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Have a difficult section of choreography to teach and a lot of beginner performers?  Teach 8-counts at a time to the entire group, making sure your veterans understand.  Thend divide the group into squads and allow the veterans to work in small groups with the rookies.  Monitor progress and move on when they're ready, 8-counts at a time.  Rookies will feel less overwhelmed and Vets will develop teaching and leadership skills!

-Catina Anderson, Editor, Coach at Broad Run High School, Ashburn, VA 

"On each page of their drill books, besides all of the marching stuff, I have them each find a motivation quote or statement. When I first hand out their set books I usually have one quote ready. I have them put it on the first page. Then as a "homework" project, I have them look for some that really mean something to them. Throughout the season I share some that pertain to that week or something that happened at rehearsal and I will ask them to share their quotes as well from time to time. It definitely serves as a motivational tool because they are constantly looking at their set books."

"When making flags, I occasionally use "Fray Check" on the edges to avoid sewing those hems. You can find the product at most fabric stores and sometimes at Michaels or A.C. Moore. We tend to use poly china silk for the flags that we Fray Check but you can always test a corner of scrap fabric to see if it causes any discoloration. One tip my guard mom developed: If you can use it to stop fraying on the edge, wouldn't it strengthen a seam too? So, for outdoor when weather wears down flags more than indoor guard, she fray checked every seam on every flag. It was time consuming so she rallied a team of sewers to help. Those flags never tore or frayed!!"

- Mary Ann Licamele