Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who are the Directors?
A: To find our staff please turn to the “staff” tab on our website. Please refer to this link to review the staff. https://www.novaindependentwinterguard.org/staff
Q: Where will rehearsal be located?
A: Our rehearsals throughout the season will be based in either Coppell or in Argyle.
Q: When will rehearsals be? Weekends or weekdays?
A: Rehearsals will occur on the weekends (subject to change on performance wee ks).
Q: Are there specific preferences for equipment?
A: The length of equipment that we will be spinning is 6 ft. flag, 37.5 inch rifle, and 39 inch sabre.
Q: Are there any requirements to try out for the group?
A: The requirements we have for individuals looking to try out for the group is for them to attend both audition weekends. For performance experience, we are looking for individuals who have at least two seasons of colorguard training.
Q: How will auditions work?
A: Auditions will be a two weekend process:
Weekend 1 will be two days in which you learn technique and an audition piece. You will be judged based on execution and adaptability.
Weekend 2 will be a one-day call back for us to make the final selection for our competitive team.
Q: Do you have a tentative schedule/calendar?
A: Yes! We do have a tentative schedule and calendar created. The tentative calendar will be released at the beginning of August on our website. For your planning purposes, we are looking to start rehearsals in September. Those rehearsals will be on Sundays only until our respective marching seasons have concluded. We will have full rehearsal weekends (Saturday and Sunday) beginning in November.
Q: How accommodating would the staff be to out-of-town members?
A: We will be accepting out of town members. While it will be the responsibility of out-of-town members to coordinate their own transportation and housing, NOVA staff will assist to the best of their abilities to help facilitate housing.
Q: Does NOVA expect to attend WGI World Championships?
A: Yes, we are planning to compete in Dayton, Ohio this season.
Q:What is the flexibility like on show days if we are teaching a competing unit?
A: NOVA is very excited to have members who are directors and technicians. To accommodate for overlapping schedules, we will release our calendar ahead of time, that way instructors can create their programs calendars to coincide with ours. Technicians will be allowed to attend a certain amount of competitions with their students. They will be expected to attend rehearsals before and after their students perform.
Q: Would college be something that would get in the way scheduling wise?
A: Not at all, we encourage our performers to pursue their education and career. The rehearsal and performance calendar will be released in advance for our members to have a healthy life balance. Most of your time with NOVA will occur on the weekends. The weekdays will be the best time to focus on school and/or work.
Q: I was unable to make the last spin clinic. Will you have more spin clinics?
A: Yes! We have a spin clinic on July 12th and August 16th.
Q: When will we know if NOVA will be A Class or Open Class?
A: NOVA will announce their classification at the beginning of August.
Q: What does the estimate for the tuition/fees look like?
A: Ultimately the tuition will be decided based on the final number of members we accept. Currently we are looking to charge $1,700 and plan to raise another $200 - $300 in fundraisers.
Q: How many members are you looking to put on the team?
A: There is no set number of members we are looking to bring on to our team at the moment. As we approach auditions and develop the show with our design team, we will solidify the number.
Q: Can you compete in high school and an independent group at the same time?
A: The following statements reflect the decision on Scholastic (high school) members competing with Independent units. This statement reflects the decision of our local NTCA circuit, which follows the standard and rules in accordance with WGI.
SCHOLASTIC MEMBER PARTICIPATION IN INDEPENDENT UNITS
1. If a student is a member of their school’s scholastic unit (and the unit is a member of NTCA) on or after the first of August, which precedes the competitive season, and chooses to leave that unit and join an Independent unit, a letter must be on file with NTCA. This letter must state that the student is officially released of any obligations to the scholastic unit. This letter must be signed by the student, a parent or guardian, the director of the independent unit, the official credentialed teacher in charge of the scholastic unit (Colorguard director or band director), and the school principal.
2. If a student from a school with a Scholastic unit (that is a member of NTCA) is not a member of that unit on or after the first of August, which precedes the competitive season, and chooses to join an Independent unit, no letter is necessary.
GENERAL CROSS PARTICIPATION
1. Performers cannot compete in two colorguards, two drumlines, or two wind units from the same school, school system, or feeder track. (Students may participate in the colorguard and the drumline, or the drumline and the winds, or the special needs team and the colorguard, or the colorguard and the winds, etc., but no single performer can be in the Varsity and JV or sub non-varsity from the same school. Performers can participate in one scholastic and one independent colorguard unit at the discretion of their HS principal and the independent unit director, but may not compete with more than one unit per contest in keeping with current WGI rules.