Minimum age requirements, corps to corps

[BG984]

12 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:

funny i see quite a few open spots on that list that keeps being published

There were alot last year as well......I know there are many guard people who don't even think about corps until WGI/Indoor is all over with.  I would also bet that many kids are staying on the outside longer than back in the day, in order to save money, and focusing on school and college, and perhaps working as well....I just had a funny flashback.  It was the middle of the 1981 season, and we had stepped it up a notch competitively.   There were several top 25 Northeastern corps who might make top 25, (and several would not), but that was it.    By that time, there were about 35 kids from those groups who had inquired about "filling any blanks" (we didn't have any).  However, the director brought it up to the corps, and told them that if they missed Tuesday or Wednesday night's rehearsal without a serious issue and without calling, or if they were even late without a very valid reason, they would have to be "replaced", and he held up the list of names.  A soprano took it light, and when he showed up 30 minutes late on a Thurs. (missing Tuesday and Wednesday without a call), he stood there with his horn, confused....there was a "new guy" in his drill spot.  The director said to him, "where were you Tuesday.....Wednesday,......why are you late....you were told"  "look, we told you what the deal is.  this is so and so from the Kingsmen...we called him early today when you were not there on Tuesday/Wednesday.  However, you can remain in the corps as an alternate if you wish".        The Tuesday/Wednesday problem disappeared......solved.  lol

[NewArpege]

On 2/27/2026 at 10:25 AM, dcifanforlife said:

Lets wait and see what happens.  If BDB continues to hold on to the 18+ rule they risk not being able to fill the corps with talented members   Age should not be the first requirement.     

Two cents…..this is likely more about insurance than talent and age. Having 14-22 year olds together is quite a legal risk exposure that requires much more expensive insurance.

[BG984]

5 hours ago, NewArpege said:

Two cents…..this is likely more about insurance than talent and age. Having 14-22 year olds together is quite a legal risk exposure that requires much more expensive insurance.

Not sure on that......mainly because I do not know of a single corps (at least in the top 12) that doesn't have any members under 18.....the age policies would likely change if the corps could not afford the insurange.  Agreed, though, that especially in this day and age, the risk of legal action if anything happens to a minor when they are under "local parentis" is substantial.   However, every year,  thousands and thousands of students go away and start college as "minors", under 18, and from what I have been told, the colleges are not held nearly to the same level as they are if a kid is 17 and in HS.  I do know that every corps has specific guidelines for how any minors are to be cared for, both at rehearsals, and on tour.  You are also correct that the age range in BDB was likely 14-22, and every year there were a decent number of kids who aged out at BDB, yet they certainly had many more kids under 18 than most A corps.  I have not heard anything about the change being related to insurance costs....I do know for a fact that many years ago, a sudden huge insurance cost hike  in the Spring that was not manageable caused a major corps who was practicing with a full corps  not to field, and was the start of difficulties that lead to their folding.

[NewArpege]

24 minutes ago, BG984 said:

Not sure on that......mainly because I do not know of a single corps (at least in the top 12) that doesn't have any members under 18.....the age policies would likely change if the corps could not afford the insurange.  Agreed, though, that especially in this day and age, the risk of legal action if anything happens to a minor when they are under "local parentis" is substantial.   However, every year,  thousands and thousands of students go away and start college as "minors", under 18, and from what I have been told, the colleges are not held nearly to the same level as they are if a kid is 17 and in HS.  I do know that every corps has specific guidelines for how any minors are to be cared for, both at rehearsals, and on tour.  You are also correct that the age range in BDB was likely 14-22, and every year there were a decent number of kids who aged out at BDB, yet they certainly had many more kids under 18 than most A corps.  I have not heard anything about the change being related to insurance costs....I do know for a fact that many years ago, a sudden huge insurance cost hike  in the Spring that was not manageable caused a major corps who was practicing with a full corps  not to field, and was the start of difficulties that lead to their folding.

Insurance underwriting terms and coverage could be changing and it’s forcing an evolution of the way corps handle recruitment.  Though many of those top corps allow for under 18, they prioritize over 18 first to minimize under 18 numbers. If they have open seats after, they allow in the under 18 in a limited capacity.  So it shouldn’t deter younger people from applying as there is always an exception to the rule for talent.  But corps also have to manage risks and the business aspect of drum corps too.

Edited February 28 by NewArpege

[BG984]

3 hours ago, NewArpege said:

Insurance underwriting terms and coverage could be changing and it’s forcing an evolution of the way corps handle recruitment.  Though many of those top corps allow for under 18, they prioritize over 18 first to minimize under 18 numbers. If they have open seats after, they allow in the under 18 in a limited capacity.  So it shouldn’t deter younger people from applying as there is always an exception to the rule for talent.  But corps also have to manage risks and the business aspect of drum corps too.

Most of the finalists have only a small number of members under 18.  There are many reasons for that..one was school schedules....college kids are pretty much all done nationwide sometime between 5/1 and 5/15, so move-ins and full-time rehearsal camps can start later in May for them without issue.  In the NE, though,HS  students may easily end school as late as the 21st to 30th of June...not long ago, that was after the start of the season.  I know that the Cadets would provide a letter that could be given to a Principal, requesting that the student be allowed to complete work early and sometimes excused from school a month early. They would get an answer in February, which determined if that kid could march....some administrators would say yes, some would say no.   Also, a significant number of kids are from other regions and fly to tryouts/camps/rehearsals.....it takes a mature high schooler to handle things, but they are out there.  I can tell you that if a spot is between a 16 year old and a 20 year old, and the 20 year old displays the least bit more maturity or talent, the corps is most likely going to go with the 20 year old, knowing that the chance of any issues is much smaller.  You are correct that insurance is an ever-changing thing,  and probably only the BOD knows what their policy details are and how much change year to year happens.  For example, I know that insurance costs are far, far less if the corps hires a bus company to drive the kids down the road; that is still true even with the hiked costs of the bus contracts.  I remember a time when a significant number of corps owned their own buses, and others leased them....getting their own drivers.....I don't see that ever returning.....it's a shame, as there is a very large place I drive by that is rather unique and has fleets of buses for sale, and some look to be quite nice.  But the insurance makes it unthinkable anymore.

[Jeff Ream]

On 2/28/2026 at 12:31 AM, BG984 said:

Now that makes a bit more sense.......they are creating "Jr" for very young and inexperienced members.....The C corps for 14-17 year olds, largely HS kids.........the B corps for those 18+ (with perhaps the intention to try to get that corps to finalist level), and then the A Corps.  I would also guess that exceptions will be made throughout.....especially with BDB if they can not get a full corps of 18+ members......they are a smart organization, though, and will figure it out........I think their goal is, "we have a place for everyone interested"

unless you're over 22. they don't have that covered

[Jeff Ream]

On 2/28/2026 at 12:49 AM, BG984 said:

There were alot last year as well......I know there are many guard people who don't even think about corps until WGI/Indoor is all over with.  I would also bet that many kids are staying on the outside longer than back in the day, in order to save money, and focusing on school and college, and perhaps working as well....I just had a funny flashback.  It was the middle of the 1981 season, and we had stepped it up a notch competitively.   There were several top 25 Northeastern corps who might make top 25, (and several would not), but that was it.    By that time, there were about 35 kids from those groups who had inquired about "filling any blanks" (we didn't have any).  However, the director brought it up to the corps, and told them that if they missed Tuesday or Wednesday night's rehearsal without a serious issue and without calling, or if they were even late without a very valid reason, they would have to be "replaced", and he held up the list of names.  A soprano took it light, and when he showed up 30 minutes late on a Thurs. (missing Tuesday and Wednesday without a call), he stood there with his horn, confused....there was a "new guy" in his drill spot.  The director said to him, "where were you Tuesday.....Wednesday,......why are you late....you were told"  "look, we told you what the deal is.  this is so and so from the Kingsmen...we called him early today when you were not there on Tuesday/Wednesday.  However, you can remain in the corps as an alternate if you wish".        The Tuesday/Wednesday problem disappeared......solved.  lol

i wasn't even taking guard into consideration. i'm talking brass and percussion. i know guard can lag until after Dayton.

[Sh0uldN0t]

I think a lot of people are looking at this backwards. The BD organization likely isn't making this decision looking backwards. I might be they're looking forward and set these age bands (not those bands!) to help nurture BDB into new possibilities.

By requiring age 18, they're telling members going forward that this will be a more mature experience on the field and off. If anything, they want members to regard BDB as more like BDA than ever. Though it might not compete for the gold any time soon (ever?), the B corps summer at 18+ will be more like experience of the A corps and many other World Class corps. It's probably no coincidence that the decision coincides with the sidelining of another World Class California corps, the Mandarins, this summer. 

The worst that can happen is they change the ages next summer. BD is one of the few corps that can afford to forego some member fees. Bingo receipts give them the luxury to experiment (as well as to run more than one ensemble).