sports like

winter guard should be allowed to gain credit for the work they put in.

with competitions and practices, marching band and color guard perform at every home football game with their show during halftime.

During the spring, SPHS’ color guard takes on a new name as winter guard — even when the activity stays the same. Winter guard is only the indoor version of the sport, with competitions solely dedicated to the guards’ show without the band. However, guard is not viable for the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) credit, and only winter guard is excluded from PE credits.

Every year is a struggle to gain more members for guard, as publicity is sparse. Most news publications only cover mainstream sports in their reporting, leading to less participation in the foreign extracurriculars. Even to those who know of the sport, incentive is limited when credit is not given where it is due.

Winter sports are nearing their end, and spring sports are just beginning. With popular sports such as baseball and track and field right around the corner, it is easy to overlook the little known athletics, particularly a group that is part of the SPHS band — Winter Guard. Neither team gets any credit for their work, whether academic or public interest, even when members put in countless hours during the season to put together a show.

Upcoming Games

Winter guard, also known as color guard, performs with the marching band during fall season, and then switches to their own performances during the spring. They use flags, rifles, sabers, and other assortments of props to tell a story through their movements and dance.

Over the summer, the marching band and color guard spend a two-week period at an all-day camp to prepare for the upcoming season. Once school starts, the band starts its practices to prepare a five to ten minute show. Every week has two or three practices, three hours each. Once the season begins, competitions begin stacking up seemingly every weekend. Along

When winter guard is not given any sort of academic incentive, it becomes a time drain even to those who enjoy it. There are hordes of classes and electives to choose from at SPHS, and the graduation requirements for students may not allow time for a hopeful member to participate in the sport. With an abundance of other classes that meet academic requirements, new members are hard-pressed to find the time or motivation to join. Without new members to fuel the growth of a team, no group can last — especially one with an already modest audience.

Winter guard is a sport that is unknown to many, and some may argue against its legitimacy as a sport. However, sports can come in many forms, not just the soccer-kicking, basketball-throwing, and cross country running that is widely practiced. Let’s appreciate the lesser known athletics, who don’t get the recognition they deserve for their hard work and achievements. Giving winter guard the acknowledgement it deserves, not only with academic incentive, but also with funding towards its program, will keep the art alive and well.

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FRIDAY, FEB. 3RD @ 6:00 PM, BOYS BASKETBALL VS. ANIMO JACKIE ROBINSON AT HOME