Color Guard is the auxiliary part of the band that uses flags, sabers, mock rifles, shields, and other equipment to give the band a visual effect. Old fashioned guards were used to hold up bands colors, today however, they have a much bigger role then just that. They too are graded along with the band and their choreography is closely scrutinized for a separate grade.  Tryouts for Color Guard season start in May before the actual marching band ensemble is even put together. The Color Guard sometimes seems as the most dedicated portion of the band seeing as they practice twice a week all through the summer. They hear the music before the band does, they sometimes even know most of the show before the band even thinks about getting out there marching shoes for Band Camp in August.  This section of the band is sometimes considered inferior since they do not play any music, but in reality they are the hardest working in the sense that they have to memorize a routine, memorize where the routine fits in the music, and memorize the sets and how to march them,  properly (Left foot first even if you are dancing!). The Color Guard thought to be inferior, at Roseville, is really a back bone.