Taping Your Rifle

Hello!

A lot of you are getting new rifles, so I wanted to post a tutorial on how I liked them taped.  Please do not spin your new rifle until it is taped!  I did my best to explain using words.  Please send me an email or text if you don't understand and maybe I can explain better.  There are YouTube videos online but none of them are very concise or tape the way I like them so only go there if you are desperate.

You will need:

• Phillips screw driver for bolt
• Flat head screw driver for strap screws
• 1"strapping tape (if you can only find 3" at the store, you will need to cut it in thirds)
• 1" white electrical tape
• 1" black electrical tape

Strapping tape has fibers running the length of the roll and looks like this:  

Step 1: Take off the bolt and strap

Carefully remove your bolt- make sure not to scratch it with the screw driver.  Also undo one of the screws on the strap.  you will not need to undo both sides.  (You are not removing the assembly piece,  just the flat screw holding the strap together)  Set aside the bolt and screws.

Step 2: Strapping tape on the Tip and Butt

Below is a diagram of where to tape your rifle.   This step will be taping the tip and the butt, we will get to the barrel in step 3. 

Take the rifle and have the tip straight in the air.  Looking at the tip you will want to do strips of strapping tape that only cover the tip and extend down the barrel just enough to secure it.  Then go the other way.  So you will have one layer of tape going up and down- one side to side.  After you have done this, tape around the barrel covering the very edge where you have tape extending from the tip down about 3 inches.  Do the same with the butt of the rifle with tape going the long way down the butt and the short way, then around the rifle extending to the assembly piece.

Step 3: Strapping tape on the barrel

In the picture above, the barrel is only taped in 2 spots.  We will actually be going from the beginning of the yellow on the left (on the neck) through the entire barrel to the yellow piece on the right (passed the bolt) So it should be one continuous piece of taped barrel.  I like to use strips in this section at an angle so the tape doesn't bubble or fold.  I found a good video of someone doing this HERE

Step 4: Covering all strapping tape with white electrical tape

Go over all of the places you used strapping tape and apply white electrical tape the same way - but only covering the ends of the butt and tip with one layer of white tape instead of two.  

Step 5: Reassembly and black tape

Reassemble your rifle, Making sure to tape over the flat screws on your strap so they don't scratch the paint off of your rifle.  Also take care not to strip your screws or the wood under the bolt- you will need to take the bolt on and off throughout the lifetime of your rifle.  Lastly put a 3" long piece of black tape just under your bolt  on the side facing you if you were at right port (tip on the left, butt on the right)  This is for spotting. Please write your name or some distinguishing word on the inside of your strap with black sharpie.  

Again, Let me know if you have questions!  Taping your rifle this way is important so they all look the same, and don't add too much extra weight with excessive amounts of tape.  

Weekly Update 12-14 and Important information

Hello Parents!

I will be sending out a weekly email and also posting the email on the blog at afbguard.blogspot.com.  Emails will include the next weeks schedule and any information you will need to know for competitions that week etc.  This email will be kind of long so bare with me.  I will include my attendance policy, information for paying fees, and ordering deadlines.

I will send out an email tomorrow with the packet attached for those of you who missed our parent meeting.  The packet will have all of the information that you missed.  

We have had 2 great weeks of rehearsals so far, and I am very impressed with the great abilities and attitudes of this group!  

Here is the schedule for this week:

Monday 6:00 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. AFJH GYM

Tuesday  3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  AFHS Band Room

Wednesday 6:00 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. AFJH GYM

Thursday  3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  AFHS Band Room  Rifles only

Leslie Cleveland has it set up where you can now pay fees online at myschoolfees.com or in person at AFJH.  If your student does not attend AFJH you will have to pay in person.  

If your student is interested in spinning rifle, they will need to have their own (either purchased or borrowed).  They can purchase rifles through the jr high for $44.  If you are interested in doing this, please have your payment in by Thursday at 3 so Leslie can have them ordered and delivered by our camp. Please note that if you are ordering a rifle you will also need to purchase strapping tape (clear tape with fibers running through the length of it) and white electrical tape separately at a store like home depot or ace hardware. 

Also,each student is required to have a flag bag.  This way they can keep their equipment that is checked out to them accounted for and protected.  They are $24 each, and should also be paid for by Thursday at 3:00 so we can have them ordered and delivered by our camp. There is an option to make your own flag bag if you would rather.  Click this link to find my blog post about bag requirements. I will not require them until our first January rehearsal, so that gives you time to make them, or until this Thursday to order them.   

I will be forwarding an email from our B Guard mom, Lori Pace, who has agreed to help coordinate carpools.  Please look for that and contact her if you are needing carpools for your student or are interested in helping with a carpool.  

Starting this week our attendance policy will be in place.  I have given us all a couple of weeks to get our schedules aligned and figured out and now it will be crucial to attend every rehearsal.  I allow 3 excused absences.  You can excuse your student by sending me an email to this account or a text to my phone number with at least 24 hour notice.  Once your student exceeds this it may start to affect their spot and role in the show.  We learn a lot at every rehearsal and it is hard to make up once missed.  I understand that sometimes your student will wake up sick with no notice, please still try to to send me a text or email that morning instead of waiting until your student attends the next rehearsal.  There are some mandatory rehearsals that cannot be missed.  The first two are our camps on December 29th & 30th from 8 - 4   The others are the rehearsals right before a competition.  It is customary that if your student misses the rehearsal before a competition they won't be able to perform at the competition.  For any questions on this please feel free to contact me.  

I hope you made it through the email.  Please don't hesitate to email or text me with any questions!

Whitney Alger

801.376.2633

Parent Meeting

Parents,

I apologize for having to do this - but we need to change our parent meeting for Thursday. It will now be from 5-5:30pm for the A & Open parents, and 5:30-6:00pm for the C & B Guards.

Again I apologize for the change in times. Hope you can all make it.

B Guard Results - CONGRATS!

AF B Guard 2015

Kelsi Gough

Hallie Wing

Savannah Wing

Savannah Johnson

Anna McGuire

Harlie Tisdale

Shelsey Cleveland

Kaitlyn Meyers

Brianna Manseau

Emily Farnsworth

Kimee Manges

Madi Mrykalo

Camryn Hansen

Brittany Hurst

Taylor Whittington

Meilani Murphy

Nikelle Limon

Amy Schmuhl

Amanda Vin Zant

Sydney Wells

Madi Childs

Laila Nelson

Josie Jones

Hannah Sumsion

Kaylie Ashcraft

Myken Gurnery

Anna Workman

Kristen Pace

Lizzy Hafen

Meagan Zabriskie

Emma Allred

Courtney Thomas Sabrina Cline

Our first rehearsal will be December 1 from 6-7:45am at AFJH. We will be in the gym behind the band room. We will also have a parent meeting December 9th at 7:30pm in the band room at AFHS. $75 payment will be due December 10th.

End of Season Party!

We had a great party last month!  I am just now updating the pictures.

Here are everyone's lovely "wedding dresses" made from toilet paper.

We missed those of you who couldn't be there!

Thanks again for such a great season!  Until next year!

Weekly Update 3/23/14

Hello!  I have been slacking at updating this lately.  

Great Job yesterday at the competition. You did a wonderful job and should be very proud of your show!

Here is the schedule for this week 

Monday:       6:00 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.  Rehearsal AFJH

Tuesday:       3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  Rehearsal AFHS

Wednesday:  6:00 a.m. - 7:35 a.m.  Rehearsal AFHJ

Thursday:      4:15 - ?   Pictures  AF Amphitheater Full Hair, Makeup, Uniform.

Saturday:       Time TBA  State Championships.  AFHS

Details about Thursday:

4:15 AF Amiptheater.  I am not sure how long it will take, but shouldn't be too long. Please bring $15 (if a Check make it out to Cheapshots Photography)  This will get you one group shot and one individual shot.  Please do everything in your power to be there.  We want everyone to be in our group shot!

Details about Saturday:

For State Championships we usually have a preliminary round and a final round, however, because our circuit has so many groups this year we would have to start prelims at 7:00 a.m. to fit everyone in.  For this reason, only the groups with more than 4 units are participating in Prelims.  Our group has 5 but because one group did not meet the requirements to participate in State- we are now  competing just in finals.  I do not have a start time for finals or our performance time yet, but I will make sure to get it to you as soon as I have it.  

Here is the video for last night.  Really great job!

http://youtu.be/Okl6BwcPIQM

This will probably be my last weekly update! :(  the only thing we have after this week is our Guard Party on April 15th!  I will have more details about that coming soon.

See you all tomorrow!

Whitney

AF B Guard - AF Show 3/8/2014

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American Fork B Guard - West High School 2 22 2014

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American Fork B Guard - Westlake HS 2014

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Hair and makeup Information 2014

Ok the email you have all been waiting for:

The makeup you will need to purchase is  the Maybelline Sapphire Smokes 14Q  Palette

You can find this at Walmart.  I understand that between the couple of Walmarts around our area there might not be 30 palettes.  If you absolutely cannot find this palette you can purchase my second choice:

Covergirl  Crystal Waters 270 Palette

If you can't find either of these, please find someone that is willing to share with you until you can find them. Don't buy something that you think is close. 

If you are sharing, remember that you must have your makeup DONE by 11:00 so you will need to meet before hand!

For blush and Lipstick: I have no preference on brand but please make it a brighter blush pink. (not bright neon)  Not too orangey/peachy- and not a dark red.   Here is a picture of a blush color that is right around the shade I am talking about

Other than that you will need foundation, mascara, and black eye liner.  I prefer gel or liquid eyeliner because it goes on really smooth and dark and lasts longer than pencil.

For Hair:

We want it braided into a side bun on the LEFT side of your head. .  Things to consider:  Hair needs to be set with hair spray and pinned securely.  You will need to be able to run around with it and have it not fall out- and also not be sweeping it out of your face ( no fly-aways). You can use your individuality in what kind of bun it is (messy, barrel curl, chingon etc) and what kind of braid it is (french, fishtail, waterfall etc)  There are a lot of good youtube "how-to" vids if you are totally lost with hair.  I will try to find a couple that I like.  Other than that please make it look nice and professional- not messy like you rolled out of bed.  Take time to practice it during the week, or ask someone to do it for you.  Remember to have it done by 11:00 AM on Saturday.   If you have short hair do you best to have it braided in some way- and have it nicely pulled to the side.  Use Gel and hairspray to secure any fly aways.  

I have attached a couple of different variations of the same hairstyle.  Any of these would be appropriate

Let me know if you have any questions.  

Whitney

Weekly Update 1/26/14 & Important Update

Lots of information in this e mail!  Please read through carefully.

Here is the schedule for the week:

Monday:  6:00 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.

Tuesday  3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday:  6:00 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.  Please come wearing your uniform we will rehearse all of Wednesday in them, bring clothes to change into for school.  Have everything that you are going to wear under them as well as have them hemmed.  

Saturday:  Bear River Competition.  Meet at High School at 11:00 a.m.  Please don't be late! REMINDER!!!!  the next $85 installment of fees is due by Saturday as well. 

Important information for the Competition this week:

We share a bus with Wasatch Academy to keep costs down.  They perform much earlier in the day, that combined with the fact that this competition is far away- means that we are going to be coming home after we perform. This will put us at home around 8:30 or 9 instead of midnight.

If you would like to stay later and watch the rest of the groups and awards ceremony you are welcome to but it must be with YOUR PARENTS.  It cannot be someone else's parents, sisters, friends etc.  For liability reasons I must see you with your parents.  Same rule applies if you are going to ride home with them instead of on the bus.  You must come to me and tell me you are riding home with them. 

I am asking for a parent chaperone to ride the bus with us to the competition and back.  This will allow me to stay behind for awards and to stay with our captains during retreat and awards ceremony.  ( I will talk to captains this week with more info)  Please let me know if you would be willing to be our bus chaperone for this competition.  

Please be to the High School by 11:00 on Saturday with full hair and makeup done (more details to come) and NOT wearing your uniform.  We will be changing into our uniforms at bear river so please make sure that you have ALL pieces of it when you get on the bus.  

What to bring to the Competition:

Duffle bag/back pack

Sack lunch for bus, and money or food for dinner.  They will have concessions at the competition and you will have time to eat.

White tape

Flag Bag with all of your performance flags and rifle

Makeup

Extra bobby pins, elastics, hair spray for touch ups

Uniform and all parts of it (tank top, body tight whatever you are putting under it) Leggings, dress etc.

We perform barefoot but will have to run outside to get to our warm up area.  Please wear shoes that are easily slipped on and off.  You will not have time to lace up shoes. 

Bear River High School:

1450 S Main St, Garland, UT 84312

The cost of admission will be $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for children over 3 years 

and students with an activity card, $20.00 for a family of five, and 3 years and younger are free.

I will be sending another e mail with makeup and hair information. 

If I think of anything else, or if you have any questions, please let me know and I will send another e mail during the week.

Thank you !

AF B Guard Staff. 

Weekly Update 1/19/14

Hello Everyone!

If you aren't already, please allow your students to read these e mails!  Thank you!

We just had our Eval show on Saturday and everyone did really well!  It feels good to get our first performance out of our systems and now most of us know what to expect out of a competition.  

Here is our schedule for the week:

Monday:  NO REHEARSAL!!

Tuesday:  3:30 - 6:00 p.m.  AFHS  Please note the change.  We will be trying on our uniforms.  We may get done earlier- but please don't plan on leaving until 6:00.

Wednesday: 6:00-7:45 a.m.  AFJH

Please take the time off of school to really practice.  If you feel like you have run out of things to do here is a list to keep in mind:  

1. Tosses

2. Any basics including drop spins to double time and our Tendu - plie  exercises

3. Flag feature focusing on all of the checkpoints

4.  Just counting to the song and knowing your entrances and exits without looking at others.  You can do this by "watching" the youtube videos with your eyes closed and open them when you think you enter to check if you are right.

The Judges really like our show and the direction it is going. We have a couple changes to make and then it is crunch time for learning new choreography!  Come to rehearsal rested and ready to learn learn learn

Thank you for all of your hard work.  It is really starting to paying off. 

AF B Guard Staff.

Weekly Update 1/12/14

Hello Parents and Students

Here is the schedule for the upcoming week:

Monday: 6:00 a.m.-7:45 a.m. AFJH

Tuesday: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. AFHS

Wednesday:  6:00 a.m.-7:45 a.m. AFJH

Saturday: Eval Show   Vista Heights Middle School 

484 Pony Express Pkwy, Saratoga Springs, UT 84045

Please meet at 2:20 in the parking lot. We should be done around 4:00 p.m.

For the Eval show we will not have the uniforms ready, so please wear all black.  If you have a black shirt that has a logo on it, that is fine, but please try to find black leggings, yoga pants etc as well as some type of shirt.   This will help us look cohesive and help the Judges focus on our show rather than our crazy colors. Please dress warm over your performance clothes.  

Students:  this is a great experience for you to see how a normal competition will go.  We will get to have 2 warmups, one with equipment, and one without, and then we perform.  It will be fun and exciting!

Parents: The Eval show is closed. This means that only the Judges, Utah Color Guard Circuit board members, and our staff will be able to see the show.  This includes other units and parents.  Sorry for any inconvenience. 

A reminder to please take your student's measurements and either e mail them to me, or be ready to hand in to me at monday's rehearsal.  Again, I will have a tape measure there for those who weren't able to get it done, but I won't have time to do very many.  Thank you for your cooperation in this.  We need Bust, Waist, Hips and normal dress/pant size.

Please please please review the videos before Monday!  I would like to see everyone remembering the flag work, we will be working on cleaning it and reviewing specific counts this week. 

Please let me know if you have any questions!

B Guard Staff

Sizes

Hello parents and students.

We are hoping to order our uniforms within the week, but we still need sizes.  

Please take the following measurements of your student and either e mail me back or send them with your student on Monday.

We need the following measurements:

Bust (widest part under the arms)

Waist  (natural waist line)

Hips (widest part under the navel)

Usual dress/pant size.

When measuring please don't measure too tight.  If you do not have a way to do this I will have a tape measure at rehearsal on monday and will be able to do it then.  We just don't have enough time to take all 30 measurements during rehearsal, so your cooperation  is much appreciated.  

Thank you for helping us out!  I will send a weekly update tomorrow with a reminder!

Whitney

Important info for Eval Show and upcoming Competitons

Dear Parents,

As you have seen in your packet and on the B guard Blog (afbguard.blogspot.com)  we have some shows coming up soon.  I wanted to give you advance notice that the students will need to have transportation to and from every show except for the Bear River Competition (Feb 1st) and West High School (Feb 22nd).  For those 2 we will have busses.  

I have had some parents ask about timing for competitions.  Generally, competitions don't start until 3:00 p.m.  We will usually perform around 4 or 5 p.m. however, this time can change depending on how we place in our class and how many units are competing.  I will send out times when I get official word.  

For the Eval show coming up on January 18th please plan on having your student to Vista Heights Middle School at 2:20 pm.  We will meet in the parking lot and go in together.  Again, I will have more information for you next week.  I just wanted to give you some advanced notice.  

Vista Heights Middle School:

484 Pony Express Pkwy, Saratoga Springs, UT 84045

Thank you,

Whitney

Video update

Hello everyone,

I have decided to create a youtube channel to house all of our videos.  This just seems to be an easier way than having to upload it to a dropbox.  I will include updated versions of our show so you can remember new content and see how we have progressed through the season.  Please use this tool to help you remember what we learned, and also to help you maybe learn what you have missed.  

I have made the videos unlisted.  This means that you can only watch them if you have the link.  To make them private I need to manually enter in all of your email addresses, until I can find an easier way to that they will have to stay unlisted.  Until then, please don't share the link with anyone, these videos are just for our purposes. 

Again, Great job on improving over the last week!  I was really impressed with how much you retained and improved!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Whitney

(to obtain the link please see the e mail sent on 1/6)

Weekly Update 1/5/14

Hello Everyone!

I hope that you have all enjoyed your break and are ready for school to start again!  

This weeks schedule:

Monday 6:00a.m. - 7:45 a.m. AFJH

Tuesday 3:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. AFHS

Wednesday 6:00a.m. - 7:45 a.m. AFJH

I hope that you have practiced and written down everything you have learned this last 2 weeks.  We will only have time for a short review and then we are moving on!

Please remember that if you have missed any of the camps over the break that it is up to you to learn the work outside of rehearsal!  The captains have so graciously volunteered to help anyone who may need it during Cave Time on Wednesdays.

Thank you for everything!

AF B Guard Staff