A small bit of panic

[RLM10_2_06]

My drill team is going to the Nationals.

We have been formally accepted, and the instructors, who rarely see our drill team, are trying to pick our teams for us. This would not be so incredibly frustrating, if not for the fact that they are refusing to let us practice for it. This is a HUGE step for my team. I believe this has stemmed from a general big-headedness from our last drill meet, when I commanded our Unarmed Regulation drill team and got 1st place and a perfect score. That said, however, this idea terrifies me. We won't be allowed to practice until after 7 March (the instructors are trying to enter us into a menial local competition). What can we do, besides running the routines or picking teams, that can prepare us for going to what is BY FAR the biggest competition we've ever been to?

[Drill for life]

Well congatulations!!

Why aren't you keeping the people who practiced and competed so you could place?

[RLM10_2_06]

Well congatulations!!

Why aren't you keeping the people who practiced and competed so you could place?

That is EXACTLY what we (the drill team directors and commanders) want to do. However, the instructors have decided to do otherwise. At this point, the entire team has expressed dislike for it, but the instructors are sticking to it. We just need to trust in them in that aspect and try to prepare ourselves in other ways.

[TruBlu]

What you and other notable figures of your corps need to do is sit down with the instructors and say, "Look, if we are going to invest the time, money, and effort into competing, we need to be properly prepared. If we are not properly prepared we will not win, or even place. We have now been accepted to the highest level of competition and it's time to focus, otherwise we are wasting our time."

Once you do that, I'm pretty sure your instructors will allow you to practice, that is if their heads are screwed on strait enough. What's the reason they won't let you choose teams and run through drill sequences anyways?

[RLM10_2_06]

What's the reason they won't let you choose teams and run through drill sequences anyways?

I believe the isntructors have gotten...confident in their picks, since they chose the team that won our most recent 1st place trophy (as it so happens, this was the same team the commanders had picked, with one cadet switched out). As to not letting us practice, they are deadset on practicing for a lesser competition in the area; we do not need to attend this meet, and CANNOT place overall because our instructors shut down our unarmed exhibition drill team, yet they still want us to go.

[TruBlu]

Speak with them about priorities then. Make sure they understand that the team's number one interest is winning the national competition. Also take in account that the instructors would like to keep you guys active in the local area, which is certainly a good thing. See if you can't split the difference of the two and practice both, but at the same time, cut back slightly on the local competition to prepare for the national.

[RLM10_2_06]

Thanks for the idea; I'll bring that up at our next drill team staff meeting. Never hurts to give it one more shot.

[C/SSGT Seifer]

What you and other notable figures of your corps need to do is sit down with the instructors and say, "Look, if we are going to invest the time, money, and effort into competing, we need to be properly prepared. If we are not properly prepared we will not win, or even place. We have now been accepted to the highest level of competition and it's time to focus, otherwise we are wasting our time."

Once you do that, I'm pretty sure your instructors will allow you to practice, that is if their heads are screwed on strait enough. What's the reason they won't let you choose teams and run through drill sequences anyways?

I completely agree with this. This is the same thing I would do with my instructors.

I believe the isntructors have gotten...confident in their picks, since they chose the team that won our most recent 1st place trophy (as it so happens, this was the same team the commanders had picked, with one cadet switched out). As to not letting us practice, they are deadset on practicing for a lesser competition in the area; we do not need to attend this meet, and CANNOT place overall because our instructors shut down our unarmed exhibition drill team, yet they still want us to go.
The way you described (in your first post,)it you made it sound like you had no practice at all. However if you are practicing for this lesser competition than aren't you practicing for the same thing? When you look at the big picture you are going to be doing the same thing at Nationals as you are in local comps. At nationals (depending on which level you are doing,) there is platoon, squad, inspection, CG, and exhibition (in platoon, duel, and solo.)