Drill Team

Our frequent debates about the validity of certain activities as sports has gotten me thinking. I am a member of the drill team and the color guard here at Northwestern. Should we be considered a sport? With all of the criteria that we need fulfilled, I'm sure that Daniel would say that we are a sport. But, as the only student who really knows what drill team is, I don't consider drill a sport at all.

Drill team is all about precision movements. Everything is graded by Drill Instructors, generally E-7 or higher in a branch. It places stress on the muscles of the arm, back, shoulders and other body parts. Also, the drill team members are placed under extreme mental stress, since at any moment a Drill Instructor could come screaming down their throat for the slightest excessive or incorrect movement. Even during practice where the upperclassmen are in charge, all the drillers are placed under stress because they do not want to be yelled at. Keeping your elbows tight to your body, chin to the chest, and neck stiff takes more effort than one might think. Holding a ten pound rifle also contributes to the exhaustion of the right arm. Keeping the rifle under control while moving from order arms to port arms, or from right to left shoulder (Google it if you don't know) takes muscle, as do most of the other movements. Marching around for 5 minutes is the extent of the movement, but there are drill competitions that can be nation wide. With the movement and the muscle usage, I'm sure some people would consider drill a sport. But, I would bet money that no one who has ever been on a drill team would consider it a sport.

Drill team differs from sport because of it's goal. Drill is not meant as competition, or even for someone to achieve the personal best. Drill is meant to build up team unity. The military uses it for unit cohesiveness during Boot camp or OCS (once again Google will work). The commanders test their leadership, and the members test their discipline. The movements by themselves really have no point, except that they look and sound awesome when done correctly, in unison. But, drill does not share a common purpose with Sport. Sport is meant for enjoyment and excellence of oneself. Drill is not at all like that. Drill is forced down recruits throats from the minute the set foot in Boot Camp, or OCS. While Dr McMahon may disagree, Sport is never shoved upon someone.

Drill team is not a sport, and I'm sure the our Drill Team Commander, Master Sergeant and myself are all more than happy to debate it with you whenever you please.