Marching band has been a “hot topic” of an age-old debate on whether or not it’s a sport. Some argue it can’t be a sport since it isn’t traditionally seen as such, while others say it is because of the physical activity and competitions..
The sports world is constantly changing and growing as years go on, but in recent years there have been quite a few additions to what is considered a sport. Some recent additions include: skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and even breakdancing. Although they aren’t traditional sports, they are still widely participated in and require a lot of skills. There are three requirements for being classified as a sport according to The Gazette: “physical exertion or skill, competition between players or teams and a defined set of rules that the competition has to follow.” Marching band is a physically demanding sport that includes intense competitions, high expectations as well as strict judging that some people that are not often taken into consideration.
Some people argue that marching band is meant to impress people with the work they put into it, like Lailee Schaaf, a marching Falcon, who shared, “I do think marching band is a sport. We spend so many hours working to create a show, and to create a performance, to impress people, to make our families proud the same way many people do in sports.”
Something that differentiates the two is the artistic factor that comes with the marching band, like the music, the color guard and the choreography. Colorguard is the main visual of the show, where props like flags, sabers and rifles are used to enhance the performance of the band. Marissa Porter described it as “a sport of the arts,” which portrays that visual and physical aspect.
Despite opinions, there are still rules and regulations that classify marching band as a sport or not. Emily Steinmetz, the athletic director at PMHS, explained in an interview, “It is not by IHSAA’s definition, right? But the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) is a band and athletic organization. And so we’re both under the same umbrella.” This means that traditionally, marching band isn’t a sport, but it is in the same category as sports.
