There are three Indoor Circuits offered: Color Guard, Percussion, and Winds.
Unlike the Outdoor Circuits, each of the Indoor Circuits has their own captions, quirks, and nuances to make it enjoyable for all interested. However, the overall main mechanics are the same between the two circuits.
The Indoor Circuits simulate what it would be like in Winter Guard International.
Directors are allowed to have two ensembles in each circuit: one in the Varsity Division, and one in the Junior Varsity Division. The class of the ensembles is determined by the FPA Administration.
This page will explain the overall concepts and rules that apply to all three disciplines. For circuit specific information, those areas will be indicated.
THINGS TO KNOW...
1) Directors will be allowed no more than two (2) ensembles in each circuit. Furthermore, you will be allowed only one ensemble per division in the circuit. See right explaining classes and divisions.
2) Captions will most mirror and function in the way Winter Guard International has them for all circuits.
3) There will NOT be an overall champion. Like in the real-world circuits, there will only be class champions due to the method of scoring and criteria between the classes offered.
4) Directors will submit Camp and Rehearsal points like it is done in the Outdoor Season. The only main difference is how many points you receive for both phases.
5) For Percussion, only Marching will be offered. No Concert Percussion is available. That may come in time but for now, FPA does not offer it at this time.
JUDGING
All judges will score ensembles out of 100 points. They will then be calculated to the appropriate weight depending on their classification (whether focusing more on the Content side or the Execution side). There are two areas per caption that the ensemble in judged in. World and Open (in Varsity) will have a heavier focus on the "Execution" compared to "Content" with a 60% focus on Execution and 40% focus on Content. A (in Varsity) and B (in Junior Varsity) will have an even focus across the board (50% each). Novice and Cadet (in Junior Varsity) will have a heavier focus on the "Content" side of the caption with 60% for Content and 40% for Execution.
Full explanations are below pertaining to each caption for each circuit.
CLASSES AND DIVISIONS OFFERED IN THE INDOOR CIRCUITS
Two divisions are offered: Varsity and Junior Varsity. The Varsity Division will mirror what WGI has for classes with World, Open, and A. The Junior Varsity Division will mirror WGI's Regional A level, but with what is offered for lower level units at the state level with B, Novice, and Cadet.
New directors that join in the Varsity Division will be placed in the A Class. For Junior Varsity they will be placed in Cadet. Promotions are possible, but will be at the discretion of the FPA Administration.
Classes are scored on a different scale from one another (thus no overall champions offered), similar to WGI.
COLOR GUARD CAPTIONS
Four Captions: Equipment, Movement, Design Analysis, and General Effect.
Equipment, Movement, and Design Analysis are each worth twenty (20) points out of the 100 that can be earned. Sub-areas are Vocabulary [Equip/Move] / Composition [Analysis] (Content), and Excellence (Execution). There is one judge per area, per caption.
General Effect is worth forty (40) points out of the 100 that can be earned. Sub-areas are Repertoire and Performance. All ensembles regardless of class are scored evenly in this caption.
EVENT HOSTING FOR THE FPA INDOOR SEASON
Hosting events in FPA for the Indoor Season will be done differently compared to Outdoor. For the Indoor Season, hosts will not just host only Color Guard, or only Percussion, or only Winds. It's an "all or nothing" affair. We will accept as many hosts as our overall numbers allow, but we also do not want too many ensembles competing at any one location.
Hosts will receive a 15 point bonus to Rehearsal Allocations each week of the season (including post-season) and will receive an additional budget increase (both up front AND at the conclusion of the season).
PERCUSSION CAPTIONS
Three Captions: Music, Visual, General Effect
Music is worth a total of thirty (30) points out of the 100 that can be earned. Visual is worth a total of twenty (20) points out of the 100 that can be earned. Sub-areas for both captions are Composition (Content) and Performance (Execution). There is one judge per area, per caption.
General Effect is worth fifty (50) points out of the 100 that can be earned. Sub-areas are Music (worth 30) and Visual (worth 20). Two judges per area, averaged to get sub-caption score All ensembles regardless of class are scored evenly in this caption.
CAMP POINT ALLOTMENTS
Camp Point Allotments are what is spent at the time of registration and is a one time thing. These points will carry on with you for the entire season and cannot be adjusted without the express permission of the FPA Executive Director.
Points are spent on what they want to focus on at the beginning on all of the captions/areas scored in FPA Indoor. There is a hard rule of Caption Caps. This means that each caption is never allowed more than twenty percent (20%) of the allowance of points for each ensemble.
Depending on your class will depend on the number of points that you can spend. The table below will explain how many points are given for each classification.
COLOR GUARD AND PERCUSSION
World Class - 425
Open Class - 400
A Class - 375
B Class - 325
Novice Class - 300
Cadet Class - 275
WINDS
World Class - 350
Open Class - 325
A Class - 300
B Class - 250
Novice Class - 225
Cadet Class - 200
WINDS CAPTIONS
Three Captions: Music, Visual, General Effect
Music is worth a total of thirty (30) points out of the 100 that can be earned. Visual is worth a total of thirty (30) points out of the 100 that can be earned. Sub-areas for both captions are Composition (Content) and Achievement (Execution). There is one judge per area, per caption.
General Effect is worth forty (40) points out of the 100 that can be earned. Sub-areas are Repertoire and Communication. Two judges per area, averaged to get sub-caption score of 20 per area. All ensembles regardless of class are scored evenly in this caption.
REHEARSAL POINT ALLOTMENTS
Rehearsal Points work just like Camp Points with two exceptions:
1) Rehearsal Points are submitted once a week.
2) At certain points of the season, point allotments for each classification increase by a small factor.
There will be opportunities to earn additional points to your allotment. These opportunities will include continuing to place well throughout the season as well as donating to the FPA to help maintain the site and its operating costs.
Rehearsal point allowances for all ensembles are set in weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7, increasing by 40 points each of those weeks.
COLOR GUARD AND PERCUSSION
Starting Points
World Class - 580
Open Class - 550
A Class - 520
B Class - 460
Novice Class - 430
Cadet Class - 400
WINDS
Starting Points
World Class - 450
Open Class - 420
A Class - 390
B Class - 330
Novice Class - 300
Cadet Class - 270