Rifle
The Color Guard Rifle
The color guard rifle is not a gun, it is made of wood. Please do not ever use it in the manner someone using a gun would use it. In the world we live in, this amazing piece of color guard equipment can be taken away if it is ever mistaken as a real gun and defensive actions follow. The rifle must be carried to and from your school in a bag, box, or other storage so it is never misinterpreted as a dangerous weapon. Instead use your color guard rifle as another piece of color guard equipment to tell our musical stories in this sport of the arts.
Introduction & Some Basics
The Flats - Left & Right
Left Flat:
The spotter is facing you.
Your LEFT HAND is UNDER the rifle and strap, just past the bolt.
Your RIGHT HAND is OVER at the edge of the butt.
Right Flat:
The spotter is facing you.
Your RIGHT HAND is UNDER at the neck.
Your LEFT HAND is OVER at the edge of the tip.
Flat to Flat Exercise
This exercise is "Flat of Flat", where you teach your hands and memorize the two flat positions.
These positions are important as you often begin most exercises in the flats,
and tosses often begin in Left Flat, and are caught in Right Flat.
Spin to Flat - Left & Right
"Spin to Flat" introduces one basic rifle spin, then a flip to flat to flat. These beginning exercises are meant to strengthen your rifle hands, grip strength, keep your lines straight, and memorize what the rifle feels like in your hands.
8 Spins - Left & Right
Continuing your rifle spins, we can start with just 8 spins on each side, flipping to the other flat in between.
When you have mastered 8 spins, move on to 16, then 32.
Once you can easily do 32 spins on each hand, work your way up so 100 spins on each hand!
Rifle Flourishes - Left & Right
Yes, we can flourish on our weapons as well as our flags.
Remember to stay in your toaster for all flourishes!
Also, keep a loose wrist and work your flexibility in arms!
Singles - Left & Right
You will toss one full rotation of the rifle during singles.
For beginners on rifle, singles are thrown from the Flats, and caught at the Flats.
Work on solid catches, hands on the ends, no movement.
For more advanced catching skills, you can also add angles on your catches such as 45° and straight up and down!
Doubles - Left
Doubles are your first "bigger" toss on a rifle. Your rifle will do 2 full rotations from a "left-flat dip" and a "right-flat catch".
As a beginner, try this toss with a 3/4 dip to help you get that toss out!
When you become more advanced, you should be able to easily throw a double without a dip, or toss a double from a spin!
Doubles with Spins - Left & Right
This Doubles exercise throws a double right out of a spin on both the left and the right.
Doubles Off Spins Exercise Audio - Counts Only
Doubles Off Spins Exercise Audio - Music & Counts
Triples - Left
Once you are more advanced at rifle, Triples become the small toss.
The Parallel Toss on the Rifle
Basically the same as the flag Parallel Toss from your shoulders, in the parallel plane.
The rifle rotates like the rotary blades of a helicopter and is a horizontal toss, parallel to the floor.
Higher Tosses on Rifle - Which dip do I use?
This is a great video by Spintronix that explains about higher rifle tosses, and which dip you might use. At the end of the day, you do what your instructor asks of you for the choreography. However, when you are first learning, you might need to use certain dips to help you learn to get it around first!
After triples, you move on to quads, 5's, & 6's.