Home Unit Classifications

Unit Classifications

Cadet (Scholastic Only)

CADET guards are limited to Elementary and/or Middle school units. Age Limit: All members must be from same school. Same district is not allowed.
Max. Performance Time: 4.5
Min. Performance Time: 3.0
Interval Time: 7.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.0

Novice (Scholastic Only)

NOVICE guards are limited to first year competitive high school units and to high school “feeder” units for the Scholastic classification. A unit can be in Novice class if they have been inactive for one full season. Age Limit: All members must be from same high school. Same district is not allowed.
Max. Performance Time: 4.5
Min. Performance Time: 3.0
Interval Time: 7.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.0

Regional A

REGIONAL A is consistently aged 14 through 17 because of the high school affiliation. This class is for non-nationally competing classes. This class usually consists of groups in regional competition only. Age Limit: All members must be from same high school. Same district is not allowed.
Max. Performance Time: 4.5
Min. Performance Time: 3.0
Interval Time: 7.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.0

Scholastic AA (Scholastic Only)

SCHOLASTIC AA is consistently aged 14 through 17 because of the high school affiliation. This class is the youngest of the nationally competing classes. This class usually consists of well established groups. Age Limit: All members must be from same high school. Same district is not allowed.
Max. Performance Time: 5.5
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 8.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.5

Scholastic A

SCHOLASTIC A is consistently aged 14 through 17 because of the high school affiliation. This class is the youngest of the nationally competing classes. This class usually consists of well established groups. Age Limit: All members must be from same high school. Same district is not allowed.
Max. Performance Time: 5.5
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 8.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.5

Scholastic Open

SCHOLASTIC OPEN is consistently aged 14 through 17 because of the high school affiliation. Unlike the high school A class, these guards have discovered a much stronger identity and display higher skill levels. Age Limit: All members must be from same high school. Same district is not allowed.
Max. Performance Time: 6.5
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 9.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.5

Scholastic World

SCHOLASTIC WORLD is consistently aged 14 through 17 because of the make-up of the high school arena. These guards are the epitome of the high school classes, displaying the most creative programs while displaying very strong skills. Age Limit: All members must be from same high school. Same district is not allowed.
Max. Performance Time: 7.5
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 10.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.5

Independent Regional A

INDEPENDENT Regional A is intended for units that do not have all members from one school system. This class typically contains a wide range of age and skill differences within a unit. Age Limit: 22 years old and under
Max. Performance Time: 4.5
Min. Performance Time: 3.0
Interval Time: 7.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.0

Independent A

INDEPENDENT A is intended for units that do not have all members from one school system. This class typically contains a wide range of age and skill differences within a unit. Age Limit: 22 years old and under
Max. Performance Time: 5.5
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 8.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.5

Independent Open

INDEPENDENT OPEN is intended for the more advanced independent guard. Performers within a guard can range from 15 to 22 years of age. There is a greater consistency in the range of skills and physical development than the A class guards. Age Limit: 22 years old and under
Max. Performance Time: 6.5
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 9.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.5

Independent World

INDEPENDENT WORLD has no age limit. These performers demonstrate the highest level of achievement in both design and skill display. Age Limit: no limit
Max. Performance Time: 7.5
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 10.0
Min. Equipment Time: 3.5

Percussion Scholastic Novice

NOVICE Percussion Units (PSN) are limited to first year competitive high school units and to high school “feeder” units for the Scholastic classification. A unit can be in Novice class if they have been inactive for one full season. Ensembles demonstrate basic skills and concepts. Performers strive to achieve basic musical and technical skill sets as well as facilitate beginning concepts of movement. Novice class ensembles incorporate beginning to moderate challenges in regard to orchestration and content. Age Limit: All members must attend high school in the same school district.
Max. Performance Time: 6.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 9.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Scholastic Concert Novice

NOVICE Concert Percussion Units (PSCN) are limited to first year competitive high school units and to high school “feeder” units for the Scholastic classification. A unit can be in Novice class if they have been inactive for one full season. Ensembles demonstrate basic skills and concepts. Performers strive to achieve basic musical and technical skill sets as well as facilitate beginning concepts of movement. Novice class ensembles incorporate beginning to moderate challenges in regard to orchestration and content. Age Limit: All members must attend high school in the same school district.
Max. Performance Time: 6.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 9.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Scholastic Concert A

Percussion Scholastic Concert A (PSCA) is a beginning level concert percussion ensemble that participates in the activity with emphasis on percussion performance without the presence of drill. Instrumentation must be oriented to the performance of concert percussion. Movement is permitted for equipment changes and for better presentation of musical performance only. One non-student conductor is allowed to direct the ensemble and must be stationed inside the competition area.    Class A percussion ensembles demonstrate basic musical and technical skills and incorporate basic challenges in regard to orchestration and content. Age Limit: All members must attend high school in the same school district.
Max. Performance Time: 6.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 9.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Scholastic Concert Open

Percussion Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO) is an intermediate level concert percussion ensemble that participates in the activity with emphasis on percussion performance without the presence of drill. Instrumentation must be oriented to the performance of concert percussion. Movement is permitted for equipment changes and for better presentation of musical performance only. One non-student conductor is allowed to direct the ensemble and must be stationed inside the competition area. Open class ensembles demonstrate intermediate musical and technical skills. The programming and orchestration primarily incorporates intermediate design, with the possibility of incorporating limited advance concepts. Age Limit: All members must attend high school in the same school district.
Max. Performance Time: 7.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 10.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Scholastic Concert World

Percussion Scholastic Concert World (PSCW) is an advanced level concert percussion ensemble that participates in the activity with emphasis on percussion performance without the presence of drill. Instrumentation must be oriented to the performance of concert percussion. Movement is permitted for equipment changes and for better presentation of musical performance only. One non-student conductor is allowed to direct the ensemble and must be stationed inside the competition area. Ensembles in the Scholastic World Class demonstrate advanced level musical skills and concepts. Age Limit: All members must attend high school in the same school district.
Max. Performance Time: 8.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 11.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Scholastic A

Percussion Scholastic A (PSA) ensembles demonstrate basic skills and concepts. Performers strive to achieve basic musical and technical skill sets as well as facilitate beginning concepts of movement. A class ensembles incorporate moderate challenges in regard to orchestration and content. Age Limit: All members must attend high school in the same school district.
Max. Performance Time: 6.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 9.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Scholastic Open

Percussion Scholastic Open (PSO) ensembles demonstrate intermediate skills and concepts. These ensemble have experience in the indoor activity and have moved beyond basic skills, but not yet ready for the advance skills and concepts expected in PSW. Age Limit: All members must attend high school in the same school district.
Max. Performance Time: 7.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 10.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Scholastic World

Percussion Scholastic World (PSW) ensembles demonstrate a virtuostic level of performance and design. All members contribute equally to the advanced level skills expected from participation in this class. Program design and development is at the most sophisticated level in the Scholastic division. Age Limit: All members must attend high school in the same school district.
Max. Performance Time: 8.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 11.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Independent A

Percussion Independent A (PIA) ensembles may include participation from performers up to the age of 22 and are not required to be affiliated with one particular school system. Percussion Independent A ensembles demonstrate basic skills and concepts. Performers strive to achieve basic musical and technical skill sets as well as facilitate beginning concepts of movement. A class ensembles incorporate moderate challenges in regard to orchestration and content. Age Limit: 22 and under
Max. Performance Time: 6.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 9.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Independent Open

Percussion Independent Open (PIO) ensembles may include participation from performers up to the age of 22 and are not required to be affiliated with one particular school system. Percussion Independent Open ensembles demonstrate intermediate skills in both performance and design. These ensemble have experience in the indoor activity and have moved beyond basic skills, but not yet ready for the advance skills, sophistication of design and performance consistency expected in PIW. Age Limit: 22 and under
Max. Performance Time: 7.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 10.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a

Percussion Independent World

Percussion Independent World (PIW) ensembles may include participation from performers up to the age of 22 and are not required to be affiliated with one particular school system. Independent World class ensembles demonstrate a virtuosic level of performance and design. All members contribute equally to the advanced level skills expected from participation in this class. Program design and development is at the most sophisticated level in the activity. Age Limit: 22 and under
Max. Performance Time: 8.0
Min. Performance Time: 4.0
Interval Time: 11.0
Min. Equipment Time: n/a