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Marching is Sport?


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I think Marching Band is unique when it comes to this question.

 

I think, if you really delve into what it really is.. just look at everything involved in it.

 

Performance.

Physical Stamina.

Physical Ability.

Musicality.

Multitasking.

Competitive(ness).

Friendship.

Family.

Art.

Sportsmanship.

Geometry.

Practice.

 

 

Seriously.

In my eyes it's so hard to classify.

But in my opinion, I do not believe we work any less harder than Football or Soccer players do.

 

How many Football Players can hold up an instrument, while marching in step with the beat, keeping time with the hands of the drum major or listening back to the drumline, playing music, finding places to breathe, using proper posture, having proper balance, step size, and spacing, having high toes, watching where sets are on the field, going for 8-12 mins while doing all; this at speeds up to 200 bpm... all at the same time?

 

Yeah. :]

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How many Football Players can hold up an instrument, while marching in step with the beat, keeping time with the hands of the drum major or listening back to the drumline, playing music, finding places to breathe, using proper posture, having proper balance, step size, and spacing, having high toes, watching where sets are on the field, going for 8-12 mins while doing all; this at speeds up to 200 bpm... all at the same time?

 

Yeah. :]

 

As true as that is, they could easily say the same for us. How many band kids could play high school football....

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As true as that is, they could easily say the same for us. How many band kids could play high school football....

 

 

I did do both simultaneously at one point...both are physically and mentally demanding, but football is more physically demanding while marching is more mentally demanding.

 

Even then, you can't really compare the difference. It'd be like comparing football to ballet as far the physical demand goes. Ballet (to be good at it) is probably as demanding as it gets, but football is a high contact sport with chronic hits...

 

Needless to say, band and football are both extremely demanding, but comparing them isn't necessarily fair.

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I would just like the time to point out that what most people call a "sport", basket ball, soccer, football, ect.

have to do with young adults, or older adults for profesional, chasing around a ball in a square.

 

yes it takes physical abilities, that I don't have, but so do other things that aren't sports.

 

Football: run with a ball/ try to stop the guy with the ball

Basketball: try to get the ball/ chase the ball

Soccer: chase the ball

 

My question is do you really want to classified as a sport? ;)

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I have to say, having played baseball most my life. If you consider baseball a sport then marching is a sport ( it's way harder)

. the only difference between them and us physicaly is their stronger... sometimes. but if you look at it from an art stand point, calling it a sport does degrade it to an extent.

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Marching is an art therefor it's subjective when it comes to competing.

 

Baseball, for example is a sport because it is objective.

 

I think that's pretty much case and point.

 

If you want to get into a discussion about how it requires just as much effort as sports, then that's different. Fishing is a sport but we all know it doesn't require the same amount of athleticism. Same with bowling, table tennis, etc. Performing arts can be just athletic.

 

(I suppose figure skating kind of throws a wrench in my thinking because it is considered a sport, yet it is subjective... oh well. DCI is on espn. I can't complain.)

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I'm going to have to say it is a sport and an art form both.

 

Look at what DCI participants are called: musician-athletes.

 

Just because you're in high school and not going through the day-to-day lifestyle of someone in corps doesn't make you any less of a musician-athlete, I think. Sure, it's a nice, fancy, hyphenated word that most people probably wouldn't put together, but does it accurately describe what we are? I'd say yes.

 

Is the football field a canvas with which to make something truly beautiful? You betcha. But could we make it without busting our tails, and, as my high school director would put it, "earn that athletic credit?"

 

Toss this into the salad, too.

 

Marching band isn't just a sport, it's a team sport.

 

Team sport:

 

1.) team sport - noun

a sport that involves competition between teams of players

 

So then we have to make the argument if we're a team or not, and how referring to ourselves as such might degrade how people perceive what we do, yadda yadda yadda...

 

But in the end, does it really matter? As long as you're happy with what you're doing at the end of the day (which, if you're on this site, I'd figure so), I'd say that's all that really matters.

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Marching is an art therefor it's subjective when it comes to competing.

 

Baseball, for example is a sport because it is objective.

 

I think that's pretty much case and point.

 

If you want to get into a discussion about how it requires just as much effort as sports, then that's different. Fishing is a sport but we all know it doesn't require the same amount of athleticism. Same with bowling, table tennis, etc. Performing arts can be just athletic.

 

(I suppose figure skating kind of throws a wrench in my thinking because it is considered a sport, yet it is subjective... oh well. DCI is on espn. I can't complain.)

DCI waaas on ESPN.... http://www.dci.org/news/view.cfm?news_id=9...95-fc05eed6d41e

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  • 2 weeks later...
marching well is easy... its the same thing over and over (with the exception if the weather)... its just the panzys that complain about how hard it is...lol

 

To: WestCoastCorpsFan (Adam)

 

Post removed. Your comment was unnecessary. This is also the second time where you've "bashed" the Rowlett HS Band.

 

Also, I ran an IP check on your screen name and it looks like you're posting under two different names. Please, pick one screen name to post under from now on or further action will be taken. Thanks.

 

-Moderators

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I apologize to the Rowlett band. Any statements made in a demeaning manner were not purposely aimed, to the band specifically. Rather, to a certain individual from the program I was frustrated with. My sincerest apologies to the band program and it's students. Yes, this post was brought on by the deletion of one of my comments for "'bashing' the rowlett band on numerous occasions." But, I came across the deletion of my comment through coming to apologize here on my own accord. I have mis-represented my school, and other organizations I participate in, and again I am sincerely sorry, and wish no one takes after my actions.

In the spirit of a clean TxBands environment ,

W.C.C. Fan

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marching well is easy... its the same thing over and over (with the exception if the weather)... its just the panzys that complain about how hard it is...lol

to you sir... I am not a panzy. I am not complaining. Im not sure on your marching band experiences, but I am under the belief that mine are difficult and physically challenge. But, congratulations to you on achieving a physical fitness level that makes the activity easy for you. :lol:

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