a winter guard anytime in the past four years.  This situation happened in at least a couple instances each year.  There were also first year units who were clearly more advanced in skill and/or design who might have benefited from the challenge and growth presented in the Regional A class.

 

After the decision was made to split the large Regional A class into two smaller classifications it was clear that most novice units would find an appropriate place to compete in the Regional A2 class where, regardless of the number of years in the circuit, units with both beginner individual skills and beginner levels of design would be adjudicated with other similar units.  Most Novice guards will now enter Scholastic Regional A2 in the new system (though some may be suited to jump ahead to SRA1).

 

The Novice classification will now be a separate evaluation-only class.

 

 

These units will be adjudicated however, they will not compete for a score or placement.  They will perform at the beginning of the competition day for commentary and evaluation and then have the remainder of the day to observe other units in competition and learn about both the circuit and the activity.  These would be units who are really just trying out the activity but not ready to jump into competition.  This would be a wonderful opportunity for schools putting together a winter guard for a spring band trip who would like one or two additional performance opportunities.  These units would most likely choose to perform at only one or two shows for the growth that accompanies performance.

 

This year the membership voted to realign the AIA timing rules for Regional A with the WGI guidelines (as they had been somewhat different from the WGI rules for the past several years).  Here’s what it looks like now:

 

There are a couple of important things to note for instructors who are choosing Regional A Classification.

 

If there is any possibility at all that your unit may achieve more than you expect, resulting in reclassification or promotion to the A class, it is strongly recommended that you design the show accordingly.  Utilize the overlap between the timing requirements for the classes.  Choose music that is just over 4 minutes (within the time frame for regional A but above the minimum limit for A class) and make sure that you have an authorized equipment time greater than 3 ½ minutes.

 

You don’t want to be faced with having to add 30 seconds to a minute of music to your show or in turn with having penalties assessed for the remainder of the season.  It is the instructors responsibility to plan ahead and be prepared.  If you’re not completely sure of your classification choices it’s better to be safe than sorry and design a longer show (or one that can be lengthened).

 

The advantages to this timing change lie in the fact that younger units which are just starting out in winter guard can design a shorter show and really shift the balance from show design to performer training.  With a shorter show to teach more time may be spent developing excellence in performer, designer and instructor skills.

 

However, again, keep in mind that if your performers, designers and instructional staff are achieving at a level higher than regional A class (even with a short show) they may be reclassified or promoted to the A class and be faced with longer minimum time requirements.

 

Interval time is the entire block of time allotted to units from the time you cross the mid-court timing line entering the performance area until you cross that same timing line leaving the performance area.  Regional A color guards get a timing interval of 7 minutes while A class guards get 8 minutes.

 

What this means is that Regional A designers must be cognizant of this limitation when designing sets and choosing show length.  If you are designing a show at the maximum of 4 ½ minutes you must account for the fact that this will leave you only a total of 2 ½ minutes combined for set-up and tear-down.

 

This is not at all impossible or unreasonable... but it must be considered, especially when choosing props or staging.  It might not be possible without a very large crew to set up elaborate props within that time frame - so any props used should be designed with fast set-up and clean-up in mind and directors will want to train an equipment crew (or the performers themselves) for the most efficient workflow possible.