NEWS and UPDATES
Professional Development Opportunity
Dear TCGC community:
In the coming weeks we will be offering several seminars about TCGC adjudication for the 2025 season to which I am writing to invite you on behalf of President Jessica Torrez, Vice President of Adjudication Doug Henderson, and Judges Coordinator Scott Pizani. The sessions will serve primarily to engage individuals who are interested in becoming judges. However, we would like to open them up to instructors as well so, as you develop your programs for this coming season, you can get a look at what information judges are reviewing, especially focusing on how the judging sheets and scoring system work.
These one-hour sessions are scheduled as follows:
VIRTUAL SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO TCGC COLOR GUARD ADJUDICATION
Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 8:00pm CT
The adjudication philosophy
The adjudication process
Observation/Impression/Analysis/Comparison/Adjustment
VIRTUAL SESSION 2: INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS
Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 8:00pm CT
The intent of the “downstairs” captions
Caption descriptors for the ‘what’ and ‘how’
Understanding the importance of scoring-significant commentary
VIRTUAL SESSION 3: DESIGN ANALYSIS AND GENERAL EFFECT
Thursday, January 2, 2025, 8:00pm CT
The intent of the “upstairs” captions
Caption descriptors for the ‘what’ and ‘how’
Understanding the importance of scoring-significant commentary
VIRTUAL SESSION 4: NUMBERS MANAGEMENT
Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 8:00pm CT
How the system works
The message you send with a number
The “box thirds” and “value of a tenth” frames of reference
Defining and approaching contest dynamics
Sub-caption integrity
Applying “comparison” and “adjustment” in scoring
These sessions will set us up for in-person training during TCGC Breakthrough ’25, to be held in Houston (site TBA) on Saturday, January 11.
The Zoom link for each of the meetings is: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/6876495331?pwd=dGRFc0plUCtTOXRmUFdzaUM5dWlQZz09 .
I hope you consider attending these sessions. I believe many of my judging colleagues would agree that attending these sessions (and preparing to become a judge) elevated our show design and teaching chops dramatically after the fact. Understanding the system from the judge’s perspective is a sure-fire way to deepen your strategies for your performers’ success!
Please let me know if you have any questions, and if you would like to go through the full judges training this season, we would be grateful and extremely encouraging! All best wishes as you prepare for the 2025 season!
Yours truly—Greg Llacer (TCGC Chief Judge)
Board Brief - October
The eBoard had its October meeting. The attachment is a brief from that meeting.
Adjudication Update
Dear TCGC instructor community: On behalf of President Jessica Torrez and my TCGC Judges Association colleagues Doug Henderson (VP-Adjudication) and Scott Pizani (Interim Judges Coordinator, I am writing with an important reminder about factored scoring in Equipment and Movement for all guards on the Cadet, Novice, Regional A and A sheets, as well as changes to scoring practices for Cadet, Novice and Regional A.
As you may know, this past spring the WGI Task Force voted in a change to factored scoring practices for the Regional A class, which TCGC has adopted for the 2024 season. And so, I have put together a brief (five minute) video that explains factored scoring in general, its origin and evolution in Equipment and Movement, consideration for strategy in show design, and the changes in calculation for Cadet, Novice, and all classes using the Regional A sheet. In short, the following standard will now be used in classes that apply Equipment and Movement factored scoring:
ALL SCHOLASTIC A CLASSES/INDEPENDENT A CLASS:
Remains 70 (Vocabulary) 130 (Excellence)
TCGC CADET/NOVICE/ALL REGIONAL A CLASSES:
Changes to 60 (Vocabulary) 140 (Excellence)
The evaluation process of judges and assignment of numbers in these captions WILL NOT change.
I would appreciate it if you could take a look at the video here: https://bit.ly/4auxMWr
Yours truly--Greg Llacer, TCGC Chief Judge
2024 TCGC Area/State Championships Update
As we approach show selection round 2, the executive board wanted to remind the membership of the A class area requirements and clarify the performance order for State Championships.
TCGC Area: Saturday March 23rd
The top 50% of Scholastic units plus one (1) judged on the A Class sheet in each class will advance to State Championships from each Area. This includes SJVA, SAA, SA, and SNA.
Additionally the top scoring SRA unit from each area will be invited to perform in exhibition at State. This is an extended performance opportunity and will not be judged.
TCGC State Day 1: Saturday April 6th
SAA,SA,SNA
*SRA exhibitions will be throughout the day
TCGC State Day 2: Sunday April 7th
SJVA,IA,SO,IO,SW, IW
Please reach out if you have any questions. You can contact any executive board member or Task Force Representative. This years reps for 2023-2024 are Tykeem Rainey, Jacoby Taylor, Heather Stone, Andrea Noriega, Geoffrey Sperling, and Eddie Jimenez. Contact information can be found on the TCGC Website.
Happy Show Selection!
Jessica C. Torrez
TCGC President
Registration Opens for the 2024 Season!
We are excited to kick-off the 2024 season with registration opening September 1.
Review the attached and please email [email protected] if you have any questions.
2023 Spring Meeting Minutes and Proposals
TCGC Membership met in College Station to recap the 2023 season, vote on open positions and discuss proposals. See attached.
2023 Solo Ensemble Results
The 2023 Solo Ensemble was a huge success! Thank you to all of the performers who worked hard in preparation and delivered exciting performances yesterday! Attached is a list recognizing all of the students who received Superior, Excellent or Good ratings, and medals yesterday! Congratulations to all!
2023 TCGC Championships Tickets On Sale Now
TCGC Code of Conduct
TCGC Code of Conduct
The Texas Color Guard Circuit (TCGC) has adopted comprehensive documents and procedures as developed by WGI Sport of the Arts. Please direct any questions regarding these policies to Stephen Howard, TCGC President at president@
The newly revised Code of Conduct for Participating Groups covering participants, staff, and volunteers has been expanded and more clearly defines expectations of conduct, compliance, and reporting for groups participating in any TCGC-sanctioned event. While a Code of Conduct for TCGC Personnel has also been adopted and strengthens the expectations already in place for all TCGC staff, Executive Board, and administration.
It is essential for all members of the TCGC community have information on how to address concerns that may not be in support of this commitment. With that in mind, TCGC has also developed a Participant Protection Reporting Policy as well as a new process of reporting concerns on misconduct or alleged noncompliance directly to TCGC. The Participant Protection Reporting Policy will assist an individual connect with the appropriate party to ensure any concerns brought forth are addressed.
TCGC, in following the leadership of WGI Sport of the Arts, will require all employees, judges, and volunteers to undergo background checks in partnership with the National Center for Safety Initiatives using guidelines from the National Council of Youth Sports. These background checks will screen convictions and pending dispositions for felonies, crimes involving force or threat of force against a person, crimes of a sexual nature (including sex offender registrants), crimes involving controlled substances, crimes involving cruelty to animals, and crimes involving harm to a minor. Additional language in the contract for services has also been added for individuals to disclose any situation that might not appear on a standard background check but could disqualify their participation by violating the spirit and intent of the Code of Conduct.
TCGC is also encouraging participating groups to follow best practices within their organization. Groups should follow their school district policies or state and local laws regarding employment of educational staff interacting with students. Steps should also be taken to formalize compliance and reporting procedures within their group to align with the Code of Conduct.
