PARTICIPANTS – NECG exists fundamentally for its participants – The Youth, Staff and supporters.  This is always the underlying consideration when NECG makes decisions.

             Thus NECG contributes to the cultural responsibilities held                              by all deserving youth activities, devotion to the individual,                              preservation of society and improvement of mankind.

STANDARDS – NECG is committed to inspire its participants to achieve ever higher and higher standards.  We ascribe to the concept that artistic, aesthetic and creative standards are important, but inspiration must be balanced with the primary need of providing recognition and dignity for all participants.  

            Thus NECG accepts the quest for wholesome experience                                 for all, despite the dilemmas inherent in the conflicting                                     needs to create higher standards yet ensure respect for all.

COMPETITION – NECG has chosen competition as its method for organizing youth activities in pursuit of high standards of achievement.  We maintain that competition is only the means, subject to whatever controls are necessary to serve the true end – the participants.

1) Board of Directors

* Officers will be President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer.
* Officers will be voted in each year at the annual Fall Meeting.
* The duties will be determined each year by the President of the Board. The officers may create and appoint other positions as necessary to assist in the operation of the circuit.

2) Membership
* Membership is for fiscal year – September to October.
* Open to any organization / person who wants to continue the activity of Winter guard.

3) Meetings
* The association will hold a minimum of one meeting per year.
* The Board of Directors will determine the date for the meeting and it’s location.

4) Dues
* Annual dues will be $125 (US Funds) per unit per fiscal year.
* Dues must be paid before a guard can sign up for shows.

5) Voting
* Each dues paying member (unit) will have one (1) vote and say at all general meetings.
* Dues for newly formed units must be paid in full at the meeting in order to have a vote at that meeting.

6) Communication
* The Board of Directors will send newsletters and correspondence to each organization and send a membership list to each dues paying member.
* The circuit will provide a show host handbook as a general guideline for running/hosting competitions.

7) Contest Rules & Regulations
* The Northeast Colorguard Circuit is governed by the contest rules and regulations as established by Winter Guard International. The Vice-President will be in charge of all shows & act as liaison between the show hosts & the Board.
* The Cadet, RA, & A1 class contest rules are established in conjunction with WGI for the Regional A & A Class competitors, however timing rules are established by the Circuit.
* Exhibitions – These units are to appear first in the show line up and will not receive any adjudication including no sheets, no tapes and no critique time.

8) Classification
* IClassification Definitions

Classes should be based on the Potential success of the guard.

Cadet                         RA Sheets

Middle School age Students up to 8th Grade

Regional A                  RA Sheets

Middle School age Students with more experience and experienced
staff. Feeder JV guards in a program with multiple guards. High School guards
with  little Color Guard experience and relatively inexperienced staff.

A1                              WGI A Sheets

High School age members Primary guard of any program. (if not the
next class up)  College age members with very limited programs.

SA  IA                        WGI A Sheets

Guards who choose to compete at WGI. Also guards who due to their
program  and staff, could be competitive at WGI but choose not to be involved
with WGI. Schools with a major feild band program and experienced staff.

SO  IO                       WGI Open Sheets

Guards who have been promoted by WGI or self promoted

SW  IW                     WGI World Sheets

Guards that have been promoted by WGI or self promoted

SR                            WGI A Sheets

Guards with at least 1 member over the WGI age limit for A or Open
Class

The intent of the higher classes is a higher level of competition.  Guards
who fit into another class will not be allowed to enter these classes just
because they are smaller classes and would guarantee a win in some shows.

With the adoption of these definitions, all classes would be allowed to
compete at WGI as long as the class that they are in here is offered by WGI.
A1 guards would be allowed to compete in Class A  OR  Regional A.

             Ø  PROMOTION – The winning Guard competing at the NECG Circuit                   Championships in the RA Class will be promoted to the A1                               Class.  The winning Guard in the A1 Class will be promoted to                         either the IA Class or the SA Class (where ever they fit in) for the                     following season.

* The Classes will be –
Classification Judging Sheets

Cadet                              Regional A
Regional A                     Regional A
A1                                    A
Independent A              A
Scholastic A                   A
Independent Open        Open
Scholastic Open             Open
Independent World         World
Scholastic World              World
Senior                            A

9) Timing
Class           Max Perf. Time   Min. Perf. Time     Min. Interval        Equip. Time

Cadet                   4                         3                                7                     2.5
Regional A          4.5                      3                                7                     3
A1                        5.5                      4                                8                     3.5
A                          5.5                      4                                8                     3.5
Open                  6.5                      5                                9                     3.5
World                 7.5                      6                               10                    3.5
Senior                5.5                      4                                8                     3.5

10) Judging
* NY Federation will assign a panel each week. The minimum will be 6 judges (2 General Effect, 1 Ensemble Analysis, 1 Movement, 1 EQ, & 1 Timing & Penalty)
* Each sponsor must obtain contract for judges from the Vice President and return the contract to the VP of the Circuit.
* Package fee will be $1180 for a 6 members panel..
* Contests with fewer than 10 competing units will have the option to go with a 5-person panel. This MUST be noted on the contract when returned to NY Federation. Once a contract is signed and sent in, no changes are permitted.
* All persons adjudicating within the Northeast Color Guard Circuit must have attended at least one clinic sponsored by the NY Federation of Contest Judges.

11) Critique
* All units requesting to enter into critique are required to listen to Completitionsuite .
* If these sheets are not completed and submitted to the Chief Judge at Critique, you will NOT be permitted to enter critique.
* Order for Critique is based on performance order.
* Units not desiring to attend critique should let their chief judge know this immediately after the last guard’s performance.
* if you are not in the immediate area when your unit’s name is called, you will not be permitted in critique.

12) Contests
* $100 Fee to host a contest. (Checks made payable to: Northeast Colorguard Circuit) The circuit will provide judging sheets, tote sheets, recap sheets, critique sheets and all necessary audio tapes. This fee is due on December 1st.
* The contest director will not receive sheets or tapes until it is verified that the dues have been paid.
* The local shows should be finished with all performing units by 10:30 pm on Saturdays. Shows should start at 7pm or earlier in order to be finished by 10:30 pm.
* Circuit guidelines recommend that post contest meetings will be one hr. in length and start during awards ceremonies. IE approx. 10:30 pm – 11:30 pm. Meeting should be done by 11:30pm.
* Each show host will appoint a contest director to assist the circuit and the judging assocation in providing a well-run show for all competitors.
*Each fall, units will sign up for shows through a sign up form that needs to be returned to the President. A guard may not enter a contest unless the President has certified them as in that show.
* The earliest post-mark date for show sign up is November 1st.
* In order for show selections to be granted, membership dues must be paid in full.
* On a dual show weekend, a show is considered full when it has 12 competing units. The next show on that date will take the other units. The units with the earliest postmark dates will get their show choices first.
* General show information must be sent out 4 weeks before the contest.
* Critique rotation schedule should also be included in the documents sent to unit directors.
* Specific warm-up, performance times, etc., must be sent out two weeks prior to contest date.
* All show data sent to participants should be also sent to the Circuit President and Vice President.
* Show sponsor is responsible to provide a professional sound system and announcer.

13) Draw
* Draw will take place in early December by the President.
* Late sign ups (after December 1st) will go on first in their respective class.
* If you move up a class, your position will stay the same. A coin toss between you and other spot will take place to determine order between those two guards.

14) Practice Times 
*Each local contest will allow practice for a show.
* Individual units must contact sponsor for time and location.

15) Championships
* The Board of Directors will host the Championships show either at a school of their choice (large enough to handle the event) or at an outside Arena.
* The circuit will provide patches and medals to performing members who compete at Championships.
* The circuit will cover the cost of judges above $1,000.
* A unit must compete in 3 Northeast Color Guard Circuit shows to be eligible for championships.

16) Withdraw from a Contest 
* Fines are assessed as follows for pulling out of a show.
** 60 to 45 days prior to contest date = $100
** 30 to 44 days prior to contest date = $150
** 15 to 29 days prior to contest date = $200
** 00 to 14 days prior to contest date = $250
** Under certain circumstances, an appeal can be made to the Board.
* If the President must reassign a guard to fill another show then no fine will be imposed.
* Any fines go directly to the show sponsor.
* It is the sponsors responsibility to report to the President any unit that does not show up for the contest.
* Further penalty or sanction maybe issued at discretion of Board of Directors.

17) NECGC Code of conduct

*In an effort to promote good sportsmanship, the North East Color Guard Circuit (NECGC) is committed to developing and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for competition.  We believe that membership in the NECGC is a privilege, which is accompanied by the responsibility to act with dignity, integrity, and respect at all times.
While we all agree in principle regarding many behaviors both positive and negative, a comprehensive code of conduct for the entire circuit is impractical.  Those involved with academic institutions have codes provided by the school, which they are bound to follow.  Additionally, we recognize that not all students, members, and organizations function in the same way and a code of conduct may need to be tailored to fit a particular group.
Therefore, each organization must submit a code of conduct appropriate for their group to the Vice President by December 1.  There need not be a required format as the document is created completely at the discretion of the director.  Failure to submit this document by December 1 will result in the voiding of your show draw.
The spirit of this code promotes sportsmanship in all its forms.  In no way should this code ever be used for vindictive or malicious reasons.  There is no governing body to sit in judgment of any offenses.  The NECGC relies rather on the individual character of its directors to honor the code they have created, sort through problems and disagreements, and keep this activity’s role alive for its students and its students’ students.

18) Age Limitations/Restrictions

*All NECGC guards will adhere to the WGI age rules of USA guards OR compete in World or Senior Class.

19) Awards/Honors

* Show Sponsors are only required to present trophies to Cadet and Regional A Classes.
* Hall of Fame 
** Each unit may nominate members to the Hall of Fame Award. Awards to be given at Championships. Board of Directors will select recipients from those nominated.
** All Hall of Fame members will be invited as our guests to the Championships.
* Sportsmanship Award
** Each Guard Director will have one voted for this award.
** Winner will be announced at the Championship Contest.
* Espirit De Corps – in memory of George Cowburn 
** The Judging community determines the winner of this award.
** Winner will be announced at the Championship Contest.
* Showmanship Award
** The Hall of Fame Active Members will select the award winner
* Scholarships
** The Circuit will award two scholarships annually to a graduating senior who intends on attending an institution of higher learning.
** The applications will be sent paid members in January.
** The scholarship will be paid only directly to the institution of higher learning.
** Only one application can be received per unit. If you have more than one senior, it is up to the unit manager to determine who will be selected to apply for the scholarship.
** James J. Allen Award — $500 one semester award
** NECG Circuit Award — $500 one semester award

 

Thus NECG is organized and administered on the principle that its leaders are professionals teaching by example both in and out of the competitive arenas.  As mature persons, NECG leaders know that youths learn life attitudes from all the observations of and interactions with those adults who are their models.

NON-DISCRIMINATION – NECG treats every participant as a unique individual possessing inherent dignity on his/her own.  All participants are regarded as worthy human beings, equally deserving of our available time, thoughts and energies.

Thus NECG does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, or cultural background.  Its activities are based on the credo that all participants and program styles start with equal opportunity for success.