What to Expect for Home Football Games 🏈🎶

 

Part of what makes the Milton Marching Band such an incredible group are the long-standing traditions we uphold. These are the things that make Friday nights so much fun!  This is a list of everything that goes into making game days smooth and special. It’s a lot, but please take a couple of minutes to read through it. You’ve got questions, and the answers are most likely below! 😊


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HOME GAMES

 

PREPARATION

  • On the morning of a football game, your student should bring with them everything they will need for school and for that evening’s game.  Including but not limited to;
    • Musicians - marching shoes, mid-calf black socks, under uniform shirt (white), and under uniform shorts (navy).
      • Musicians with long hair (all genders) must pull their hair up and out of their face.  All hair is to be tucked under their shako (marching hat). Students can ask their section leader for more information because some sections will have a preference for how hair should be fixed (i.e., braids, etc.).
    • Colorguard – guard backpack, pre-game uniform, performance shoes, white tennis shoes, hair and makeup supplies, applicable under garments, water jug, and wind suit.
  • Some Friday mornings, musicians have a pep band before the school day begins.  Band students wear their show shirts to school.  Mr. Shumick will coordinate this with the students directly and it is not required.

  • What if you forget to bring an item?
    • Don’t bring forgotten items to school and try to leave them at the front office. They won’t accept them. Students can meet you in the carpool lane after school to retrieve them. In the event of an emergency and you can’t bring forgotten items, have your student visit the uniform closet. The uniform  moms have a limited supply of shirts, shorts, socks and shoes that can be checked out for the evening.

  • As the season progresses we can get rainy or cold weather. The band will be present unless there is heavy rain. We suggest purchasing a long underwear set to wear underneath marching uniforms.

 SAMPLE HOME GAME SCHEDULE

 

This is a sample schedule - exact times vary by game depending on kick off time and how long the actual game takes. Mr. Shumick will communicate with students.

 

 

STUDENT PROCEDURE - HOME GAMES

 

  • When the bell rings at the end of the school day, students don’t leave campus.  They change into their under uniforms/pre-game uniforms, work on homework, practice their music or spin with friends.  Often colorguard members will begin their performance hair and makeup.  

  • Exact times vary slightly each game for when students report where.  Mr. Shumick will communicate this information.

  • Dinner is served in the cafeteria by our Meals Team of volunteers and is typically announced a few days before so that everyone is aware of what is being served. Dietary restrictions collected during registration are considered for every meal and alternatives are offered within reason. 

  • After dinner, colorguard will finish getting ready and the musicians will change into their uniforms.

  • All members report to the front lawn for a lawn concert (the “Lawn-cert”), ready to perform at 6:30pm. Mr. Shumick will communicate with students when they need to report to the lawn. 
     
  • After the lawncert, students will march into the stadium in parade format.  

  • Game time
    • The Marching Band will perform a pre-game show just before kickoff. This is the same for every home game. The pre-game show consists of the MHS formation (get your cameras ready!), the Fight Song and the Alma Mater. 
    • 1st Quarter - stand tunes.
    • 2nd Quarter - stand tunes and then go down to field for half-time show.
    • 3rd Quarter - snack break.
    • 4th Quarter - stand tunes.
    • After the game concludes, the Marching Band first plays the MHS Alma Mater before lining up to parade out of the stadium, to the flagpole.

 



PARENT PROCEDURE - HOME GAMES

 

Parking and Tickets

 

  • Parking
    • Parking is any available space usually in the blue, red, or northwestern middle school lot.  

    • Parking costs $5 (subject to change) cash.

    • The blue lot is the easiest spot to be for after the game pickup and Flagpole retreat.
  • Tickets
    • Chaperones (for that game), Crue, spirit wear, program sellers and photographers wear special lanyards provided by the relevant committee lead, and are not charged for game entry. A great perk for volunteering! All others need tickets to the game.

    • Tickets and game times can be found here: https://gofan.co/app/school/GA5159 

    • Ticket Tips
      • It is easiest if you buy tickets ahead of time (or morning of, etc.).
      • They do sell them at the gate through Go Fan (link above) but just order ahead.
      • When you are ready to walk in the stadium, have your tickets out but don't press "use" - the ushers letting you in the stadium will press "use ticket" - otherwise they think you have already entered!
  • Getting into the stadium
    • After the lawn-cert at 6:30, you will use your ticket to go into the stadium through the front gates.  

    • Where to sit - the band sits in the area marked with a red arrow in the image below.  Band parents, friends, and family generally sit in the blue area right under the band.  The easiest path is to take the yellow area (go the up path once you pass the concession stands).

    • Parents, guests, and friends; please refrain from entering the Marching Band student section (red) during the game, which is specifically roped off to only allow access for our students and band staff.  Chaperones are on duty to take care of any needs a student might have. 

 picture of football stadium

 

 

 

GAME DAY GENERAL TIPS

  • What to wear
    • Most band families wear the shows shirts to games. If you don't have a show shirt, wear the red band polo. If you don't have that, wear miltonspiritwear.com. If you don't have Milton spiritwear, wear red or blue.  Or green - it doesn't really matter, just come to the game and cheer on the band!

    • Milton Spiritwear is also sold at the game right inside the front gates! They have some great hats and such for cold days!
  • Other things to bring
  • Milton Game Traditions
    • We recognize our band seniors with signs with their name that are placed on the sidelines for every home game. There are plenty of opportunities for seniors to take photos with their signs. 

    • Our band kids are always in some stage of uniform and never leave the group unattended and do not purchase concessions. Chaperones escort them to the restrooms as needed.

    • Chaperones provide them plenty of water during the game, and they go to the gym to cool down, relax, and have a snack and water during the third quarter. They return to the stands before the beginning of the fourth quarter. Our chaperones make sure that no one goes hungry or thirsty…one of the many reasons we appreciate them! 
    • The band plays the Fight Song after every score including the extra point. You won’t get tired of it! 

    • There is a theme each home game that you will see the student section bring to life. Examples are camo, white out, neon, etc. The Band participates in this in their own small way - face paint, hats, ribbons in hair etc. 

    • There is a student group called the Bravehearts whose members will take turns doing push-ups on a platform for each point scored.
    • The sideline cheerleaders do routines along with some of the band stadium tunes, but not all. Our wonderful Colorguard acts as another spirit squad and has pom poms and routines for all of the band stand tunes.

    • Feel free to clap and enjoy when the band is performing in the stands. Many parents stand or face the band when they are playing. It’s fun and a great chance to get pics and videos of your kiddo in action!

    • Sometimes the visiting band will engage in a friendly back and forth where the same stadium tune is played. Other times, the bands are playing different things at the same time.  A lot depends on what is going on on the field at the time. 

 

  •  Miscellaneous
    • Souvenir programs are sold at the game. 

    • The band does not run or own the stadium concessions - this is a football booster program. 

 

 

 

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

  • Once the Marching Band is dismissed by the Drum Majors, all members will go downstairs to put away their instrument, change out of uniforms, and gather their school backpacks. This can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes depending upon your student, their instrument or equipment, and their desire to leave their friends. 

  • You can pick up your student from the Blue Parking Lot, this is the parking lot on the far side from the stadium.  


    dropoff and pickup band entrance




  • Students are not allowed to walk home after a game, walk anywhere else to take a ride share, or go for a walk on the cross-country trails.

 

 

 

GAME EVENTS


Lawn-cert

  • All members of the band report to the front lawn for a lawn concert (the “Lawn-cert”), typically about 6:30PM.   All parents, guests, and friends are invited to attend.  The band uses this time to warm up and will usually run through the show music. Please feel free to stand/sit on the front steps, but make plenty of room for our Drum Majors to stand on the steps to conduct the band.
    • Front ensemble does perform and the crue helps them get equipment to the stadium after.

    • Color Guard also performs the lawn-cert.
  • After the lawn-cert, members of the marching band will formally march into the stadium in parade format around 6:45.  At this time parents usually head to the stadium.  The volunteer band crue will help getting equipment into the stadium.

 

 

 

 Pre-Game Show

  • The Marching Band will perform a pre-game show just before kickoff. This is the same for every home game. The pre-game show consists of the MHS formation (get your cameras ready!), the Fight Song and the Alma Mater. 

  • If a member is in Marching Band and Chorus, the student may leave at the end of pre-game to sing the National Anthem (coordinated by the Chorus Teacher)

  • This occurs around 15 minutes before kickoff.

 

 

 HALF-TIME SHOW

  • During the second quarter, the Marching Band will make their way to the track to warm up and prepare for their halftime performance.  Parents, family and friends are not allowed on the track.

  • Halftime = Performance!  Please stand and cheer for our performers and feel free to take pics and videos, if you like, but PLEASE DON’T post any portion of the half-time show on any social media where people other than our band family could see it until after the end of our competition season. 

  • Halftime is around 8:45 (7:30 kickoff) but this really varies depending on the team, gameplay, weather, etc.

 

3rd QUARTER SNACK BREAK

  • During the 3rd quarter, the Marching Band will take a break and have snacks, water, and bathroom access. Colorguard will change out of their performance uniform into their wind suit or pre-game uniform. 
  • They will return to do stand tunes during the 4th quarter.

 

 

FLAGPOLE

  • After the game has ended, students play the Alma Mater in the stands, then parade formation back to the flagpole in front of the school.

  • “The flagpole” is a well-loved and long-standing tradition.  Please join us on the front steps to watch.  All are welcome to enjoy this tradition, even if you do not attend the game itself.  The band will take the yellow path.  Parents are to meet at the flagpole (parents cannot go on the yellow path with them unless a chaperone).



    Flag Stomp



    Parents stand on steps and watch (green). Kids are in red.

Flag Stomp(1)


 

WEATHER ISSUES

  • For rainy games Mr.  Shumick watches the weather very carefully and adjusts the band presence and activity based on the conditions. If it’s heavy rain, it may be unlikely for the show to be performed at halftime, and students may be in the stands for less time, either when there is a break in the rain, or only very lightly raining. The brass instruments can get somewhat wet, but woodwinds take cases if needed or don’t take them in at all. He is really good about taking care of our members and making sure they are not out in dangerous or extreme conditions.