FFCC / Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit
Colorguard, Percussion, and Winds for Northern and Central Florida
This year has seen an unprecedented number of new and returning teams. In fact, we had more teams add and return to the FFCC than we had in competition at our first five years of FFCC Championships. More than thirty teams in total. In general, this has been a very good thing. We are spreading more opportunities to more teams in more counties than any other color guard and percussion circuit in the country. It does, however, come with a price. [Read more…]
Early this afternoon all the prices and links were updated for the sale of Championships tickets. Advance sales only last a limited time so be certain to take advantage of the savings. You can find more information by clicking on the “Championships Banner” at the bottom of the FFCC Home Page. If you have specific questions you can reach out to Circuit Treasurer Jackie Price at treasurer@ffcc.org.
The FFCC is pleased to announce the Martha Stark Memorial Scholarship Award application is now LIVE!
The deadline for this prestigious award is Monday, March 6, 2017 at 11:59PM. All applications must be complete and received before the deadline to be considered. If you have any questions regarding the application process or these awards, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
For further information or to apply for the Martha Stark Scholarship, please click here.
Sportsmanship is defined as ethical, appropriate, polite, and fair behavior while participating in a game or athletic event. The ability to be gracious in victory and defeat is the mark of a true competitor.
Kevin Paulus was a founding Board member of the FFCC and the trademark of all his teams at Lemon Bay High School was their competitive drive. They were always a crowd favorite and in the heat of battle for top honors. What made Kevin’s teams stand out on and off the floor was their respect for their competitors. Whether his teams were first or last, they were always the first to congratulate the other teams and quick to offer help when needed. They also felt that part of being a good sportsman was being prepared and ready to compete. In Kevin’s honor, we created the Kevin Paulus Sportsmanship Award to recognize deserving teams.
Certainly there are many teams that have some of these great qualities but the Kevin Paulus Award should be reserved for those special teams that have them all. The FFCC depends on Team Directors to make nominations each year based on their personal experiences with their peers. This year we are making the nomination form available all year in an effort to make it easy for Directors to nominate teams during the season. When you experience those “outstanding moments of sportsmanship”, Directors may find the criteria for nomination and information on the award HERE to recognize and nominate those deserving teams.
FFCC is very excited to give you details of the clinic this Saturday. You have been received instruction in your Show Information Packet and the recent News Letter but this is one last bit of information to help you get every bit of educational oppotunity out of the weekend with the experts.
We are extremely fortunate to have three of the best designers, technicians, and artists in the color guard world with us for the weekend. Randy Nelson is leading the team. Randy has designed countless teams during his many years in the business including Choctawhatchee HS during their reign as one of the top three color guards in the Scholastic World class. Randy has worked and designed successful teams in every single FFCC class. Jude Boughton is coming to us from Texas, where his teams are know for their iconic choices in art and design. Jude spent years as the lead designer for Black Watch and he brings that creative eye to all classes of competition where he can give you solutions to your design and art issues you might not have even considered. Carla Burgess Thomas is without a doubt one of the best in the business at writing and training teams in body and equipment skills. She has brough her talents to Juxtaposition and the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. Among Carla’s many amazing talents is her ability to isolate, analyze, and solve those variations for member to member. She is also great at helping you lay down a foundation to avoid those training issues in the first place. This combination of design, effect and training will give you a three pronged attack to your design and will undoubtedly give you a blue print for the rest of your season.
How It Works –
Directors should leave someone at the sound table to start your music. If you do not have an extra person, this weekend only you can ask the sound table to start the music for you. You will have to cue the start from the stands. You are responsible for having everything cued to the correct track.
All staff should go to the top of the stands in the area marked off for the clinicians and staff. During your performance one or two of the clinicians will discuss your performance, and ask questions, and make possible suggestions. Directors will receive an audio file on the interaction.Once your performance is over, if you are able one of the clinician is going to take you aside in the stands and spend another seven minutes discussing your questions and giving you ideas and possibilities. This is going to take some coordination on your part and maybe some help from parents or friends that can get your teams off the floor. If at all possible take advantage of the one on one time. These are extremely talented people spending time focused only on your program – it’s invaluable.
Part Two –
In addition to the one on one service each guard will receive, at 3:00 PM there will be a 45 minute open forum session for all directors and staff ( those who have performed as well as those who are performing later in the contest). This will be a question and answer session on understanding adjudication and effective communication in critique. It will also cover design choices in music, staging, and effect. The clinicians will also discuss training in movement and equipment. The directors and staff will drive the session with their questions and curiosity. You are getting this information now so that all team staff and or directors will be able to participate by making plans in advance of the contest day. This is open access to people who can teach to get the answers you are looking for from judges in your short critique sessions, you have to admit that alone would be worth making time to attend.
