Frequently Asked

Currently, the minimum age to join is 1st grade.

The Color Guards perform and march outdoors during the summer and fall seasons as a section of their marching bands to live band music. 

The Winter Guards perform on center-stage, indoors during the winter season in competitive performances to pre-recorded, popular music. 

ABSOLUTELY! 

The color guard is a section of the marching band just like winds, brass, and percussion. Many of our color guard section members also play instruments, and you may see our color guard section members playing their instruments at band concerts throughout the school year!

No. Anyone with interest in color guard can join the marching band in the color guard section.

Flags: Guard flags are composed of a weighted, 6 foot pole and artistic silk used to depict a message or theme. The combination of the weighted pole and silk allows guard performers to do intricate spinning choreography and dramatic tosses high into the air; advanced performers toss at different angles and get up to 3 rotations before catching. Young children (cadets) often start with a lighter, 5 foot flag. 

Rifles: Guard rifles are wooden, prop rifles weighted specifically that allow guard performers to do complex, fast spinning choreography and incredible tosses very high into the air; advanced performers toss at different angles and get 6 or more rotations before catching.

Sabres: Guard sabres are steel, weighted sabres and are the most advanced guard equipment. Sabre skills are similar to rifle skills but much more difficult to execute.

Props: Guard performances usually depict a specific theme or story. Props are used during shows to help tell that story.

Floors: In winter guard only, groups perform on printed, vinyl tarps called floors. These floors help depict the show's theme or story and provide a surface to assist performers with movement throughout their performance. 

NONE!

We have built our program specifically for beginner development so no previous experience is needed. 

We have successfully developed novice students, with no previous experience, into veteran performers. We believe each member brings unique and valuable contributions to their teams, and we strive to highlight each members amazing strengths during performances!

YES! We focus on performance development for all ages and experience levels. 

The time commitment is variable depending on season and team. 

Summer seasons are less time commitment, while fall and winter competition seasons are more time commitment.

Our Cadet program is less intensive and does not travel. 

The color guard at Lakeville South is an elite, competitive program and requires a high level of commitment. Attendance at ALL competitions is required unless excused for illness/injury.

The Varsity Winter Guard Team is an elite, nationally competitive team requiring high commitment level including local, regional and national competitions as well as travel. 

Members can choose to participate in one or more seasons (summer parade season, fall field show season, winter guard season)

Note for Lakeville South: To participate in Lakeville South's competitive fall season, guard members MUST also participate in summer parade season as skills and field show work is done throughout the summer months to prepare for the fall competition season. Summer enrollment is REQUIRED to compete in the fall season.

Note for High School Band Trips (North and South): To be eligible to attend band trips, members MUST participate in summer parade season. Summer parade shows are performed during band trips.

No.

The color guard programs do not include an audition process but rather dedicated skills camps that prepare all guard members for performances. 

The winter guard program requires a week of group skills training/evaluations just prior to the start of the season used to place members on teams appropriate for their experience level. New middle-school members may be placed at the Cadet level while they build advancing skills. 

Yes, there are fees to participate in Lakeville Guard. All fees go towards running a program of this size including equipment costs, costume/uniform expenses, rehearsal space fees, transportation, and competition fees.

Additional fundraising and sponsorships may be required to offset travel costs. 

Participation fees are usually available a few months before the start of each season.

We NEVER want financial limitations to prohibit participation. We encourage anyone with concerns to contact us directly. 

Transportation is provided during summer and fall season to color guard/marching band performances.

Transportation is not provided during winter season to local winter guard performances.

For our competative winter guard teams attending out of town competitions, transportation is provided. 

No.

-Large equipment like flags, rifles, sabres are checked out to performers for the season by the program. These items are returned at the end of the season.

-Small, personal items like gloves, shoes, uniforms, make-up kits, etc... are covered by fees and ordered for performers by the program at the beginning of the season. These items are theirs to keep.

-Competition costumes are ordered by the program and checked out to performers before their first competition. Competition costumes are returned at the end of the competition season. 

-Optional specialty items, like tee shirts, branded gear, equipment bags may be available for purchase periodically. 

Note: Some of our experienced members choose to purchase their own, personally owned equipment like rifles and sabres. This is NOT required, however, if members choose to purchase their own equipment, please speak with the color guard directors BEFORE purchasing so they can guide you on appropriate equipment for your size and skill level.

YES! Both Lakeville North and South traveled on band trips in 2024!

Our JV winter guard team traveled to a regional competition in 2024!

Our Varsity winter guard team traveled to a regional competition and a national competition in 2024!

Cadet performances are all local.

Visit our travel page for more info!

Frequently! Fundraising is critical for the Lakeville Guard Program.

Please visit fundraising to learn how you can support this program through our fundraisers!

Please visit our Merch Store to support our guards with customized spirit wear; part of the proceeds go directly towards supporting our programs!

Definitely!!

We have both donation and corporate sponsorship support opportunities which include sponsorship advertising benefits. Please visit Community Support to learn how you can support this awesome program!

Yes. Yes! YES!

We frequently need volunteer support throughout the year whether it be help at our Lakeville Winter Guard show, help at parade and field show performances, fundraisers and even help with hair/make-up on performance days (don't worry, we teach everything that you need to know)

Volunteers sign up to help on Sign-Up Genius sent throughout the year. Thanks in advance!

During winter guard season, winter guard programs in conjunction with The Northstar Circuit, will host competitions at their home schools. Lakeville Guard hosts a competition every year at Lakeville South High School. This is a fun and exciting event that helps us fundraise to support our program through ticket and concession sales. 

The Northstar Circuit is our local winter guard competition circuit. The Northstar circuit hosts competitions aka "shows" with professional judges at various schools around The Twin Cities starting with Premiere and ending with Championships.

Lakeville Guard also hosts a competition every year at Lakeville South!

WGI: Winter Guard International. 

The Northstar Circuit is winter guard's local competition circuit (MN) and WGI; Winter Guard International is winter guard's national competition circuit. We compete within The Northstar Circuit throughout the winter guard season and, as members of WGI, we also compete regionally in the Midwest and nationally at WGI finals in Dayton, OH.

Our JV team competes at one WGI Regional. 

Our Varsity Team competes at one WGI Regional and at WGI Championships.

Our Cadets Team does not compete in WGI. 

The Youth in Music Minnesota State High School Band Championship is the state competition for competitive marching bands. Competitive marching bands from across Minnesota come together to compete for the title of MN state champions in 4 different classes (A, AA, AAA, AAAA).  Lakeville Area Schools has a competitive marching band program at Lakeville South High School and were awarded state championship titles in 2021, 2022 and 2023!

Please contact us directly at Lakevilleguard@gmail.com or use our "contact us" form