NationStates Jolt Archive

This is an interesting debate that occasionally goes about in American High Schools. In my school, the marching band is considered a varsity sport on par with both footballs (the one we call football and the one we call soccer), baseball, basketball, lacrosse, etc. etc.

Obviously, there wouldn't be a debate if there was a set criteria for what "is" and "isn't" a sport. Sure, you could quote a dictionary, but the fact is that some people don't agree with dictionaries on everything - and this is one of those things. So please, make the conversation a bit interesting by mentioning why you consider Band to be or not to be a sport.

I argue that it ought to count as a sport, since (1) we practice as much and more than the regular sports teams at our school, (2) the Band competes with other bands, (3) M. Band is a tremendous physical exertion, (4) we are just about the only thing in our school that wins anything, let alone with an undefeated season.

Please, do be nice to the band geeks. We take a lot crap from a lot of people.

Does it make a difference?

I guess not everyone wants to do physical work and would rather play an instrument.

That's true, I know I would.

Nope.

Band is musical. It's talent to be able to play an instrument, it's a skill to do so while marching. However, that's not enough to make it a sport, since MOST of the time, they don't compete against each other and keep score.


Me? I'm an ex-sousaphone carrier and hand-to-hand combat specialist with the accordion. :D

Nope.

Band is musical. It's talent to be able to play an instrument, it's a skill to do so while marching. However, that's not enough to make it a sport, since MOST of the time, they don't compete against each other and keep score.


Me? I'm an ex-sousaphone carrier and hand-to-hand combat specialist with the accordion. :D

Actually, there are band competitions. I know this because I saw a report on TV that Sweden, of all, is the current European champion. Go figure!

No. Music is art, not sport.

No. Music is art, not sport.
One could say that the cheerleaders are a work of art and not a sport.

Considering, you know, all the makeup and all.

All sports are art. Some of those uniforms have some great graphic design.

All sports are art. Some of those uniforms have some great graphic design.
My water polo speedo is a black and white checker board.

No. Music is art, not sport.

But it's not just music... it's also walking!

Sure it sounds dumb, but it is a lot harder to march and play a song from memory than to play it sitting and reading.

I dont consider band a sport in any way, cheerleaders are hot, so that is a sport. I play H.S Football, and band dosnt require the same ... Agh i dont know how to put it, its just basiclly:


Football,Hockey, Soccer,Lacross, basketball,baseball- Cool

Band, Chess club- Not cool.

I have this take on it:

If you can't be pheasably harmed while competing in it, it's not a sport. Therefore, Marching Band != sport.

But it's not just music... it's also walking!

Sure it sounds dumb, but it is a lot harder to march and play a song from memory than to play it sitting and reading.

And painting a picture is a lot harder when you're doing jumping jacks.

I dont consider band a sport in any way, cheerleaders are hot, so that is a sport. I play H.S Football, and band dosnt require the same ... Agh i dont know how to put it, its just basiclly:


Football,Hockey, Soccer,Lacross, basketball,baseball- Cool

Band, Chess club- Not cool.
You forgot water polo and swimming. I've yet to see a football player last half a water polo game in the water. Heh.

You forgot water polo and swimming. I've yet to see a football player last half a water polo game in the water. Heh.


Yeah, those count too, ecspecally hot girls who swim !

Band dosnt require as much physical activity. (You just um... March.., other sports your run, sprint work out, hit each other, more pain)

You guys are spewing BS.

Marching Band is VERY tiring.

I'd like to see you hold a 25 pound instrument, in perfect form, while marching in super-thick uniforms, in the burning sun, for who know's how long. Most of the Football players would be collapse.

I've played football. It's not tiring compared to Marching Band.

Sometimes when I play videogames for hours, my hands start to get sweaty. I eventually even need a drink of water. I think that should be consisdered a sport too.

You guys are spewing BS.

Marching Band is VERY tiring.

I'd like to see you hold a 25 pound instrument, in perfect form, while marching in super-thick uniforms, in the burning sun, for who know's how long. Most of the Football players would be collapse.
Physically exerting doesn't make it a sport, otherwise all forms of manual labor can count as sports. When "Digging a ditch" becomes an olympic event, I will reconsider.

You guys are spewing BS.

Marching Band is VERY tiring.

I'd like to see you hold a 25 pound instrument, in perfect form, while marching in super-thick uniforms, in the burning sun, for who know's how long. Most of the Football players would be collapse.

I've played football. It's not tiring compared to Marching Band.

But you can feasably be hurt during football. I can't think of how to get hurt while marching, unless you trip on a rock.

But you can pheasably be hurt during football. I can't think of how to get hurt while marching, unless you trip on a rock.

How do you mispell Physically into Pheasably?

Did you mean feasibly?

unless you trip on a rock.


Lmao

If marching band can even be close to being a sport, then Show Choir is definitley a sport.

People seem to think that marching is extremely easy, sort of like just walking at a steady pace. It's not just walking at a steady pace - it's walking at a steady pace, trying to walk at an exact step size, looking out of the corners of your eyes to stay at an exact distance from the other people in your set, while your torso and legs may be facing opposite directions, and maintaining a steady enough stream of air to play (from memory) an instrument cleanly and louder than you ever played in your life. Did I mention impeccable posture while doing all this, never once allowing elbows or shoulders to droop, or your chin to drop below a fifteen degree angle?

We don't rehearse taking ONE STEP FORWARD to no end because we're idiots. We do it because it is just that hard to march correctly. "Just marching" could be a sport to itself.

High school marching band is NOT a sport (though we did get to use the sports' physical therapy center when we sprained ankles and such). College marching band.....that's where it gets sport-ish. Learning a new routine every week, formations that are tougher by tenfold, REAL competitions......I'm glad I quit marching by then

I can't think of how to get hurt while marching, unless you trip on a rock.

You could forget where your set is, head the wrong way, and cause a collision in the form.

People seem to think that marching is extremely easy, sort of like just walking at a steady pace. It's not just walking at a steady pace - it's walking at a steady pace, trying to walk at an exact step size, looking out of the corners of your eyes to stay at an exact distance from the other people in your set, while your torso and legs may be facing opposite directions, and maintaining a steady enough stream of air to play (from memory) an instrument cleanly and louder than you ever played in your life. Did I mention impeccable posture while doing all this, never once allowing elbows or shoulders to droop, or your chin to drop below a fifteen degree angle?

We don't rehearse taking ONE STEP FORWARD to no end because we're idiots. We do it because it is just that hard to march correctly. "Just marching" could be a sport to itself.

Still,you do not try to cause or get physical harm in Marching band, you do not have to be that athletic to excell at marching band.

I guess not everyone wants to do physical work and would rather play an instrument.

Ever try marching for miles with a 13 pound Sousaphone on your shoulder and playing it at the same time? Taint easy my friend.

Physically exerting doesn't make it a sport, otherwise all forms of manual labor can count as sports. When "Digging a ditch" becomes an olympic event, I will reconsider

I'd like to mention here that curling is an olympic event, proving that even the olympics are fallible.

Nope.

Band is musical. It's talent to be able to play an instrument, it's a skill to do so while marching. However, that's not enough to make it a sport, since MOST of the time, they don't compete against each other and keep score.


Me? I'm an ex-sousaphone carrier and hand-to-hand combat specialist with the accordion. :D

I guess you never heard of regional band competitions. :(

There are a lot of competitions for marching bands. The most prevalent is probably Bands of America, which holds regionals all over the palce and a Grand Nationals competition. My band participated in it, along with other local competitions, Roughrider, Rocket Review, etc. The coordinating 'league' for Texas extra-curricular activities, the University Interscholastic League(UIL) holds competitions for bands as well. Those who make straight 1's go on to State competition. UIL also coordinates sports, so I would consider it a sport. Also considering the fact that our team lsot their mojo in the 70's. As ofr college marching, meh. What you really need to see is DCI, Drum Corps International. Unlike school bands, only bugles and drums are allowed, but it is impressive nonetheless. As for not being tough enough? I marched three seasons with a sprained ankle, my brother marched two seasons likewise, and our whiny no-win football players seemed to get benched everytime it happened to them.

www.bands.org
www.dci.org

Still,you do not try to cause or get physical harm in Marching band, you do not have to be that athletic to excell at marching band.

Then baseball is not a sport, since you don't try to cause or sustain physical injury.

And, judging by your posts Willink, it seems your concept of "Athletic" depends largely on how attractive the participants are.

Marching band IS a sport. It's a skill to play an instrument, a greater skill to play it well. It is not merely a skill to play it while marching. It's a sport. As stated, physical exertion in marching just trumps physical exertion in concert band. You must be in shape to do marching band, or, well, it just SUCKS for you in a mile-long parade up the hill, doesn't it? Marching band camp is, well, like boot camp. Everything must be synchrnoized, every order must be followed at once...marching is not easy. If it's not technically a sport by how you define 'sport,' then it ought to be one, like cheerleading.

But what someone said about high school vs college, I agree. high school is nothing like college.

Yes, marching band is difficult. Many things are difficult. This does not necessarily make them sports.

Yes, marching band is physically intensive. Many things are physically intensive. This does not necessarily make them sports.

I do not think that Marching Band should be considered a sport. Yes, I have heard that it requires skill, and I will not try to deny that it is as physically taxing as some other activities considered sports. But Marching Band just does not fit in with the commonly accepted idea of a sport - football, basketball, baseball, etc. I think of Marching Band as being in a category of its own, along with cheerleading and the like. It all depends on how specific you want to be. But I would never think of it as a sport.

I dont consider band a sport in any way, cheerleaders are hot, so that is a sport. I play H.S Football, and band dosnt require the same ... Agh i dont know how to put it, its just basiclly:


Football,Hockey, Soccer,Lacross, basketball,baseball- Cool

Band, Chess club- Not cool.

Jock mentality. Duh, big, strong, good. :(

Ever try marching for miles with a 13 pound Sousaphone on your shoulder and playing it at the same time? Taint easy my friend.


Congratulations ! (http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/357/untitled8fv.png)

That still does not require physical fitness, such as going to a gym to work out or push ups and such.

How do you mispell Physically into Pheasably?

Did you mean feasibly?

Yeah, I did. I keep doing that for some reason. My neurons are obviously not connecting.

You could forget where your set is, head the wrong way, and cause a collision in the form.

4 words: America's Funniest Home Videos

One could say that the cheerleaders are a work of art and not a sport.

Considering, you know, all the makeup and all.

I'd actually losely categorize cheerleading as an art, rather than a sport. I mean, it's a form of dance, right?

I'd like to mention here that curling is an olympic event, proving that even the olympics are fallible.
Didn't say they weren't, I said they were right in this case. If you want to make a case for ditch digging as an olympic event, I'm all ears.

Then baseball is not a sport, since you don't try to cause or sustain physical injury.

And, judging by your posts Willink, it seems your concept of "Athletic" depends largely on how attractive the participants are.


No thats just girls.. You can be harmed in baseball, and you must run, slide, hit and catch, all involve hard physical activity.

No. Music is art, not sport.

Marching band is to music as vectors are to scalars. You listen to a recording of a concert band performance. In fact, it's best probably to close your eyes and get lost in the music and not the surroundings. You must WATCH a marching band. It's that simple.

Watch "Drumline."

Still,you do not try to cause or get physical harm in Marching band, you do not have to be that athletic to excell at marching band.
Exactly. I know a few people who are grossly out of shape that are in marching band. That wouldn’t fly in any sport.
It is a great talent, but not a sport. Competition does not a sport make. If that is your only criteria left, I guess my history competitions are a sport too. :rolleyes:

People seem to think that marching is extremely easy, sort of like just walking at a steady pace. It's not just walking at a steady pace - it's walking at a steady pace, trying to walk at an exact step size, looking out of the corners of your eyes to stay at an exact distance from the other people in your set, while your torso and legs may be facing opposite directions, and maintaining a steady enough stream of air to play (from memory) an instrument cleanly and louder than you ever played in your life. Did I mention impeccable posture while doing all this, never once allowing elbows or shoulders to droop, or your chin to drop below a fifteen degree angle?

We don't rehearse taking ONE STEP FORWARD to no end because we're idiots. We do it because it is just that hard to march correctly. "Just marching" could be a sport to itself.

AMEN.

Exactly. I know a few people who are grossly out of shape that are in marching band. That wouldn’t fly in any sport.
It is a great talent, but not a sport. Competition does not a sport make. If that is your only criteria left, I guess my history competitions are a sport too.


Then, pray tell, what does a sport make? Competition, training, physical exertion, score-keeping, the concept of "team," pep, even uniforms.

As for grossly out of shape, I guess it depends with the band. But you take a seriously out of shape guy or girl, put a sousaphone on their shoulders, and have them march in formation up, down, and around hills for three miles, and they are not going to make it. You've got to be in some kind of shape for this.

Still,you do not try to cause or get physical harm in Marching band, you do not have to be that athletic to excell at marching band.

Define athletic.

I have been on the verge of passing out during marching band (more than once), and I've NEVER experienced that with any of the sports I've ever played.

I'm taking weightlifting for marching band (my arms are weak, haha... um...). My sister played quads when she was in high school (she graduated last year). You can't tell me that that's not physically exerting. And she's this tiny, skinny little thing. She was so strong after marching band season, she could beat the crap out of me, and I'm 6'3, 210 pounds.

And I did get injured during practice today. I ran into a couple of Raiderettes... haha, whoops! Once, during a performance, one of the other bones tripped over a hose.

Yeah, if cheerleading and Raiderettes (our school's dancing team) are sports, marching band definitely is.

...GO TROMBONES!

This is ridiculous. I was in band for 3 years and if you'll ignore the rich white hypochondriac bitches who join it, there is nothing physically demanding about it unless you're a bass drum or quad player.

Regardless, it's not even scored and there's a notable lack of competition in a normal game setting. Of course, there are judged High School band events, but it's a show not a damn sport. Anyone who calls marching abnd a sport ought to have their head examined.

I do not think that Marching Band should be considered a sport. Yes, I have heard that it requires skill, and I will not try to deny that it is as physically taxing as some other activities considered sports. But Marching Band just does not fit in with the commonly accepted idea of a sport - football, basketball, baseball, etc. I think of Marching Band as being in a category of its own, along with cheerleading and the like. It all depends on how specific you want to be. But I would never think of it as a sport.

sport Audio pronunciation of "sport" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (spôrt, sprt)
n.

1.
1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
2. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

What part of this definition doesn't band fit?

Marching, Melkor? In the sweltering heat or in the bitter freeze? No, a pep or marching band under the lights putting on a halftime show friday nights is not a sport. But college marching can make a good case. The competition in Drumline? Looks plenty like a sport to me. And a show - but is football not a show? Aren't most/all sports meant to be watched? Granted, it is less along the lines of soccer and basketball and more on the lines of cheerleading (strictly planned routines), but that doesn't make it less of anything.

Marching band is to music as vectors are to scalars. You listen to a recording of a concert band performance. In fact, it's best probably to close your eyes and get lost in the music and not the surroundings. You must WATCH a marching band. It's that simple.

Watch "Drumline."

I'm a poli sci major. Your math talk means nothing to me. And I've seen Drumline. (Good flick, incidentally.) I've watched actual Big Ten marching bands. I played baritone myself (though not in a marching band), and one of my roommates is in marching band, so I know the difference. Despite all this, calling marching band a sport makes absolutely no sense to me.

Our marching band marches regardless of weather. We marched in freezing November rain last year. And blistering mid-July heat.

I'd like to say, that even though i am a trumpet/tuba/french horn player, who has marched in marching band, and also with Drum and Bugle Corps, Division I, which, if ANY of you know what im talking about or have seen it, know how strenuous that mofo is.

I do not, however, consider Marching Band a sport, for several reasons. Yes, it's athletic, yes it hurts like hell after awhile, and yes we work damn hard. But you forget, so do football players, risking serious injury,possibly life threatening or career injuring. And before any of you reply to this bitching about your experiences with injuries, I know what your talking about. At Drum and Bugle Corps, which i do consider a sport, I experienced three heat strokes in ONE season, marching Contrabass, which weighs 45 lbs. and mind you, we're out there 12 hours a day starting at 7 am with a mile run. To quote Sports Illustrated when covering DCI (Drum Corps International), " If professional athletes worked half as hard as these kids, the results would be amazing." One thing separating Band and Football, however, is the amount of benefits. Drum Corps and Bands, we PAY to do it, however, with Professional football, you can be among the most overpaid people on this good Earth. Now, I'm not bashing them, some of them deserve it for their dedication on and off the field, and their sportsmanship. However, They only play teams within our (USA) country, yet still call themselves world champions. Now, with Drum Corps, we really do compete internationally, and this includes a corps from Tokyo, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hundreds from Europe, several from canada, etc. IN fact, the corps which won Div. III this year was none other than Taipei Yuefhu (spelling on last name for anybody who can correct that?), a corps right out of Taiwan. But I digress....my point is, accept bandies, marching band just isn't a sport, but Drum Corps sure as hell is. Anybody wants more information on it...head to www.dci.org

Oh, btw, to back up my sport claim for Drum Corps.....it will be on ESPN 2 this tuesday, the 6th at 9 pm eastern time. ESPN 2.....how many marching bands get on there?


P.S.- If CHESS is an OLYMPIC sport....then shucks, how come you all can;t acknowledge us bandies as athletes? We put in more time than football players do anyways....and we dont even get paid..

Bah. Well, point is. Vectors are like scalars, except they also have direction. Marching is like concert band, except there's much more to it. The physical component outweighs the musical component in importance, by far.

I think that if you were to consider cheerleading a sport - which I do - then it follows that marching, too, is a sport.

Midget carrier, not all sports involve life-threatening injury; sport is not typefied by football. *points at Golf*

Yes MARCHING BAND IS A SPORT. I'm in the band, I play the barritone (for the non-band nerd the Barritone looks like a baby tuba. A marching barritone looks like an overgrown trumpet.)
In band we exercise. Everyday before marching we streach and do exercises similar to those done by the football team. Then we march. Now before you say Marching band isn't a sport, you try marching with a barrtione or even better yet a susaphone, at about 120 beats a minute for about 5 minutes nonstop.
Also I just got home from a football game, where I had to march nonstop while trying to play music from memory and try to stay in step.

One last thing I would like to clear up is that its "band nerd" not geek "nerd". Geeks are people like Bill Gates who send there free time working with computers.

But marching band does not compete internationally, and frankly, they are for more entertainment purposes. The thing is, a performance isn;t called a show for nothing. I'm not saying we're not athletes, hell we're in awesome shape. but frankly...we're there to push ourselves as musicians and entertain people. Honestly, there isn;t anything wrong with accepting that.

In football players defense, they have to remember an assload of plays, and where each person goes. Think about that. Marhicng band only remembers the same set of spots the whole season if u march corps style like my band.

Physical exertion != sport.

As part of my job, I frequently have to walk enormous catering trays to my car in the early morning, running across several streets to do it. It's a pain in the ass, but it's not a sport. If marching band is a sport, taking out my trash is a sport too.

I've paid my dues: I was in a marching band and have marched in heat, cold, rain, snow, sleet, hail, and most other shitty conditions you can name. That doesn't mean I think it's anything more than it is. It's not a sport.

Serapindal Logic:

1. Marching with lots of weight, is also a U.S. Millitary Exercise.

2. Especially when you do it in ranks.

3. That means you hate the Army.

4. That means you don't want America to defend itself.

5. That means you hate America.

6. That means you are a Communist Spy/Terrorist.

7. So anyone who is against Marching Band is a Communist Spy and a Terrorist.

I've only ever heard of band geek.

We could have such a lively discussion on geeks v nerds, but here's what I've always thought. Nerds were the complete social outcasts who were t3h gam3rz0rs and star trek watchers, and such. Geeks were different; i.e, programmer v gamer. I realize these are all comp references, but still, I've only ever heard of band geek.

Hey zoogie, people have had heat strokes playing golf in extreme heat too, so don't dismiss it either. You can get injured doing anything, and I wasn't comparing all sports to football....but it's usually the argument I'm presented with, so...forgive me if I seemed tunnel visioned with that.

But marching band does not compete internationally, and frankly, they are for more entertainment purposes. The thing is, a performance isn;t called a show for nothing. I'm not saying we're not athletes, hell we're in awesome shape. but frankly...we're there to push ourselves as musicians and entertain people. Honestly, there isn;t anything wrong with accepting that.

In football players defense, they have to remember an assload of plays, and where each person goes. Think about that. Marhicng band only remembers the same set of spots the whole season if u march corps style like my band.

Actually, Marching Bands do compete internationally.

When Football only does so Nationally.

Football is just for entertainment purposes as well.

People in Marching Band have to remember the damn song they're playing you know? That's way easier then a play. I've played Football. It's not that hard. There's just a few rules.

1. Listen to everything you are told.

2. Start playing.

3. Run like hell.

4. Catch the Ball.

5. Run like hell.

6. VICTORY!

Dude, football is NOT that simple...it IS in fact mental as well as physical...and it's not so simple as catching and running like hell, although that's the physical part of it. Anyways, i was just throwing my two cents in. By the Way, could you name a competition internationally? Just, so i can have an EXAMPLE? Like IVE GIVEN?

Midget carrier, if I'm not mistaken your point was people risked career ending injuries in football, and not marching. People can collapse or faint from marching band as much as they can with golf.

But anyway. This doesn't really matter, I guess. Ultimately, it's a sport if you think it's a sport, and if you don't, then it isn't. I think that when considering "sport" - from, say, a college adcom's perspective - the key is physical exertion. When colleges, for instance, want to see you participating in physical activities, then marching, in terms of training, practice, expertise, and exertion, fits the bil. Chess, does not. Swimming, cheerleading, jogging, badminton, golf, soccer, whatever - all are, for all extents and purposes, sports. Organized physical exertion.

Drum Corps INternational has given us a term. (US= Band Nerds) Its is.....drum roll please.......Musician Athletes.

If that's the limitation of your knowledge of football, Serapindal, I would argue that you've lost any leverage against people who might not know things about marching band. For instance, what do you do if you're the Middle Linebacker on 3rd and 3 with your opponents showing an I in the backfield and bunched receivers? Do you go for a 3-4 pattern or a 46 defense? Or neither?

There's more to both football and marching band than most people are prepared to examine.

And it's still not a sport.

Dude, football is NOT that simple...it IS in fact mental as well as physical...and it's not so simple as catching and running like hell, although that's the physical part of it. Anyways, i was just throwing my two cents in. By the Way, could you name a competition internationally? Just, so i can have an EXAMPLE? Like IVE GIVEN?

Yeah. You have to prepare yourself mentally and physically to run like hell.

The U.S.A. Continental Army Band competes with bands of other countries.

Lol....well said Melkor. btw, what WOULD you do? lol im curious now....anyways....look, marhcing band is NOT a sport, or it'd be called something totally different.

Ech, whats the paradigm for this argument? Are we comparing High School/College marching band and football?

If technically, it doesn't count as a sport, per order of the Powers that Be, fine. Think in general terms.

"Do you do any sports?"
"I do Marching Band."

Non sequitur? I don't think so. I think that's a legitamate answer. When parents want their kids to "go out and do sports," what do they want? They want their kids involved in physical activities. Okay, maybe more? They want their kids to be in teams. Well, marching still fits the bill.

Lol....well said Melkor. btw, what WOULD you do? lol im curious now....anyways....look, marhcing band is NOT a sport, or it'd be called something totally different.
I'd probably favor the 46 defense about 2/3 of the time, the 3-4 would really only be viable in certain situations. I wouldn't use it inside my own thirty unless I was damn sure what I was doing.

Lol....well said Melkor. btw, what WOULD you do? lol im curious now....anyways....look, marhcing band is NOT a sport, or it'd be called something totally different.

It's the fucking same thing.

Name one single difference between Marching Band and Football. You can't, other then that fact that Football players are paid an obscene amount of money.

It's the fucking same thing.

Name one single difference between Marching Band and Football. You can't, other then that fact that Football players are paid an obscene amount of money.
Football has a score? Football has penalties and a playclock and a scoring device [the ball]?

If you can't see the differences, no one can really make you. It's like asking Ray Charles to read his music more carefully.

I've only ever heard of band geek.

We could have such a lively discussion on geeks v nerds, but here's what I've always thought. Nerds were the complete social outcasts who were t3h gam3rz0rs and star trek watchers, and such. Geeks were different; i.e, programmer v gamer. I realize these are all comp references, but still, I've only ever heard of band geek.
I agree on the geek/nerd thing. In my region of the country, we were always band geeks -- in fact, that's why our sorority and fraternity (Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi) shirts say Band Greek on the back. Nobody got it if they were from another part of the country. Bitches. Anyway....."nerd" was reserved for the Desktop Publishing Club or whatever.

For the record, the theatre kids were also "geeks", so I guess I was double geeked.

Football has a score? Football has penalties and a playclock and a scoring device [the ball]?

In Marching Band Competitions, you have all of those. Except you know, the uh...scoring device is the instrument.

Look. Whenever I use the term "sport," I mean, "physical exertion." Not walking to the garage to take out the trash, but actual physical exertion. Doesn't matter if no score is kept. Doesn't matter if there are no real competitions. Doesn't matter how many people get injured. Doesn't matter if there's a playclock or scoring device. If it takes time, skill, effort, and burns loads of calories, then for all intents and purposes, it's a sport. That's my point.

When YOU say sport in everyday life, do you mean "clock?" "scoring device?" "teams?" Or do you just refer to significant physical exertion?

Sport:

Noun
1. a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. b. A particular form of this activity. 2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively. 3. An active pastime; recreation.

Has the Dictionary owned anyone?

In Marching Band Competitions, you have all of those. Except you know, the uh...scoring device is the instrument.
Yes, but marching band performances can exist without being scored. A football game, when used as its proper definition denotes must have a score.

Marching band performaces when taken in their natural element at a football game[/b], since a competition is not its general function] [i]are not scored. The can be of course, but anything can be scored. If I were motivated enough, I could probably find a few twisted individuals to judge the arc of my urine as it plunges inexorably towards my toilet seat.

EDIT: and fuck that definition. I read it earlier and I reserve the right to wipe my ass with it. Almost all physical activities require a regiment of [generally] unsaid regulations. Getting in your car requires that you follow certain physical guidelines, that doesn't make it legitimate basis for sport.

And Marching bands are not often in competition. When I was in band we had one or two per year as opposed to a good sixteen or so football games.

Marching Band is not a sport, it's more complicated. I'm in marching band and sports, and Marching band is slightly to much less demanding physically (depending on the marching style), but has an added complexity of the mental ability to play music. It is a hybrid, so to speak, of a physically demanding sport and an intense mental process.

Yea I can, but I didnt assume Id HAVE to. You want me to list every goddamned obvious difference? Band Nerds are generally smarter, better off, and hard working, we're damn good people, we work hard to earn respect and seldom get it, we dont beat the living hell out of each other over a leather football, we dont get paid for it, they do, and it sucks. You know that? How many football players have gotten through high school with the help of a coach boosting grades or favor towards teachers? Eh? School would still be school without the damn football games. It's been proven that musical instrumentation helps IMPROVE a child's thinking skills, cognitive memorization, etc. We use more of our brains, we're intellectual, and therefore, band or marching band is NOT a sport. Sports are not entirely intellectual, and therefore the definition does NOT overlap with the characteristics of marching band. Marhcing Band is ARTISTIC, AESTHETICALLY pleasing, MUSICAL( im sure u want me to point that out ) so shut the fuck up, YOU LOSER. You WILL NOT win this one, and I can go on and on. SO let's do this, lets continue to parry back and forth.

Oh, and, as a competitive debater, who has won two nat'l championships, we usually quote our sources when using a definition. Idiot.

Melkor, I think you're being too technical here.



Yes, but marching band performances can exist without being scored. A football game, when used as its proper definition denotes must have a score.

Marching band performaces when taken in their natural element [ie at a football game, since a competition is not its general function] are not scored. The can be of course, but anything can be scored. If I were motivated enough, I could probably find a few twisted individuals to judge the arc of my urine as it plunges inexorably towards my toilet seat.


While I would have to agree that marching band is not, per se, an olympic sport, nevertheless it is for most intents and purposes as good as one.


Look. Whenever I use the term "sport," I mean, "physical exertion." Not walking to the garage to take out the trash, but actual physical exertion. Doesn't matter if no score is kept. Doesn't matter if there are no real competitions. Doesn't matter how many people get injured. Doesn't matter if there's a playclock or scoring device. If it takes time, skill, effort, and burns loads of calories, then for all intents and purposes, it's a sport. That's my point.

When YOU say sport in everyday life, do you mean "clock?" "scoring device?" "teams?" Or do you just refer to significant physical exertion?

Yes, but marching band performances can exist without being scored. A football game, when used as its proper definition denotes must have a score.

Marching band performaces when taken in their natural element at a football game[/b], since a competition is not its general function] [i]are not scored. The can be of course, but anything can be scored. If I were motivated enough, I could probably find a few twisted individuals to judge the arc of my urine as it plunges inexorably towards my toilet seat.

And Marching bands are not often in competition. When I was in band we had one or two per year as opposed to a good sixteen or so football games.

A football game can exist without being scored, when people just play for fun.

That's just because people cared about football more. If people cared about both the same, they'd have the same number of games.

While I would have to agree that marching band is not, per se, an olympic sport, nevertheless it is for most intents and purposes as good as one.

Exactly, in thsoe words right there, did you word my point. it is AS GOOD AS ONE, but however, in my opinion it is NOT a sport.

Oh, and, as a competitive debater, who has won two nat'l championships, we usually quote our sources when using a definition. Idiot.

I'm pretty sure to win a debate championship, you don't resort to petty insults.

Now, go back to your house of lies.

Only panzies are in band.

Oh yea we do dude. Watch a good semifinal or quarterfinal round. And anyways, my point is, I dont know where you got that definition from, whether it be from Oxford or from the crack of Hillary Clintons ever growing ass. So all i ask is that next time you quote a source.

I'm pretty sure to win a debate championship, you don't resort to petty insults.

Now, go back to your house of lies.

Guys. We're talking about whether marching band is a sport or not. Actually, I think we're more talking about whether it's an empirical sport, by the book, or not.

...

No need to get so riled up. o_O

Might I remind you too, Melkor Unchained is not only Melkor, but also Unchained, and a Mod.


Only panzies are in band.


But you, sir, are just asking for it. :D

so shut the fuck up, YOU LOSER. You WILL NOT win this one, and I can go on and on. SO let's do this, lets continue to parry back and forth.
WARNED! for flaming.

I know forum titles can get redundant and you probably are sick of them, but it would probably be pretty helpful to scan them every once in a while because there might happen to be a moderator in the thread wherein you choose to deploy such invective. That and it really makes you look stupid once I have to make this post. I mean, I've been right here the whole time.

....And if you've won two national championships, I really need to get into scored debating.

Hamanistan go to hell. I myself am pre enlisted to go into the Navy as a missile technician, band kids actually are the majority of military enlistees.

Ach sorry. I forgot myself. My apologies, really, I get a little passionate, and I do have my moments where I lose control, it wont happen again.

I wonder if they have mods at Debate Championships... :rolleyes:

Melkor, I think you're being too technical here.
Melkor, technical? Never. :p

Ach sorry. I forgot myself. My apologies, really, I get a little passionate, and I do have my moments where I lose control, it wont happen again.
Make sure it doesn't. Please.

No. Music is art, not sport.
Yes, but is marching band music? :D

Marching band may not be a sport but it is definitely not art at least on the high school and college level for the performers. The exception may be the show creators.
I think it has more in common with sports than with performing arts because it's primarily competetive rather than expressive, rote memorization rather than artistic creation.
Sometimes the lines are blurred between the arts and sports. Other examples are competitive skating and gymnastics.
If people like doing these things and others enjoy watching, what the heck !
It's common for high school marching band members to spend 15 or more hours per week after school practicing (I refuse to call it rehearsing). It would be nice if they spent half that much time on their concert music, and sightreading.

Hamanistan go to hell. I myself am pre enlisted to go into the Navy as a missile technician, band kids actually are the majority of military enlistees.



So you work on a missile.....so.....try going through hell week to become a Marine its not easy believe me It sucked total ass.

Marching band may not be a sport but it is definitely not art at least on the high school and college level for the performers. The exception may be the show creators.
I think it has more in common with sports than with performing arts because it's primarily competetive rather than expressive, rote memorization rather than artistic creation.
Sometimes the lines are blurred between the arts and sports. Other examples are competitive skating and gymnastics.
If people like doing these things and others enjoy watching, what the heck !

I think Shlarg hit it right on the bullseye.

Lets see, for football we run 2 miles, then do a shitload of push ups, super-mans and others, practice hitting the shit out of each other and other drills, then scrimage for the rest of practice, all within 3 hours, which can risk serious injury. In marching band you can collapse, but that has more to do with heat. To the point, football players risk a lot more by playing than marchers.

Ok, I live near Houston, Texas and we are under UIL Region 24/23 and under the regions guidelines marching band is considered not only a sport, but It also counts as our Phys. Ed. credit. I personally think that M. Band should get alot more credit for being a sport, when you run backwards on your toes from 45 YL. to 45 YL. it is VERY excerting. If you don't call that a sport you I have no clue what to call it, as seeing even Football only runs FOWARDS not BACKWARDS at ANY PACE across the field. Also, as far as I see, when we break at 5:45 ct. We are just as sweaty and gross or worse than the Football players. Not including every friday night and saturday afternoon for games and contests. So yes, I am/was in Marching Band, and it most definately is a sport.

Only panzies are in band.


Lol

Hey man, i have never seen you on the forum... ever.

Sometimes the lines are blurred between the arts and sports. Other examples are competitive skating and gymnastics.

What about extreme painting? That's how Van Gogh lost his ear, you know.

Lol

Hey man, i have never seen you on the forum... ever.


I'm always on just not in the same place as you. But I won't be for long I'm being deployed to Afghanistan...for the second time lol plus I got the baby on the way not allot of time.

Only panzies are in band.

*Runs you over with Panzer tanks.*

Marching band fits the definition of a sport.

What about extreme painting? That's how Van Gogh lost his ear, you know.

Good point ! Let's put some of these he-man football players out there naked on a giant canvas sloshing around in acryllic paint and we'll see just how long they last !