Modern color guard was formed off of drum core with the exception of having live music being replaced with tapes and being performed in-doors (usually) and also includes rifles and sabers. Modern Color guard is usually a group outside of a high school that competes in CCGC, but can also be a high school winter guard who competes in the same circuit.

In Modern Color guard there are four experience groups the you can be part of. These four groups all have there own sub-group to compete against. They are all called the same thing. First theres independent then theres regional independent and last we have international independent. Then theres scholastic and regional scholastic.

(ages according to San Jose Raiders stats)

First there is the novice guard this age ranges from 5 through nine and the experience level of the novice guard is well mainly drop spins, Figure eights, and halves and singles. Though the novice guard still exists currently in CCGC there are no novice guards competing in it.

Next theres the A guard the ages in the a guard range from eight through thirteen. The a guard starts to get into stuff more often now and are trying single and a halves ,around the worlds, more experienced dance, and are now starting to get into weapons and usually toward the end are doing doubles and other tricky maneuvering. There are many A guards in CCGC both scholastic and independent.

The third group is the Open guard. Age in this guard ranges from fifteen through twenty. This the guard is very experienced and has much knowledge of their weapons and flags. Also by now they probably have bruised themselves nine times and have sprained something twice. There are a lot of open guards in both classifications.

The last guard is the World guard. The age in this guard ranges from seventeen through twenty five. The guard now knows almost everything there is to know and has had stitches and more scars then there are to count. They know there weapons and flags very well and there dance is outstanding.(believe me I know Ive seen these people dance they are doing like double spins!) There are many world guards in all classifications and even the top three or four guards go to WGI (World Guard International) where all of the guards join a drum core and perform on national TV.

For a guard member (depending on the level their in) its tough in their own ways. The life of a guard member is waking up going, to school/work, coming home, doing homework/other, then practicing, going to bed. Then on certain days going to practice ranging (according to the San Jose Raiders practices) from three hours to five hours. First stretching then going into flag and weapon warm ups. After of which they go into practicing their show. After practice everyone is exsasted and just wants to go home. Though some weekends after practice its food (that might not seem like much but believe me its heaven) and its off to whatever high school is destined for that show. Next the guard is to check in and the guard captain is to lead in warm ups ( form my experience it is much harder to be captain also). Then its run through after run through. Around ten minutes before its time to go on everyone is gathered around the guard entrance door and inspirational words are given from the instructors remember to focus on the judges, Manger, captain, and member to member. Then all of a sudden the doors swing open and..

A group of people are assured in and wait on the side lines for approval to go. Then they quickly swarm around the cart and start unfolding something hurry now your running out of time! your instructor yells over the crowd. The guard flies over the floor with a large heavy canvas flowing behind them and the rest of the guard quickly sets up props, flags are thrown around and sabers shoved under corners. An announcer booms there name through the gym and music starts. Brilliant colors fly around the floor and sabers go up in the air the music stops and the crowd is screaming and in a flash their gone.

If you think thats hard try focusing on five judges two for effect, one ensemble, one movement, and one equipment (Tom) After many more guards and a short recess the guard captains file in and take different stances. The awards are given out and the whole audience is on the gym floor gathering with their guard everyone is happy no matter what place they got.

We are a family, we are a color guard. we have gathered together and become friends and have continually stood together so we will always do we are the San Jose Raiders.