The Power of Counting

[THNCG]

I have an addition of 20 new members to my 48 member color guard, and they are doing a fantastic job this season. The one thing that I struggle with is getting them to count out loud. This group for whatever reason just don’t seem to understand the correlation that moving their mouths has between, keeping their feet in time, the timing of their equipment, and just the physical and mental skills involved in this process. The older members, other staff members, and I have all tried our best to convince them that counting has positive effects on their performance, but they still just refuse to count out loud consistently.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can sell the idea of counting to my young new flags?

Thank you!

[chasgroh]

I have an addition of 20 new members to my 48 member color guard, and they are doing a fantastic job this season. The one thing that I struggle with is getting them to count out loud. This group for whatever reason just don’t seem to understand the correlation that moving their mouths has between, keeping their feet in time, the timing of their equipment, and just the physical and mental skills involved in this process. The older members, other staff members, and I have all tried our best to convince them that counting has positive effects on their performance, but they still just refuse to count out loud consistently.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can sell the idea of counting to my young new flags?

Thank you!

...it's a protocol installed by you and *instilled* by the membership. You, of course, have to lay on it heavily for it to become a "natural" behavior with your kids...but even moreso, the veterans *must* buy-in and require the younger ones to assume the behavior. Once it's there, it's there...maybe you have to be a "bad guy", eh, and DEMAND compliance?!

cg

[ATXguard]

Do the routine and tell the "old girls" not to count at all. No matter what. put the more experienced girls in the back so the new girls can't watch them for the work. They'll learn pretty fast how important it is.