UIL Marching Band Rules - Pre-Season Practice

[Centex_band_mom]

What are the UIL rules for Marching Band with regard to how early in the summer you can have full band practices? I had always heard August 1st is the first day, but I know a number of schools have drum and colorguard camps that happen a week or so prior to the full marching band starting up.

 

And then what happens to bands that disregard the date for the full band practice (I believe I know of at least one 5A that started full band on July 25th)? Do some blow it off in their non-state year and not worry about the UIL rules? I assume the rules for UIL have nothing to do with BOA.

[Montoya]

You are allowed to practice before August 1. You cannot learn DRILL until August 1. The rule does not apply to learning music, though.

[NickRC]

I also know that there is a rule where you can't practice more than 8 hours (or a certain amount of time) prior to August 1st.

[Centex_band_mom]

Thanks to you both for the clarifications. Also someone else in the office confirmed what you said that bands can practice music all they want but the marching practice is limited to 10 hours before August 1st.

 

So my next question is what if someone like Round Rock exceeded that limit last week? Is it more of an honor system and something that often gets overlooked?

[mrwood69]

:/

Edited October 28, 2011 by mrwood69

[Montoya]

  mrwood69 said:

Marching practice means practicing marching drill. You seem awfully curious about a certain 5A school called Round Rock....

 

 

Actually, that is incorrect.

 

 

However, more than likely Round Rock, or any schools that rehearsed last week for that matter, are well within the rules of UIL.

 

 

Taken from the UIL CC&R:

 

[NickRC]

  Centex_band_mom said:

Thanks to you both for the clarifications. Also someone else in the office confirmed what you said that bands can practice music all they want but the marching practice is limited to 10 hours before August 1st.

 

So my next question is what if someone like Round Rock exceeded that limit last week? Is it more of an honor system and something that often gets overlooked?

 

It is more of an honor system but I've never heard of a band that puts drill on the field during the week before August 1st. Actually most bands don't put the drill on the field until late first week early second week (well at least the bands I know).

[mrwood69]

Edited October 28, 2011 by mrwood69

[Centex_band_mom]

I didn't necessarily say that they started drill last week - I don't believe they did. From what was passed on I do believe they had marching instruction last week and more than 10 hours. It looks like Montoya has the rule and it is a limit on the hours of marching instruction before August 1st and that drill can't start until August 1st or later. I don't have anything against RR band or any other - actually just thoroughly enjoy watching the incredible shows and listening to all the beautiful music. I only mentioned them, could have been any band, because someone from their band said to a friend what was the big deal with all the things in the news about marching bands and football starting in the heat on August 1st - that they had already had a full week of practice and were well versed/initiated in marching in the heat already.

 

I just wanted to find out if I had misunderstood the rule. It seems like most or practically all of the top bands seem to set schedules to follow the rule so I was curious if the rule was maybe not all that important or if there was a reason a band would choose not to follow it.

[drummerjoe]

  Montoya said:

Actually, that is incorrect.

 

 

However, more than likely Round Rock, or any schools that rehearsed last week for that matter, are well within the rules of UIL.

 

 

Taken from the UIL CC&R: