Is marching band a sport?

Question

Give me your answer on whether or not you think marching band is a sport and the justification behind it.

Answer 1

This is a debated and subjective question.

How is a sport defined?

Certainly, it involves intense athleticism. A study hooked up heart monitors to OU Marching 110 members and concluded that doing the half time show is actually MORE intense than many sports.

Certainly, it involves competition. Nearly every band competes against others, where they receive scores.

So, you can't say it's not an athletic competition.

It really does depend on your definition of a sport. Does a sport merely require you to exclude any art? In that case, dance is out. Does a sport require points? Biking and cheerleading are out. Does a sport require competition, period? In that case, might as well count the spelling bee and chess.

I personally don't care if it's a sport or not. Arguing whether or not it is a sport is ignoring the real issue. Marching band is *hard*. Band members put in a lot of work and sacrifice a lot of time, and deserve credit for that. But merely classifying it as a sport does not do that justice. Appreciate for the work, not the terminology.

Answer 2

It depends on the area of the country. There are some places around the country where the football games are just so there's a halftime for the band to play at. Other places the bands are so crappy it doesn't really matter. I think personally marching band is a sport, but I'm bias because I come from an area of the country where the marching bands draw crowds of almost 10,000 to their championships and the football teams can barely muster up 2,000. I've also seen bands that practice more often, longer, and harder than any other sporting team around them. And to rebuttle some of the previous answers...there is competition in marching band, which means there's winning..and people do letter in marching band. For example, I triple crowned with marching band, baseball, and football.

Answer 3

As any former band geek knows, marching band is very exhausting. No other sport requires you to march, keep in step, play an instrument (using precious air), and memorize music and formations all at once. I don't know about other band geeks, but my high school director expected a lot of us. We ran laps. We practiced marching for hours everyday. We were highly competitive (yes, there are marching band competitions).

But, for the naysayers, lets look at the definition of sport:

sport (spôrt, sprt)
n.

Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
A particular form of this activity.
An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

Is it a physical activity? Yes, I lost weight every summer and fall. Are there a set of rules and customs? Yes, bands look ridiculous if they don't follow the rules. Is it competitive? Yes, there are several marching band competitions. Not to mention the parades (macy's, Rose Bowl, etc).

Answer 4

Although it requires SOME level of physicality, and there are competitions, I would have to say, no. It's simply a form of musical performance. If Marching Band is a sport, than so is Opera. There are no conferences, teams or individuals aren't competing one-on-one for points, and there aren't "rules of the game". It's never been referred to as a sport in any circle I've heard. Plus, there aren't too many tuba players in professional sports.

Answer 5

I think it is because it takes the same amount of dedication, work and skill as any sport does. Also, it does provide quite the work-out and involves a lot of physical activity. I always tone up and lose weight during marching band season.

Answer 6

I was in marching band in high school. I don't consider so much a sport as an activity...although we went through a lot of field practice.

Answer 7

No. It's band. Just because you are marching while doing it doesn't make it a sport. Marching isn't a sport.

Just because it takes dedication and hard work doesn't make it a sport. Many things take dedication that aren't sports.

Is this a real question?

Answer 8

I would say it's an extracirriculum activities and when the band enters into a contest against other bands it's called a competition

Answer 9

no because a sport is something about movement and a band you dont move alot

Answer 10

No i don't think it is sport it is more a extra curricular activity that supports the school sports.