Marching Fundamentals Review
Foot Placement - Stand on the yard line with the middle of the foot centering the line.
Squad - a group of 4 marchers who usually do the same movements throughout a show.
Attention - position ready for performance - heels together/toes apart, horn held front with both hands, head straight/eyes forward, stand tall and straight with knees unbent. Silent! FREEZE - stand perfectly still, NO MOVEMENT, FREEZE
Parade Rest - left leg extended to the left, left hand in the small of the back, horn held with right hand, head down, eyes on the ground. Silent! FREEZE
Command - Attention - (from Parade Rest)
Field Commander/Head Drummer/Band Director - -"Band - Ten-Hut!"
All "One -Two!" (FULL VOICE)
Movement:
Count 1- bend left knee, raise foot off the ground, extend left arm parallel
to the ground.
Count 2- straighten left leg to Attention position, bring left arm to the
front and hold horn with both hands in attention position
Mark Time (MT) - Usually when the band is not moving, the band will mark time, or march in place.
Field Commander - "Band - Mark Time, Mark!"
Movement: Start with the LEFT FOOT, bend knee, point toe, lift foot off the ground a few inches. Alternate feet usually counts in groups of 8.
Eight to Five (8 to 5) - marching 8 steps in a direction going the distance of 5 yards, each step is 22.5 inches in length.
End Zone- the area behind the Goal line on either side of the field. If told to face the End Zone, face the End Zone on YOUR side of the 50 Yard line.
The 50 Yard Line - Line on the football field located at the exact center of the field. Football fields are 100 yards in length marked from 0 to 50 on either side of the field. If told to face the 50 Yard Line, face the center of the field.
Roll Step - the forward moving step we use for most marching. Always start with the LEFT FOOT, point the toe up, straighten the knee, extend the leg forward and alternate rolling the foot on the ground between steps as you move forward.
Forward March (FM) - The basic field march is performed by glide or "roll stepping" in the direction of travel. This step involves bringing the heel gently to the ground with the toe pointed up, and then rolling forward onto the toes before lifting the foot. Each heel hits the field on the numbered count, always starting with the left foot. Usually in counts of eight. (i.e. 16 = 2-8's, 24 = 3-8's, etc...)
Field Commander - "Band - Forward - Harch!" (Yes, its Harch, with an "H")
About Face - a three count move to turn completely around facing 180° in the opposite direction.
Field Commander - "Band - About - Hace!"
Movement: Count 1 - step RIGHT FOOT forward, Count 2- stand on balls of both feet and twist around to the LEFT in a 180° turn, Count 3- slide Right foot back to Attention position. FREEZE!
All - Count LOULDY: "One, Two, Three!"
Stomp or Halt - stomp down or stop the left foot on beat 1 after the last move and FREEZE.
Halt Cadence - (Start on left foot) Mark Time 5 steps, right foot & leg extended out on count 6, right leg back in on count 7, Yell "Hey!" on count 8. (1-2-3-4-5-OUT-IN HEY!) Percussion plays during this.
Home - the Home Team side of the stadium. Most of our performances will be to the HOME side. At Mollenkopf Stadium, Home is the West Stands.
Away - The Away Team side of the stadium. At Mollenkopf Stadium, Away is the East Stands.
Sideline- the length-wise line located at the side of the field on both Home & Away sides.
Inserts / Hash Marks - two marks on each yard line approximately 28 steps (High School fields) or 32 steps (College fields) away from each sideline. We use inserts to keep our alignment or position on the field in addition to yard lines. Sometimes, both college and high school hash marks are on the same field (ex., YSU Stadium).
Right Face - a two count move to turn to the right from the Attention position.
Field Commander -"Band - Right-Hace!"
Movement: Count 1 - RIGHT FOOT turns right rolling on the HEEL while the left foot turns right rolling on the BALL of the foot, Count 2 - left foot slides forward. You should be facing right and in Attention position. FREEZE!
All - Count LOULDY: "One, Two!"
Left Face - a two count move to turn to the left from the Attention position.
Field Commander - "Band - Left-Hace!"
Movement: Count 1 - LEFT FOOT turns left rolling on the HEEL while the right foot turns left rolling on the BALL of the foot, Count 2 - right foot slides forward. You should be facing left and in Attentionposition. FREEZE!
All - Count LOULDY: "One, Two!"
Right Flank (RF) - Changing direction 90 degrees by turning and snapping the entire body towards the right, and forward marching in the new direction. If you are told to right flank 8, you will turn right and forward march 8 steps.
Left Flank (LF) - Changing direction 90 degrees by turning and snapping the entire body towards the left, and forward marching in the new direction. If you are told to left flank 8, you will turn left and forward march 8 steps.
To The Rear (TTR) - a 180° turn while marching. Turn to the left on the right foot 180° from a standing position. If you are forward marching
Pinwheel (PW) - a squad movement where the squad turns as a unit on a centerpoint in a circular manner. Usually pivoting the squad 90° from its original position.
Boxes- a movement marching in the form of a square box, usually 8 steps in each direction. Boxes can be to the left or right. Boxes are performed with forward marching, right and left slides, and backwards marching.
Backwards March (BM) - Marching backwards, but ALWAYS staying on the balls of your feet, NEVER the heels.
Slide - Changing direction 90 degrees in the band by snapping and turning the lower half of the body, while the top half of the body remains fixed in the original direction, and glide stepping in the new direction.
Hit! - The yell given while field marching to hit the foot on the yard line on that count.
Float - The style of marching in a show where the member has particular coordinates and marches to them independently.
Follow the Leader - Another marching show style where the member follows their coordinates and march while dressing the line and following the person to their front, back, or sides.
Scatter Drill - A marching show style where the drum majors blow a whistle and the band members run to their next coordinate location on the field.
To The Box - Horns point to the press box on the "50" Yard Line. Arms lift the horn up and bend at the neck. The rest of the body stays still.