Over the past several months the WGUK Board, in conjunction with its member organisations, have been holding regular discussions to review and plan for the forthcoming 2021 season within these very challenging times as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic.
Throughout this period, we have been working with and taking advice from the National Youth Council and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in relation to how to safely operate our activity in line with National, Regional and Location Restrictions and Guidelines.
As result of the recent Government Announcements, the WGUK Board, in consultation with its member organisations and the WGUK Judges Association, have made the decision to operate a “Non-Competitive Virtual Season in 2021”. The 2021 WGUK Virtual Season will provide a valued platform and focus for colour guard organisations through these ongoing challenging times by providing evaluation and feedback on performances without scores being allocated. Scoring each performance was discussed but due to the many differing scenarios each unit would be facing it was agreed this could not be fairly adjudicated.
This decision will enable socially distanced performance programmes, recognisable and within the spirit of “Winter Guard”, which encompass traditional forms of equipment work (silk, rifle & sabre) and movement to be developed and more importantly performed upon a “Virtual Platform”.
For the 2021 Season we will amend our traditional class approach and adopt “Performance Divisions” that reflect the current socially distancing guidelines based upon on age of the performer on the day of the virtual event.
• 12 years old & under
• 17 years old & under (this can include performers 12 years old and under)
• 18 years old & over/Open Age (this can include performers 17 years old and under but a maximum of 6 performers per unit)
The WGUK Virtual Event Schedule for 2021 is:
• Sunday 17th January
• Sunday 14th February
• Sunday 14th March
• Saturday 3rd April
Our intention is to ensure that all “Virtual Events” will be initially aired/screened “FREE” on our dedicated WGUK Facebook Page and once screened these recordings will be available on UK Fan Network.
As 3rd April 2021 is the date of our scheduled “Championships”, we are exploring and planning to make this online event our “2021 Celebration Event” and please watch this space for more exciting information and the opportunity to participate.
This announcement is being made alongside our commitment to provide education opportunities across the winter with our Virtual Education Programme webinars – don’t forget to sign up now for the first one this coming Thursday (15th October).
The cost to be part of WGUK in 2021 has been massively reduced and registration to the WGUK 2021 Virtual Season opens on 1st November 2020 and is open to ANY colour guard regardless of whether they have taken part in a WGUK event in the past.
If you have a colour guard and would like to find out more then please contact WGUK for more information.
