Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network

2016 RULE MANUAL

Including:

CONSTITUTION
BYLAWS
CODE OF CONDUCT
CONTEST RULES

Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network, Inc.
2015 RULE MANUAL

CONSTITUTION

MISSION STATEMENT

MAIN will be run by the guards, for the guards. The number one goal of MAIN is to strengthen our area colorguard programs through community support, qualified adjudication and up-to-date education. With this in mind, MAIN will serve as a “home base” for its member color guards, and will provide an atmosphere where all participating units unite as a supportive community in the spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition.

MEMBERSHIP
•    Membership is open to any and all units who meet the requirements established by the MAIN bylaws.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
•    The organization will be known as the Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network (MAIN)

EXECUTIVE BOARD
•    The Executive Board of MAIN will be elected yearly and will consist of 5 representatives. All Executive Board members should be from different organizations, including different parent organizations, when possible.  Both independent and scholastic units should be represented if possible.

•    All members of the board must be associated with an active MAIN member unit in the capacity of Director, Business Manager or instructor.

•    MAIN Executive Board members may not hold similar positions within another association (in name or responsibility), nor may they sponsor a show with another association (other than WGI) during the same year they sit on the MAIN Executive Board.

•    Various tasks will be divided among these representatives, and specific chair positions or titles will be determined as the need arises.

•    The Executive Board of MAIN will meet for preliminary meetings prior to the season, and will continue to meet periodically throughout the season.

  •  Members of the Executive Board may not serve more than three consecutive years.

    TASK FORCE
    •    The MAIN Task Force will be headed by a member of, or member at large appointed by, the Executive Board and will consist of at least one representative from each class of competition. The Task Force Coordinator is responsible to accept names of all those interested in sitting on the Task Force for the year. If there is an overabundance of volunteers, the members may be voted in by the general membership. Members of the Task Force may not also be adjudicators for MAIN.
    •    The primary responsibility of the Task Force is to maintain open communication with the judges and to oversee all matters of classification. This group is responsible for deciding whether or not guards should move up or down in class during any particular season. The WGI rules governing classification will be used as guidelines in these decisions. Task Force decisions can be appealed to the Executive Board. If this becomes necessary, the general membership will vote, and this decision will be final.

    COMMITTEES

    •    Various specific committees will be set each year to insure that certain tasks are accomplished (Championship Committee, Scholarship, Publicity, etc.)

VOTING

•    Voting will take place at general meetings with a majority rule system in place. General membership issues will be handled with the raise of a hand, however, individual issues involving a particular unit or an issue of a more personal nature will be handled with a closed vote on written ballot.

•    All units in attendance who meet the MAIN membership requirements and are currently active, will be given a vote (one vote per dues paying unit).

  • A dues paying season will run from September through to the post season meeting in June. In order to vote on anything at the beginning of a new season, a member must have their new dues paid up.

    •    In cases where an immediate decision must be made, the Executive Board has the power to vote on the issue. These decisions will then be brought up at the next regularly scheduled general membership meeting, at which time they can be further amended if necessary.

    •    Rules changes will only be made and voted upon at the spring meeting.

 

  •  The Spring meeting should happen the first week of June to allow time for WGI’s meetings to have taken place.

 

  •  All proposals are due two weeks before the Spring meeting then distributed to all members for review. If a proposal is not in by that date it will not be considered.

    RULES

    •    All MAIN contests will be run in accordance with the current WGI rules governing program evaluation and classification with exceptions as noted below.

  •  All rule changes, including WGI adoptions, must be voted on by the general population.

FINANCES

Dues and Bond
•    Each member of MAIN will be expected to provide its share of bonds and dues as prescribed in the bylaws.

Financial Records
•    All financial matters regarding MAIN will be a matter of public record, available to any member unit at their request.

AMENDMENTS

•    The constitution and bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at the spring general membership meeting.
BYLAWS

NAME
The name of the organization will be known as the Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network.

MEMBERSHIP
•    Membership is available to any and all units who meet the requirements established by the MAIN bylaws.

MEMBER REQUIREMENTS
•    All members of MAIN must post a $50.00 performance bond.

 

  • This bond is refundable upon dissolution of the guard or termination of MAIN membership.

 

  • Requests for return of the bond must be made in writing to the Executive Board.

 

  • All member units have three (3) years from their last active season to request their bond be returned to them, or it will be forfeited to MAIN. If, after 3 years, the guard chooses to re-join MAIN, they will have to repay their bond.  Year 3 will be the 2016 season, meaning that all bond refund requests from non-member units must be fulfilled by Championships in 2016.
  • All MAIN members must pay a yearly dues of $175.00

    •    Dues paid after January 31 will be $275.00

    •    Dues for the year are to be paid by designated midseason show of that year in order to be eligible for championships

    •    Only members who have paid their bond and dues are eligible to vote at MAIN general meetings.

    •    Non-member units may participate in one MAIN show without posting bond or paying dues, however, they must pay a $25 fee to MAIN prior to the competition to offset competition costs.  Prior to competing in a second MAIN show they must pay dues and bond.

    •    Units must provide the executive board with a complete roster prior to their first performance. Additions to this roster may be made up to April 1. No additions may be made after this point. However, in case of an emergency, substitutions may be made with approval by the Executive Board.

    •    A marching member who was listed on one guard’s roster at the beginning of the season can switch and join a different guard mid-season only with a written release from the initial group’s director.

    CONTEST SCHEDULE

    •    The Executive Board and member units will establish a contest schedule at the spring meeting following Championships. Any member wishing to secure a date must have a representative present at this meeting.

    •    All show sponsors must be active members of MAIN.

    •    These dates will be confirmed between MAIN and the intended show hosts upon receipt of a $100.00 scheduling fee along with a completed MAIN Contest Contract Agreement. This must be completed by September 1 in order to be guaranteed your contest date

    •    Order of competition will be as follows:

    o    Middle School/Junior Guards
    o    Novice
    o    Regional A
    o    A Guards
    o    Open Guards
    o    World Guards

    •    Hosts are to decide whether the scholastic or the independent units will perform first within this format. This must be consistent through the entire show
    •    Sponsors have the option of holding a separate retreat during the break for those units who have performed during the first half of the show.

 

 

SPONSOR RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Show hosts are responsible to pay the judges on the day of the show in cash unless otherwise previously arranged.

 

  • Show Hosts must present durable, lasting awards appropriate for display to at least the top 3 groups in each participating class.  If a certificate is given in lieu of a trophy or plaque, it should be framed.

 

  • If necessary, sponsors have the right to cancel their show if there are not enough units contracted to compete. Intent to cancel the contest for this reason must be communicated to the MAIN Contest Coordinator and the units planning to attend at least fourteen days prior to the scheduled event. A show is deemed viable if 12 or more units are planning to attend.  Show sponsorship fees are non-refundable.

 

  • In cases where a show must be canceled due to inclement weather, the host must contact the Contest Coordinator the morning of the show so that the judges can be contacted before they leave for the show. Once a judge has left for the competition, the show host is responsible to pay them the base judges’ fee.

 

  • Start time and a reasonable attempt of class times should be released to participating unit directors at least three weeks prior to the date of competition. Postmark dates will also be published at this time.

 

  • Contest sponsors are welcomed and encouraged to invite non-member units to participate in their MAIN contest. (See rules regarding non-member sign-up.)

 

  • Contest sponsors MAY choose to use a tarp to cover their gym floor.
    • There is no size requirement, but sponsors should refer to WGI guidelines in the Policy Manual.
    • The tarp must be black or neutral.
    • Contest Sponsors using a tarp are required to let units competing at their show the dimensions (if not adhering to WGI Policy) and color of the tarp.

 

  • As a courtesy, members will check off a box noting whether they need a power source in the front or back when they sign up for shows. Contest Sponsors may wish to ask units attending their show if they will require a power source.

 

  • Each competing group will receive: Passes for performing members plus seven (7) staff.

SHOW SIGNUP

•    All members of MAIN are welcome to participate in any MAIN shows provided they signup prior to a show reaching maximum number of units. Commitments to attend a MAIN contest must be made on a contest contract and returned to the contest coordinator.

•    Contracts will be sent to members in good standing on November 25th.  The earliest possible return “postmark” is December 1st.

•    Members who pay their dues after November 25th will be sent a contract once the dues and/or bond is received.

•    A non-member unit may sign up for shows with their earliest postmark date being December 10th.

•    All members who intend to withdraw from a MAIN show must contact the contest coordinator at least ten days prior to the contest date. Units absent from a contracted contest, who have not notified the sponsor, will forfeit their bond money to the sponsor. This will automatically be handled by the MAIN treasurer, and the unit responsible for breaking the contract will be required to pay a new bond prior to their next MAIN performance. In cases where extenuating circumstances prevented the unit from attending, the Executive Board may decide that the bond should not be taken.
•    Non-member units who withdraw without 10 days notification must become members prior to their next MAIN contest.

 

CHAMPIONSHIPS

•      In order for a member unit to be eligible to participate in the Championships, they must perform in a minimum of four (4) MAIN shows over the course of the season, prior to the championship. Two of these shows must be on or prior to the mid-season show, and only one exhibition will count.

•      To help offset expenses and in lieu of each unit providing a volunteer to work for four hours, a $500 stipend will be paid to the organization which sponsors Championships.

 

  •    Details about Championships (such as vendor information, costs to rent a table, etc.) will be posted publicly.

 

ORDER OF APPEARANCE

  • Order of independent vs. scholastic classes will rotate every other year.  On odd number years the Independent groups will go on last and on even years the scholastic groups will go on last.

 

  • Unit Order of appearance for the championship will be determined by:

 

  • Taking a unit’s last score regardless of week, and adding 1.5 for every week leading up to MAIN Championships, then adding the proper bonus points for an early season show appearance. In an effort to publish performance times farther in advance, the last score which may be counted for seeding purposes will be earned no later than two weekends before the event. The highest seeding score would go on last in their class at championships, with the lowest seeding score going on first.  1.5, although not an exact measurement, is a general average of a guard’s growth from week to week.  This will go a long way in making the order of appearance at championships reflect the competitive order at the end of the regular season while still rewarding units for making early season show appearances.

 

  • Addition of the point differential given for early season involvement.  Guards performing in the first show of the season will have 5 points added to their seeding, score;  second week = 4 pts. added, third week = 3pts., fourth week = 2pts and fifth week =1pt.

 

  • Date by which dues were received (for each week after March 15 that dues have not been paid, that unit’s position will drop one slot).

 

  • Ties will be settled by a draw.

Example:
Team X’s last score was an 84.0 three weekends before championships.  Add 1.5 per week leading up to championships, in this case two weeks for a total of 3.0 points.  Team X also earned 4 points for their early season show appearance.  Their total seeding score would be a 91.0.

Team Y’s last score was an 86.5 two weekends before championships.  Add 1.5 per week leading up to championships, in this case one week for a total of 1.5.  Team Y also earned 2 points for their early season show appearance.  Their total seeding score would be a 90.0.

 

Team Z last performed the weekend before championships, but that score will not be counted towards seeding.  Team Z’s last score prior to that was an 86.0 two weekends before championships.  Add 1.5 per week leading up to championships, in this case one week for a total of 1.5 points.  Team Z also earned 3 points for their early season show appearance.  Their total seeding score would a 90.5.

Reverse order of appearance:
Team X – 91.0
Team Z – 90.5
Team Y – 90.0

 

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

♣      In the interest of maintaining decorum and providing a fair and equitable atmosphere of competition, we will expect that all individuals and units participating in MAIN contests and functions show proper maturity and sportsmanship.

♣      Situations that arise involving performing members or staff of any participating unit in which questionable or improper behavior has been exhibited in such a way as to offend, threaten or violate another member or unit will be reviewed immediately by the Executive Board, and appropriate action will be taken.

♣      Units questioning the conduct of another member unit, director, or marching member must submit observations in writing to the Executive Board at which time an investigation will determine that a violation actually took place, and the Board will decide the extent of discipline necessary. Units/individuals in question will receive copies of complaints and have the opportunity to defend themselves to the board prior to any action. Possible results of breaking the code of conduct may be probation, removal of show sponsorship, non-participation in championship activities, etc. In serious cases where expulsion becomes a possibility, the member guards will vote whether or not the unit in question may be allowed to remain a member of MAIN.

  1. The use of overt gestures or other actions to display displeasure with the results of a contest, such as throwing equipment or items of the uniform, the use of abusive, profane or obscene language to members of other units, judges, or members of the audience; the writing of slanderous or threatening material with the intent to malign; defacing or destruction of property; the physical assault or threat to any person or persons will not be tolerated under any circumstance.

    2. Any act that would be considered illegal under the laws of the state/country would cause immediate suspension of the unit involved, and immediate investigation of the matter.

    3. MAIN discourages independent color guards from utilizing high school students who were previously enrolled in an active winter guard high school program and have not yet graduated.

  2. MAIN discourages independent color guards from utilizing performers who have outstanding monies owed to a previous color guard.

CONTEST RULES

RULES

•    All MAIN contests will be run in accordance with the current WGI rules.  (Exceptions shall be noted below.)

ADJUDICATION

•    The Executive Board will be responsible for the hiring of judges for every MAIN show. All judges will be expected to meet certain requirements set by the member units of MAIN.

 

  •  MAIN will utilize Competition Suite software at all adjudicated events.

    AGE

    •    Regional A, A, Open & World Classes

o    All performing members in the  Regional A, A, Open and World Classes must meet the age requirements set forth by WGI.

•    Independent Junior Class
o    Members of Junior guards can compete up to their 14th year, providing their 15th birthday occurs after championships.

•    Middle School Class
o    Members of Middle School guards can compete up to and including their ninth grade year.
CLASSES

•    Each class will be defined according to the WGI standards as outlined in the WGI Rule book and will be judged accordingly, with the following special exceptions/additions:
o    A – Top level A guards who would be competitive with the middle to top half of WGI’s A class (whether or not they compete in WGI events) due to their high level of training and design techniques according to the WGI A class criteria. Judged on WGI A Class Sheets.
o    Regional A – Guards who are in the middle stage of development between a Novice and A class.  These units are not yet at the same level as the more advanced A guards but are above the novice level in terms of training and design techniques. They are considered to be A guards on a regional level. Judged on WGI Regional A Class Sheets.

o    Novice – Guards who are in the early stages of development and on a novice level in terms of training and design techniques. This class is based on training of basic skills. Judged on Novice Class Sheets.

o    Junior & Middle School

  • These Classes will be judged and scored according to the Novice Class sheets.

CLASSIFICATION

♣      A Unit must remain in the class they finished the season before unless a recommendation to move is provided by the Task Force.  If a unit feels they must move down in class, they must provide a letter to the Task Force explaining their change of placement prior to registering for shows. The Task Force will notify the unit of their decision.
♣    A unit cannot move down in class once they have submitted their registration paperwork for the upcoming season and must begin the season in the class that they have indicated on the paperwork as long as they have placed themselves in compliance with the Task Force and all other existing MAIN rules. Once the season starts, a unit can only move down a class if their total score is 20 points below the promotion number for that week.
♣      The Task Force will review all units following the season and make recommendations to units to move up or down in class if a change is deemed appropriate.  The unit may take the recommendation or stay in their current class upon their discretion.

♣      Guards who compete in MAIN and WGI contests, must compete in the same class in both circuits.  The exceptions to this rule will be MAIN Novice & Regional A guards.  Since WGI does not have a Novice class and not all regionals have Regional A class, a Novice unit may opt to compete in a WGI contest in the Regional A division for that contest and remain competitive in the Novice class in MAIN. If a regional does not have a Regional A class, a Regional A unit may opt to compete in a WGI contest in the A class for that contest, while remaining competitive in the Regional A class in MAIN.  WGI does not allow guards to switch classes during a season.

♣    A Reclassification scale system will be in place to determine in-season class changes from Novice to Regional A, Regional A to A class or vice versa.  The scale will be in effect from the first show of the season through the Mid-season show.  The scale will go up by 2 points each week.  In order for a promotion to be triggered, a unit must achieve the total promotion score to go to the next higher class.  In order for a unit to move down a class their score must be 20 points below the promotion score.  No class changes will take place after the Mid-season show.

 

♣    Once a demotion number has been given to a unit, the Director must decide if the unit is moving down a class by 5pm on the Tuesday following the show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            MAIN 2016 RECLASSIFICATION SCALE – NOVICE/SRA

 

Only the total score is relevant to reclassification.

Caption scores provided for reference only.

 

Week 1

Promotion: Total Score of 68.0 (caption score 13.6)

Demotion: Total Score of 48.0 (caption score 9.6)

 

Week 2

Promotion: Total Score of 70.0 (caption score 14.0)

Demotion: Total Score of 50.0 (caption score 10.0)

 

Week 3

Promotion: Total Score of 72.0 (caption score 14.4)

Demotion: Total Score of 52.0 (caption score 10.4)

 

Week 4

Promotion: Total Score of 74.0 (caption score 14.8)

Demotion: Total Score of 54.0 (caption score 10.8)

 

Week 5

Promotion: Total Score of 76.0 (caption score 15.2)

Demotion: Total Score of 56.0 (caption score 11.2)

 

Week 6

Promotion: Total Score of 78.0 (caption score 15.6)

Demotion: Total Score of 58.0 (caption score 11.6)

 

Week 7 (Mid-season Show)

Promotion: Total Score of 80.0 (caption score 16.0)

Demotion: Total Score of 60.0 (caption score 12.0)

 
♣    MAIN units who are promoted in WGI from either A to Open or Open to World will also be promoted in MAIN. In a case where a MAIN guard may be ready for promotion to either Open or World but do not compete in WGI, the Task Force will review the unit to make a determination on class.

♣      A Unit new to MAIN may declare their classification prior to their first show.  The Task Force will review all new units for appropriate classification during their first two shows.

♣      Any unit consisting of members from one school district, that is sponsored by that school district, can choose whether to compete as a scholastic or independent group, however they must stay with that choice for the entire season.  Units competing in the scholastic Divisions will be announced and posted by their school name only.  Units who choose to compete independently must not use a school name.

♣      The MAIN Task Force will handle classification disputes including when affiliation is questioned by another unit. A unit may move up in class at their own risk during the season up to the promotion deadline which is the Mid-season show weekend.

 

♣      A Novice class color guard may only stay in that class for three consecutive years.  Upon completion of the 3rd consecutive competitive season, the unit will automatically be promoted to the Regional A class in the next season.  (Starting with the 2014 season.)

  • If a unit wishes, they may petition the Task Force for an exception. Petitions must be documented in writing, submitted to, and reviewed by the Task Force and Executive Board prior to the start of the season.  Exceptions include hardships such as:
    • Director change
    • Significant staffing change
    • Severe budget cut
    • Loss of 2/3 or more of its membership
    • Other extenuating circumstance
  • This rule does not apply to color guards that act as a “feeder” for another unit.

TIMING

♣      All timing rules will be run in accordance with WGI.  In addition, Novice and Regional A Classes will have a 4:30 maximum performance time, 3:00 minimum authorized equipment time, a 3:00 mimimum performance time, and a 7:00 interval time.

 

 

COMPETITION AREA

 

♣      Competition area specifications are not required to follow Rules 2.1, 2.2, & 2.6, as set forth in the WGI rulebook. These are best practices.

  • If the competition area is less than WGI’s recommendation this information must be provided to units interested in attending the show.
  • The discretion of the T&P judge will be used at each contest in allowing exceptions to these rules, as well in exceptions to Rule 2.5.

 

♣      All contests must utilize a high quality sound system with a variable speed CD player and the capability to use external devices such as MP3 players and/or iPods. In MAIN, variable speed will be provided when possible.

 
POST CONTEST CRITIQUE

♣    A critique will be held after each MAIN contest with the judging panel and the participating units’ staff (with the exception of championships.)

♣    In the event there are less than twenty guards enrolled in a contest the critique will be held for everyone.

♣    If the amount of guards exceeds twenty, the executive board will, in cooperation with the judging association, establish which units will attend critique.  The status of critique will be posted ten days prior to the show based on entries.

♣    The way any given post contest meeting is run (i.e.: order of appearance, or free-for-all) will be left to the discretion of the MAIN contest director.

Please refer to the WGI Rulebook & Policy Manual for further clarification.

http://www.wgi.org/2015/2015_CG_Rules.pdf

http://www.wgi.org/contents/RulesPolicies-CG.html