Friday night I went to Kilgore to see KHS-Nacogdoches. While the Nacogdoches band was performing on the field, the KHS drill team marched up and stood in place on the sideline (literally on the line) between the 40 yard lines. The drill team officers were actually standing in place a yard or two on the football field.

Sure enough, the NHS band marched toward the sideline and was blocked from making its turns by the KHS drill team, which didn't budge an inch. Several of the NHS bandsmen were forced out of place, out of step, etc. It could have been a real trainwreck. Fortunately, the band recovered and was able to complete its drill. (It also was dangerous to the drill team. Those NHS tubas were big!)

Please understand, I'm not connected in any way with KHS or NHS. I'm from Longview and a Lobo fan.

My question is: Do bands/drill teams have policies about lining up while another band/drill team is performing? Frankly, it seemed very rude for the KHS drill team to line up ON THE FIELD at the 50-yard-line while the NHS band was performing.

I'm not blaming the drill team members; they lined up where they were told to. However, the drill team could have easily lined up a few yards outside the sideline and avoided any potential problems.

By the way, the drill team performance was great. The NHS band was tremendous, too.

I don't mean to open a can of worms here. I'm just curious if there are policies in place for bands/drill teams waiting to perform. I seems to me to be a matter of COURTESY and RESPECT.

Uh - that's just the Kilgore drill team.... NAC showed class and GREAT recovery! I know some places where the tubas and drummers would have just taken out a few of the girls!

Most bands, auxiliaries, and drill teams line up behind the benches or in the end zone - far enough to stay out of the way and give the performing band and auxiliaries room to perform and exit. That was just rude and disrespectful, and is not the norm for any bands I've ever observed. As far as set policies, I don't think there are any.

Most drill teams I've watched are independent of the band. They have their own sponsor and have no affiliation with the band / band director at all.

The problem is there are no policies in place - it has always been courtesy and respect.

Most groups wait on the track and/or end zone until it is time to perform.

At one time the bands stood at "parade rest" on the track/or end zone while the other
performed. Now, most bands just walk away from the field talking about what they will eat during break.

It is NOT necessary for the groups to be on the field while another school is performing.

Most band members are taught they do not move for anyone. If someone is in your way, run over
them - that is your time and space. IF the drill team members were hit by band members and/or instruments
they would be crying. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is a reflection of the drill team leader.

It is a reflection of the drill team leader.
[/quote]

Actually all drill teams line up on the opposite side where they're supposed to perform. They are on the OPPOSITE side of the field. It wasn't Kilgore's drill team's fault the Nacogdoches' band took up the WHOLE field. If you look... when the drill team is next... they have to line up and get ready to start. How is it rude? The Nacogdoches band was ON the field... so the drill team was waiting for them to finish... Nac's fans were very rude to the girls on the drill team... is it their fault that they lined up like they do EVERY game...? No... and it is a reflection of the awesome Hi-Stepper director... a former Rangerette... who knows what she's doing and is very classy. For years the Hi-Steppers have lined up on the sideline before they are about to perform...

That is too funny, JR88. Next time, I guess the bands need to send halftime film to K's drill team so they'll know to get out of the way. This is just sheer ignorance on the drill team's part. If a band the size of Nac's is headed your direction, you need to back up and get out of the way. It would not have hurt them to move a few steps back. In fact, in all the games I've been to - and there have been a LOT!!!! - I've never seen a band or drill team line up on the sidelines and refuse to move out of the way until they see the opposing team's band leaving the field. Someone doesn't know halftime etiquette!

...............the Nacogdoches band took up the WHOLE field.....................Well if it is their time to perform then isn't it "THEIR" field. Good Lord, back up and wait your turn.

I say a trombone straight ahead might be a deterrent to standing in the band member's way!

Honestly, i wouldn't go around the drill team, although they could high-kick you in the face

Nah - they'd be face down in the dirt with shoe prints down their backs - not much chance for a high kick!

Seriously, this should not have been a problem. It shows the arrogance of a group and the disrespect for another group. K's drill team should apologize - not that it will ever happen - but it was not their turn to take the field.

Those same girls would pitch a fit had the football team run onto the field at the end of halftime if they were still performing. I've seen it happen on more than one occasion....

"It seems to me to be a matter of COURTESY and RESPECT"


Two things sadly lacking in our world today..........

Performers (band members and drill team members) are taught to turn on the line.


All drill teams line up near the field and wait their turn. This drill team was on the line while the band was performing. The band is taught to turn on the line. The drill team instructor may be "awesome" but there is plenty of time and room to wait your turn.

Thanks to all who responded to my question about band/drill team policies.

The reply from JR88 Kilgore speaks volumes, doesn't it? It's the NHS band's fault for using the whole field!!!

Dear JR88: What arrogance. What ego. What rudeness. "Very classy"? No, I don't think so.

There is not a classier or more respectful person in the profession than the KHS drill team sponsor! As the band approached the sidelines the girls DID step back to make room.

You were right about the girls doing great, so was the Nac band. My question is what is the big deal? There wasnt any problem that I saw. If it messed the band up it sure didnt show.


The only problem I see is you bashing a sponsor that you don't even know.

As the director of the Kilgore High School Hi-Steppers, I would like to say that the Nacogdoches band's performance Friday night was great! In defense of my team members I must say that they have never been in the way of any other band while standing on the side line. The first half of the season the KHS band stood directly behind the girls, on the same sideline. Drill teams are encouraged to get on and off of the field in a timely manner, therefore we usually always enter while the opposing team band is still performing. The Hi-Steppers are trained to be discreet when entering the field and not to move while standing on the sidelines, when the other band is performing. The girls do not stand closer to the opposing team stands due to football equipment, benches, etc, on the sidelines. Also, the closer the girls stand to the opposing fans they are more apt to be victims of remarks and flying objects that are thrown at them. (food, gum, paper, etc.) I know that my girls were not sure what to do when the band was moving toward them during their drill. From the pressbox, it appeared to be no problem at all. The girls moved out of the way and then they returned to their places. When I visited with my girls after half-time, I praised them for moving out of the way and then moving back into their places so discreetely. They were VERY upset. They said that the Nacodoches band members and the fans were quite rude to them. The band members made no attempt to "compromise" in a bad situatuaion and the spectators yelled at the girls from the stands~ using inapprorpriate language. (Neither courteous or respectful.) I explained to my team that the band was doing exactly what the director told them to do just like they were doing exactly what I have told them to do. I did not know what to say about the behavior of the fans. I can assure the Nac band and Nac fans, the Hi-Steppers had no intention of detering the performance of the band. My girls are both courteous and respectful. The girls were doing what they do EVERY Friday night. Following my instructions. Unfortunately or fortunately, both groups have a good deal of discipline and were following the instructions of their leaders. As far as rules for half time performances... This is my eleventh year to direct the drill team and no one has ever told me anything except each band/drill team has 14 minutes for their halftime show. When Gilmer played in Kilgore, earlier this year their drill team and band performed to their own crowd instead of to the "HOME" side. I did not know that was an option. We have only done that during playoff games. I will instruct my team what to do if they ever face this situation again. Perhaps the Nac band director should inform the band and drill team they play next week that they use the entire field from sideline to sideline for their drills.

Let's not be ignorant. When the band is on field - stay off. There is no need to be ON the sideline. You could easily line up a few step behind the sideline and move into place after the band is exiting the field. It seems a bit arrogant on the drill team's behalf to need to be front and center and ON the field (the sideline is the field, by the way). Nac band shoulda run em over.

They haven't a clue....

So, the way I understand it, the NAC band was supposed to plan to adjust to these girls who wouldn't move. They were supposed to compromise and think as one so they would all know what to do at the same time - deviate from a drill they've been performing since the beginning of football season. That is absolutely ridiculous. The only time I've ever seen a group line up on the sidelines or in the end zone before a band has exited the field is when they've talked to the other directors to see how they are exiting and if they will be in the way. Your girls had plenty of time to line up once the band began their exit. You really have no excuse.

And, Ms. Sponsor, your snide remark at the end completely makes you appear classless.

Wow! First and foremost, to the KHS drill team sponsor, you should have NEVER made the response you made. You sounded arrogant and rude yourself! I am appalled at the fact that you even responded, but to respond that way was just plain unprofessional!

It is rude for the drill team to be anywhere near the field. When I was in drill team we stayed back by the stands ALWAYS waiting for the other band to get off the field. The drill team here also does the same. To be anywhere near the sidelines like that is unnecessary and rude to the other performers.

Okay. I was in Drill team in high school. We ALWAYS lined up on the sidelines waiting our turn to take the field. We were told that we had to be prepared to get onto the field so that we would not delay the start of the second half (ALL bands and drill teams were told this). The KHS Drill team was where they usually are during a home game- they wait for the visiting band to take the field before they move into place on the sideline. And- as far as the fans on the home side were concerned, there did not seem to be any disruption of the Nac drill (which was awesome as always). IN FACT, the fans on the home side gave the Nac band a standing ovation, while it seems the fans on the visitor side were too busy hurling insults at the KHS drill team to notice....

Sadly, there are fans in ALL schools and ALL stadiums who give their teams/schools a bad name. When did it become acceptable to hurl insults at ANYONE involved in the game or half-time performance? Granted, everyone disagrees with the refs a few times, but cussing at coaches, students, or other fans should never be considered "acceptable"- much less that they were "deserving" of being cursed (something that seems to have been implied in a few of these posts).

Oh well, to qoute one of those fans on the visitor side- "I guess you can't fix stupid"

You have just demonstrated the same lack of class and discourtesy that the performers did by not waiting off the field until it was THEIR turn.
Absurd!

apparently you have never been to a high school game before because you would have known that most of the time drill teams and bands uasually line up on sideline or behind endzones you are absolutely ridiculous and you are the one with no class for saying that she has no class and i just came down to your level. I hate knowning i am right and you are wrong. So please go and have a great day

First of all I would like to say that the Nac band did very well during halftime. They gave a great performance.

I have watched my sister perform or performed in the KHS halftime for nearly 6 or more years. However, as a 4 year member of the KHS Hi-Steppers and a 2 year member of the Kilgore band, I have never seen the problem we faced Friday night. The drill team is instructed to line up on the back sidelines to get ready for their performance in order to help halftime go smoothly and quickly. We do not like to go over the time limit for our performance. When the clock was counting down to our turn during halftime, we decided to make our way on to the sidelines. The Nac part of halftime ran over into our time by almost a minute. When we saw the band marching toward us on the back sidelines, the girls backed out of their way. Several of the drill team girls commented later on how they had been shoved and their stools, which were being used a prop, were knocked out of their hands by the band members.

The crowd began to shout rude comments and calling the drill team inappropriate names. I found this very offensive. It suprised me that the parents and students on the Nac side would act in such a juvenile manner.

Oh my! I was at the game and can say honestly everything looked as if it went smoothly from the home side. Yes, I am a Kilgore fan! Both groups of young people, and yes we are talking about 15-18 year olds did recover quite well. The Nac band did put on an amazing half time performance. It is unfortunate that both groups never really know what the other group is going to do. We should be praising the two groups for recovering and doing such a fine job rather than blasting the sponsor or the band. I have watched the drill team for 6 years and they have always entered the field as they did friday night and by entering the field I am saying they stood on the sidelines. This past friday night maybe they took up more space since they were holding props??? My understanding is they watch the clock and as it moves close to that 14 minute time they enter the sidelines. Yes, my daughter mentioned the band players being a little pushy but I am sure neither group knew exactly what to do in the situation, only what they are trained to do, march and stand at attention. They are kids... Speaking as a parent who has seen many drill teams perform over the past 10 years, I can say you will not find girls who are trained to be anymore respectful while the other teams band or drill team is performing.

By the way the director's last remark was not inappropriate or rude only uninformed since Nac is not going to the playoffs!!!

First of all... YES... drill teams always line up ON the sideline to be READY to go... they don't stand off and when it's time to perform walk up... they just don't... if you would quit gorging at the concession stand and watch maybe you would notice...

Second... the KHS drill team director is in no way ignorant or unprofessional...

This isn't a big deal... The drill team lined up READY to go on the field when Nac was done... the Nac band happened to be doing a routine taking the entire field... We have played Nacogdoches for four years now... so in the previous three years I don't believe this being a problem... (yes the drill team has lined up every game on the sideline since before then) It was an accident... These are high school kids... do you honestly believe that the Hi-Steppers and the director intentionally planned to be in Nac's band's way in advance? Come on now...

GET OVER THAT YOU LOST THE GAME and quit taking it out on innocent high school girls and the drill team director...

no you're too funny LV78... I guess I wouldn't know how the drill team of my high school has lined up... Only been at these games for what... 15 years or so now... Guess next time Nac comes we're just not going to leave the stands until Nac is through... but we'll be AT nac next year... So I guess we need to try to muster up at least enough band members to cross the entire length of the field... then we'll see how Nac's drill team reacts...

Kilgore 27 (in the playoffs)

Nac 14 (basketball time! yall are pretty good at bball though)

Everyone who knows me is having a field day with your post. You poor thing. I was in band for 7 years, marching for 4. My sisters were in the drill team. My husband is a band director, and I've gone to his high school games for about 20 years. Wow, your ignorance is now showing.... I probably know a heck of a lot more about bands, drill teams, halftimes, dance lines, majorettes, and class than you can even dream.

Thanks for the laugh. Yours was one hilarious post!

That's just ridiculous. This is about the common courtesy of waiting off to the side until a band has begun to exit the field. Why are you so defensive on this? It's obvious to everyone else - including those not even from NAC that K's drill team should not have been on the line. Once they saw the band headed their direction, they should have stepped back. It was a lot easier for them to make the adjustment than for the band in the middle of their performance to do so. I can't believe you and others are so upset that NAC's band took up the entire field. Jealousy, perhaps?

Hilarious is adding a fourth team to the playoffs and still not making it...

By the way... I would like to see a tape or something of Nac's drill team before their performance after the band next game to see how they operate... Too bad we have to wait til 2009....

Wow, the Kilgore fans are really showing their class here! No, Nac did not make playoffs, so quit with that talk! And yes, your drill team was wrong, they should have stayed off the field till Nac was done. Period. Our band had to wait this past friday night while the visiting band went about 3 minutes into our time with their performance and then wait til they marched off the field. We did not get in their way or interrupt their time in any way. It was frustrating, but it happens.

I don't know why Nac fans keep talking about having class because as I remember it, the fans were yelling explicit remarks to the drill team girls who were simply doing as they had been instructed.

That doesn't sound like class to me.

This should not have been made into such a big deal. I was offended by Nac, and we (the Hi-Steppers) would have never intentionally gotten in the band's way, but I left the field Friday night ready to forget it all and move on with my life.

Come support Kilgore Friday against Marshall!

Everyone who knows me is having a field day with your ignorance and you know nothing more then me on anything except how ignorant you are. Obviously you are insecure about what you think you kinow or you wouldnt have to let me know you are numbero uno when it comes to band. I PROBABLY KNOW A HECK OF A LOT MORE ABOUT ANYTHING THEN YOU DO!

Thanks for the laugh. Yours was one hilarious post moron or sorry MRs. Moron

You're right... and I really don't care about class when people are blaming MY high school DRILL TEAM for "getting in their band's way"...

It really wouldn't have been a problem had the Nac band put together a routine that stayed within the lines of "their" field... yes in a recent post someone said during the performance it should have been "their" field... and it is their right to have the field when they are performing, and indeed it was... the girls were on the SIDELINE...

And NOOOOO.... the drill team wasn't wrong... they are SUPPOSED to be on the field ready... they were on the SIDELINE... If a band has that much trouble keeping their routine on the dang field then change the routine! There is no track at R.E. for them to stand...

Have a good concert season.

You think that you know more about bands than LV78..............No freakin' way. She has more smarts in just her frontal lobe than you would have in 20 brains. Being a Rookie you might want to go to the rules and regs. section and find out about name calling and harassment.

Most people out side of Kilgore have figured out who was at fault. So why don't you just go away while you are only one light year behind? Joining a web site to start a fight with members is against Smoaky rules. You might think you are right but you have no leg to stand on when it comes to slamming such a fine member as LV78.

I am CAPTTIGER..........Proud member of The Might Oaks!

This entire thread is pretty ridiculous. Whoever started it should be banned for ever bringing it up.

So to prove how big and tough you are, you have to resort to name calling? That is too, too funny! Poor thing.... Did I step on your feelings? Keep spewing the hate. Maybe you'll feel better once you get it all out of your system. Keeping it all inside itsn't good for your health.

P.S. BTW, the word is "than" - "know a heck of a lot more about anything thAn you do!"

***Thanks, CAPT! Think I'm battling JTroll? Maybe a JTroll wannabe?***

Hatin' on the band??? Ah, that just ain't right! LOL! **Wonder how K's band feels about you lovely ladies?**

Oh - and congratulations to the Kilgore FOOTBALL team who made it into the playoffs.

Well, I have nothing to do with either school, so I will rehash facts.
First the band was on the field during their turn to perform. Second, the sideline is part of the field when considering use for the halftime show. (Our band actually begins with members lined up on all sides of the field, sidelines and goal lines for the opening set.)
Regardless of what your "tradition" is, or what bands "usually" do (according to you), is not relevant. Period. The band is in use of the field, and even without a track, there is ample space on most fields to stay back at least 2-3 steps without sacrificing precious time to "be ready to go", once the band began to march off.
You cannot say I have no class, or my fans yelled at yours, because we were not there. I can, however, tell what type of person you are acting like (maybe not who you normally are) by your words expressed here.
Your have given very narcistic and egotistical views, and have brought shame to your unit by your immature rants. I hope this is not the lesson your school board hopes the program get from it's leader. Take time, and look back objectively at what you have written. Look at it as if you were a member of the other organization, or even better, someone like me with no vested interest.
Yes I am sticking my nose in it, but not with any gusto, because it stinks.
Regardless of whatever facts that are unavailable, that may clear up some of the understanding behind what happened on the field, what happened off, and after have much deeper impressions than you may think. I doubt you will find ANY supporters of your position and tone that are not members of your program. Namecalling? Please!

Well said.....

AMEN

I can't believe this is still going.

How many coaches get on this board defending their team?

Coaches I know stay away from this site and tell their team not to pay any
attention to what people say.

If you do not agree with comments - ignore them.

Feeding the fire only makes things worse.


Actions speak louder than words.

Huh.
That sounds exactly like what happened with Whitehouse.
They were lined up on the goal line while Whitehouse was marching and they would'nt move so we had to march through them.