August 2013 The Sky is the Limit In the art of color guard, there are many different tosses that can be used to suit the need for visual aid in a show. Each toss has a different look, style, and even difficulty range; however, if you can master the mechanics of one simple toss, you can master the toughest toss out there. All you need to do is know the structure and parts of the flag, learn the mechanics needed, and grow strong in the art of tossing.
Before you begin, it will be very necessary for you to know and be able to agonize the parts of the very large, very heavy flag you will be tossing. If you are not familiar with the parts of the flag, you could injure yourself and anyone within a six foot radius. At the top of the flag, there is a tip. This tip contains a two lb. Bolt that gives the flag the rotation needed to complete the toss. Without the tip, there is no spinning and the toss becomes irrelevant to the routine. Then, there is the silk.
The silk is used not only for visual aid, but is sometimes needed for the prep for the toss. At the bottom of the silk, is a piece of tape and this is simply called “tape”. This is the cost basic place for hand positioning while doing a toss. Your hand will most likely be placed here for a part of the toss. Below the tape are two pieces of tape that are also used for hand positioning. At the very bottom of the pole, is the bottom tip. This is used for hand positioning and is necessary for an equal weighted flag.
Now that you are familiar with the basic fundamentals of the flag, you are safe to begin the toss. Mauling The positions of your hands throughout the prep for this toss are very crucial. If your hands are not correctly placed, then the toss will more than likely look wrong and could hurt someone. It is very important for your hands to be in the right place at the right time, always. To begin, place your right hand on the tape and put it right above your head and your left hand on bottom tip and rest it right in front of your navel.
The flag and your body should be parallel to each other. Then, release with your left hand and turn the flag counter-clock wise until the flag is upside down and grab the flag in the silk. Continuing the counter-clock wise motion, release with your right hand until the flag is perpendicular to your body, and then return your right hand to he tape. You should continue this process until your right hand is in the silk and the flag is parallel to the ground. From here, you will release the flag.
The release point of this toss should be directly above your head. Wherever you release your flag that is where it will go. This is very dangerous if you release your flag without practicing the release point many times. Before you actually release the flag, practice your release point, assuring that you know where your flag will be headed once you release. When you get to the tossing position, pull the flag down tin your let and and push upward Witt your right hand, allowing the TLA to explode out of your grasp.
The momentum of your pull and push will give the flag the rotation it needs to complete the toss. To master this toss, you will need to practice the proper hand positions and release techniques. This can take a while, but once you master the beginning mechanics of this toss, you can master any toss. The mechanics for all tosses are the same. Once you master this toss, move on to a higher difficulty toss. Keep moving forward in the art of color guard. WAC: 673
