Colorguard Glossary

Adjudicator – Another term for “judge.”  The adjudicator provides evaluation and feedback on a performance.  In a competition setting, the adjudicator may also be tasked to rank groups.

Age – Out – The year at which a performer is no longer eligible to compete.

Auxiliary – Another term for the color guard.

Backhand Catch -stopping equipment one handed, with the thumb pointed down toward the floor and the palm facing outward, away from the body.

Caption Head – The staff member in charge of the section (i.e. Colorguard Caption Head).  This person is often responsible for managing any additional staff members, providing organization and communication among staff members and leading the way in the development of the competitive and/or artistic direction for the season.

Cheater– pieces of tape added to equipment used as reference points for hand placement.

Choreography -the written equipment work, staging and dance/movement.

Circuit – an organization which exists to organize and host competitions. Examples: WGI, WGASC, TCC, etc.

Class – a grouping of color guards based on the criteria established by the circuit/organization.

Clean – The act of syncing the colorguard.

Critique – a meeting following a competition where judges and coaches have a chance to discuss the performance and results.

Dance Line – Subgroup of the colorguard that is highlighted for movement.

Downstairs – The Equipment and Movement Captions are often referred to as “Downstairs” captions.

Drum Corps – A marching activity usually during the summer that has brass, front ensemble, percussion, and color guard to perform a show.

Flag – Piece of equipment that has a silk and a pole.

Flag Line – Subgroup of the colorguard that is highlighted for spinning flag.

Free Hand – The hand that is not actively engaged in manipulating a piece of equipment at any given time.

Fundamentals – basic equipment or movement skills.

General Effect –  The elements of a performance that result in emotional, intellectual, and aesthetic reactions in the audience.

Horizontal Orchestration – how the show flows and progresses through time, including transitions and how events of the show evolve and relate through time and space.

Indepedent – a guard that is usually not affiliated with a school.

Money Hand – grabbing equipment palm up toward the ceiling.

Pitch – the angle of a piece of equipment in space usually relative to the performers’ body.

Rifle – Piece of colorguard equipment that is modeled after a military rifle. Usually wooden or plastic.

Rifle Line – Subgroup of the colorguard that is highlighted for spinning rifle.

Sabre – Piece of colorguard equipment that is modeled after a military sabre.

Sabre Line – Subgroup of the colorguard that is highlighted for spinning sabre.

Sail – a term used to describe when the silk gets caught on the flag pole.

Scholastic – A  group that is directly associated with or sponsored by a school.

Shoulder/Hip Angle – A position in which the equiment is directly crossing through the space between a performers neck and shoulder and hip area.

Silk – The fabric of a flag

Slam – Shoulder/hip angle. Can be on left or right.

Tab – point on flag where the silk is connected to the pole with tape.

Toss – Movement in which equipment is released. 

“Upstairs” Captions – The General Effect and Visual Analysis captions.  These captions examine the overall program and sit higher up. Focused on the big picture.

Vertical Orchestration – Content and development of a program.

Visual Ensemble – Term used to refer to the colorguard, usually in an outdoor or indoor percussion setting.

Musicality – a term describing how well the choreography compliments the soundtrack.

Winterguard – Indoor color guard.