I completely agree with what Avery Jones said in the article, “Is Marching Band a Sport?”. When you take into account the effort and hard work that goes into marching, you start to see that it is a sport.

In addition to the reasons the author pointed out, one should also realize that during the performance you can’t call a timeout like in other sports; if you roll your ankle or don’t feel well, you have to keep going. Another thing the author didn’t mention was how hot it gets. I am a member of the marching band and our uniforms are hot. After most games the lower half of my shirt is a darker shade from sweat. The author does mention the stamina needed, and I want to stress that as well. In a study on DCI (Drum Core International) groups it was shown that participants need to stay in peak physical condition so they can carry the instruments and march over extended periods of time.

Thank you, Avery, for writing an amazing article that will hopefully open people’s eyes.