Recommended Rules & Procedures

SCHOLASTIC MARCHING BAND INVITATIONAL

 

CLASSIFICATION

Bands will be classified according to school size, determined by average grade enrollment (total high school enrollment divided by four for 9-12 schools or by three for 10-12 schools).

Bands are permitted to move from their qualifying class to a class with higher enrollment.

Bands wishing to enter a lower class may do so if request is made to the Invitational host.

Classification Average Grade Enrollment

AA 400 & over

A 250-399

B 150-249

C 90-149

D 89 and lower

 

At the option of the host, classes may be split into two segments where there is a larger amount of entrants in one class.  I.E.: 12 Class B entrants could be split into 6 in B and 6 in BB classes.

 

AWARDS

1. Each band will receive a participation plaque.

 

2. Caption trophies will be awarded for:

BEST OVERALL MUSIC PERFORMANCE,

BEST OVERALL MARCHING PERFORMANCE

BEST OVERALL GENERAL EFFECT (Optional)

BEST OVERALL PERCUSSION PERFORMANCE

BEST OVERALL COLOR GUARD PERFORMANCE

 

3. Placement trophies will be awarded to all classes for 1st place to 3rd place depending on the number of entrants into each class.

 

4. Achievement of Excellent Awards may be provided in the areas of Music, Marching, Percussion and Auxiliary.  This is at the discretion of the hosts and is usually provided as a tag label that is applied onto one plaque, which also may be the participation plaque.

 

JUDGING

All judging will take place in, on, or around the Press Box (no field judging).

 

Judges will use the following point system:

MUSIC PERFORMANCE 30 points

MUSIC EFFECT 25 points

MARCHING PERFORMANCE 25 points

VISUAL EFFECT 20 points

TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE = 100

The Percussion and Color Guard score (200 Points) will not be a part of the final score, but their score will determine caption winners for their respective areas as needed.

ADDITIONAL OFFICIALS

  1. There will be a timer in the press box. This official will use a stopwatch for timing the warm-up, field entrance, length of show, and exit. Official judging of the show will begin with the first note played or movement taken by the band proper, and conclude with the last note played or the last movement performed. There is a seven-minute minimum and an eleven-minute maximum show length. (See optional penalties)

 

  1.  There will be an official announcer in the press box, with duties to include:

A. Keep the invitational on schedule.

B. As the band enters the field, announce each school, their staff, and the musical selections to be performed.

C. When the band has finished warm-up (if used) and appears ready to start, announcer will ask, “Are the judges ready?” (pause for response from head judge). Then announcer will say: “[Name of drum majors], is your band ready?” Command personnel will salute, then announcer will say, “You may take the field in competition.”

D. Announce the band’s recent accomplishments as the band exits field.

E. Make any other important announcements deemed necessary by the host chairperson.

 

Note: If bands use their own stadium announcer as part of their show, this person should begin announcing after #2-c above.

 

  1. The invitational host will be responsible for all decisions pertaining to the administration of the invitational.

 

PENALTIES

  1. There are no penalties for field violations, entrance and exit times and warm up time—penalties will be listed on your sheets only as recommendations. 
  2. An optional under time / overtime penalty may be assessed  (seven minute minimum, 11 minute maximum) using .01 deduction for every five (5) second increment over or under allotted performance time.

 

PERFORMANCE AREA

The Invitational will be held on a regulation size high school football field (300’ x 160’), with peripheral sidelines, end zones, yard lines every five yards, and inserts, which divide the field into thirds—each 53’4”. The boundaries of the performing area will include an area on the press box side of the field from the 0 yard line to the 0 yard line, twelve feet deep, for use by soloists, and grounded percussion. Yard markers will be placed on both sides of the field and placed about two feet off the sidelines to allow for color guard movement and set up.

 

The performance must be within the confines of the playing field, which includes the areas designated as end zones and the twelve feet in front of the front boundary line. Soloists and percussion members who play on the field part time and in the expanded front area part time, may cross the front sideline, but cannot cross the expanded area boundary line. After the performance begins, only command personnel and equipment members of the band should be allowed outside of this area.

 

ENTRANCE AND EXIT

Bands may enter and exit the field from any point and may begin the show from any point on or off the field. Entrance from the back sideline or from the end zones is typical.

 

The musical “warm up” is an option to the start of the show and should not exceed two minutes. Make sure the previous band has completed their exit before playing your warm up. This warm up can occur either on or off field.

 

RECOMMENDED FIELD PROCEDURES

Warm up will consist of indoor (if possible) and outdoor warm up. The outdoor warm up will occur in an area designated by the host. Playing in this area is allowed. Directors will then have the option of going directly to the performance field when it is their time.

 

Competition participants are expected to conform to rules of good conduct, observe care of property, display proper behavior, and adhere to all rules. While sitting in the bleachers or designated seating areas in the Stadium, please keep noise to a minimum, especially when another band is performing. Directors should instruct their students, music boosters, and fans to promote good behavior and conduct in the stands and competition area at all times.

 

Groups compete on the field only—not in the stands. Please be complimentary and applaud for all band performances.

 

RECOMMENDED TIMINGS

1. Field Entry 1 minute

2. Warm Up in Stadium (optional) 2 minutes

3. Show length 7 to 11 minutes

4. Exit & Pass-in-Review 1 minutes

Maximum per band 15 minutes

 

ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Bands are arranged by classification by the host school. Exception can be made if requested of the host.

 

BREAKING OF A TIE

In the event of a tie in the final score within a class, the following priority will determine placements:

  1. The combined Music Performance and Music Effect scores shall determine the higher ranking.
  2. If a tie still exists, the combined Marching Performance and Visual Effect scores shall determine the higher ranking.          
  1. If still unsettled and a tie exists, the higher Music Performance shall determine the higher ranking.

Note: Judges are instructed to avoid giving any two groups in the same class an identical score.

 

 

 

 

PROCEDURE FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the case of inclement weather, the host staff and contest officials will meet one hour prior to the beginning of the Invitational to determine if such conditions (such as rain, snow, poor field conditions, etc.) dictate the necessity for holding a standstill contest on the track of the stadium, or inside the school gymnasium. If during the Invitational, weather conditions change, the competition may be moved inside to the gymnasium or become a standstill on the track—preferably between band classifications, if possible.

 

STANDSTILL PERFORMANCE PROCEDURES

Enter the performance area using rim shots or cadences to form your performance position. Your color guard may be in the back of the marching band or off to one side, or not used at all. The percussion and grounded percussion may be placed at any location. The announcer will introduce the band as you enter. Warm up is optional. The announcer will ask “Are the judges ready?” (pause for response from head judge). Then announcer will say: “[Name of drum majors],is your band ready?” Command personnel will salute, then announcer will say, “You may perform your show in competition.” Bands may stand still or mark time. All horn moves are optional. Soloists may move to any location. Leave by cadence or rim shots.

 

JUDGING AT A STANDSTILL PERFORMANCE

Judging at a standstill performance will be as follows:

 

Music Performance – judged as usual.

Music Effect – Judged as usual.

Marching Performance – No score will be given. The judge will make comments only and talk about items in the “Individual Accuracy” box on the marching sheet. In addition, the judge can provide music comments.

Visual Effect – No score will be given. The judge will make comments only and will talk about items in the “Performance” and “Repertoire” boxes on the visual effect sheet. In addition, the judge can provide music comments.

Percussion – Judged as usual.

Auxiliary – No score will be given. The judge will make comments only.

 

AWARDS FOR STANDSTILL PERFORMANCE

1. Each band will receive a participation plaque.

2. Caption trophies will be awarded for: BEST OVERALL MUSIC PERFORMANCE,

BEST OVERALL GENERAL EFFECT, and BEST OVERALL PERCUSSION PERFORMANCE.

A. The General Effect caption award will be determined by the

Music Effect judge.

B. No caption trophies will be awarded for Marching and Color Guard

3. Placement trophies will be awarded to all classes for 1st place to 3rd place depending on the number of entrants into each class.

4. Achievement of Excellent Awards may be awarded.

 

The final score determines the placement, which is the total of the following captions:

A. Music Performance score

B. Music Effect score

 

 

OTHER

 

American Flag

If a show includes the use of the American flag, bands must adhere to the guidelines for its use, as stated in American Legion Flag Code.

 

Equipment

The use of motorized vehicles, lights-out routines, animals, or pyrotechnics of any kind (including fireworks and discharge of firearms) shall not be permitted. Disqualification from the contest shall be assessed for any violation.

 

Electrical Power

It is recommended that each band provide their power supply. However, electrical power may be available for bands to use during their show, but this must be requested in advance of the Invitational.  The host assumes no responsibility for problems or accidents that occur with the use of electrical power.