General History
Color Guard
Originally, a military color guard often traveled with a band, which would play a patriotic song. This use continued into the civilian marching bands, and today, a marching band's color guard will normally carry equipment descended from those of military color guard: flags, banners, mock rifles, or mock sabers. Color guards often choose costumes and props that coordinate with the theme of their show.
Color guard membership can be very large, sometimes rivaling the number of musicians in the band or very small with a minimum of two people. Color guards also accompany drum & bugle corps, independent marching musical units which train during the early spring and compete during the summer months. During the 1970s and 1980s, much of the impetus for the evolution of the modern color guard came from the arena of competitive drum & bugle corps, although winter guard, both independent and school related, have claimed the cutting edge in recent years. Color guards can be found in most colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, and independent drum corps.
Members of color guard teams march along with their fellow marching band members. Today the guard uses choreography and equipment for added visual appeal during a marching band show. Usually marching bands and color guards perform during football games at halftime. When in competition, the color guard score is typically based on movement, visual effect, fluidity of choreography with the music, coordination of all members' drill, and the use of equipment (e.g. flags, rifles, and sabers). During a competition the guard adds to the overall score of the band, but is also judged in its own category. Color guard has been considered to be both an athletic competition and an art. Due to its popularity, it has been suggested that color guard be included in the Olympics games.
Winter Guard
Winter Guard is similar to outdoor color guard except the performances are indoors on gymnasium floors through the winter season. The traditional marching band seen during fall season is replaced with a recording of various musical genres. The gymnasium floor can be covered by an individually designed tarp (called a "floor" by members), one that generally reflects the show being performed on it. Winter Guard International (WGI) is the major sanctioning body for the activity in the United States. While dominant in the United States, there are many other winter guards existing in Europe, Asia, and South America.