The National High School Drill Team Championships began the Open Level Color Guard competition in 1998 at the bequest of many drill programs that have for years wished to bring extra color guard units to the Nationals. In the past, only complete teams (teams entering all team events within a competition division) were generally excepted into the Nationals event. The beginning of the Open Level Color Guard competition allowed basically two types of color guard units to now attend the Nationals that could not in the past. These were:
Details on the Open Level Color Guard Event
The Open Level Color Guard competition is a single-day event held on Friday during the National High School Dril Team Championships at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center Arena. The competition will begin at roughly 0930 and should end at approximately 1600. The Open Level Color Guard event provides trophies for 1st-5th place finishes. These trophies are awarded during the Challenge Level Awards Ceremony at the end of the day immediately following the Knockout Drills. Competing schools will arrive the day prior to the competition, on Thursday, to register for the event and attend the Commander's Call meeting. Many schools are electing to extend their hotel stay, thereby taking the opportunity to become spectators at the two-day Masters Level drill competition segment of the Nationals, held the following two days on Saturday and Sunday.
Composition of the Open Level Color Guard Entry
Color Guards entering this event must be comprised of cadets that are not competing in any other facet of the Nationals competition. Just as all Color Guard entries at the Nationals will execute, all units compete with two rifle bearers and two flag bearers. As this is an "open level" entry situation, teams of all genders and talent levels will be accepted into the event. All rifles used must be full weight, demilitarized weapons that are capable of executing the color guard sequence as written (i.e., adjustable slings, etc.).
Who will be Accepted into the Open Level Color Guard competition?
Just like entry into any facet of the Nationals competition, Open Level Color Guard units must fill out an NHSDTC School Registration Form and submit this form with their Registration Fee once the firm decision to attend the event has been made.
Schools who have not attended the Nationals in recent history will be evaluated on their overall finishes at recent regional and local drill competitions, as well as instructor/peer evaluations. Motivation and organzation are large factors as well. The ultimate authority regarding who will be accepted into which competition division will be Sports Network International, Event Manager for the National High School Drill Team Championships.
The event is scheduled to allow 25 to 30 schools to compete at the Open Level Color Guard event. Many interested schools have already called for additional information. If your school wishes to attend, fill out the Nationals Registration Form, submit your entry fee and ready yourself for the drill experience of a lifetime at the upcoming Nationals.
Is the Open Level Color Guard Event Part of the Nationals?
Yes, just like the events within the Challenge Level and Masters Level, the Open Level Color Guard event is an event of the Nationals. Cadets, Instructors and team followers who attend the Nationals will receive the same event materials and other items.
When Should My School Register to Attend? Schools wishing to enter the Open Level Color Guard competition should register immediately following the finalizing of their decision to attend. Beginning this year because of incredible and unprecidented demand to attend the event from schools across the country, Sports Network International will begin to utilize a new entry system to select schools that will be attending the upcoming event explained below.
To Register for the NHSDTC
To register your school into the Nationals, please complete the NHSDTC Registration Form enclosed within the IDR Magazine which is mailed to your school in mid-September and mail it to Sports Network International along with your Registration Fee. Schools unsure of which competition level they should enter should contact SNI before submitting their School Registration. Upon receipt by SNI, your school will be immediately notified by mail that we have received your entry request.
All Nationals registrations will be accumulated and mass reviewed by the competition committee of SNI beginning on the first Friday in December. SNI will evaluate all entries on their merits and decide which schools can be accepted. This judgement will be based on many factors, but the largest of these include:
While most powerful returning schools to the Nationals register within weeks of receiving this invitation, a few schools wait. If you are sure you wish to attend, this could be a recipe for disaster! Schools who register after the early December review deadline will have only a small chance of getting into the Nationals as the event is annually over-filled with many teams unfortunately unable to be accepted due to space limitations.
Challenge Level Competition Information Page
