True judging philosophy isn't always found on the sheets

Last night was guard championships. TP and his crew did an fantastic job, but you wouldn't know it. Why?

Beats me.

Performing for an audience of fans and parents is one thing. They "see" things in a way that judges don't. Judges are expected to be discerning. To know the nuances and bring neutrality to the process of looking at 14 units - or more - then ranking and rating. (I've blogged on that before.)

But inexplicably you get to championships, and the judges see that your work is 8 points worse (10%!) than last week? And not much better than the first show out?

I have always had trouble "judging" indoor. Most of the time I can peg a drum corps, get ideas about where bands should be, and understand some of the equipment and precision aspects of indoor. But ...

Major League or not, we are working with kids, who may not understand the adjudication system, but who make the commitment of time and effort to improve. Even a football team that goes 0-10 will improve.

Please don't confuse this with a "trophy for everyone" or "every kid is a winner." There are winners. There are losers. This is competition. The ultimate goal is to compete against yourself and improve yourself.

But when you can't get consistent feedback that you can rely on to be helpful, it is beyond disappointing, it is frustrating. Ultimately, judges (parents and bosses), this is what you hold in your hands.

To the guard - use this experience as the "SPark" to future success. In the long run, it will make you a winner.

On, Guard!

I know, I know ... ideas aren't posts. I have several I've been tossing around for my world wide audience (of less than, oh, a half-dozen), but they are pending.

In the meantime, TP is now also a flag in the winter guard (one of a handful of males and the ONLY freshman, male or female!). After some delays in getting on the competition floor (due to, umm, winter - about 4 1/2" of it) they got out there. Mmmm. Mmmm. Mmmm.

Actually, the name of the piece is "Mmm..." (3 Ms) performed by Laura Izabor; you can listen (once) on Lala.com. The guard is portraying a tribute to family loved and lost. The art of winter guard can get over my head sometime, but this year I'm along for the ride.

Along for the ride as long as they let me near the floor again. Seems someone (insert sheepish grin here) lost his iPhone while racing to pick up the floor after a show, and it got folded in to the (several) hundred pound near gym floor size tarp. So we had to unfold. And refold. In the dark. And cold.

This past weekend they overcame that handicap - I was nearly completely across the country - and did a double header, and pretty much swept the floor. The first show was a 1st in class, 1st overall (of 10) and fan favorite; the second was 2nd in class and 2nd overall (of 23). Mmm! Mmm! Mmm! - Tasty!

Seems the season just started, but they only have two shows left to go before championships. So, onward, guard!