Marching Wellington Association

Open Grade
This recreational grade is for new marchers aged 4 years and up.  It aims to introduce children to the sport.  It is a non-competitive grade with the emphasis being on participation, learning the basic skills of marching, team work and co-ordination.

Introductory Grade
This recreational grade is for new marchers and has a very basic set routine in which standard drills are introduced.  This is a great grade for learning before stepping into a competitive under 12 grade.
This grade is designed for marchers aged between 5 and 12 years. They have a set technical drill phase which consists of four to five movements and a display of marching to their own choice of music of approximately 1.00 – 1.30 minutes.

Under 12 Grade
This grade is a competitive grade for marchers aged between seven and 12 years of age.  Designed for a team of 7-10 marchers, they march to a set March Plan of 7-9 technical movements and a display of own choice of music of approximately 2.00 – 2.45 minutes.

Under 16 Grade
This grade is the next step up from the under 12 grade and is designed for marchers aged between 10 and 16 years of age.  It is based around a team of 7-10 marchers who march a set March Plan of 9-11 technical movements and a display of marching of own choice of movements to own choice of music of approximately 2.30 – 3.15 minutes.

Senior Grade
Senior Grade – is for marchers from a minimum age of 12 years with no upper limit.  Usually marchers are young women who have left school and even young mothers fill the ranks of senior teams.  Designed for a team of 7-10 marchers who march a set March Plan of 11-13 technical movements and a display of marching of own choice of movements to own choice of music of approximately 2.45 – 3.30 minutes.

Masters Grade
Masters Grade – for ‘more senior’ marchers from a minimum age of 30 years with no upper limit, marchers who remain passionate about the sport but with a focus on participating for fun and friendship with less emphasis on the competitive requirements of the senior grade. Designed for a team of 7-10 marchers, they too march a set March Plan of 9-11 technical movements and a display of marching of own choice of movements to own choice of music of approximately 2.15 – 3 minutes.

Coaching
MNZ provides training workshops and a Coaching Accreditation Programme for all coaches.  If you’re interested in becoming a coach, be sure to contact your local Association.  Approval to Coach a team is given by your local Association.  Coaches are encouraged to attend workshops and it is a requirement to attain MNZ Accreditation Level One after one year of Coaching to retain coaching status. For coaching assistance the local Association has a Coaching Co-ordinator and the MNZ Director of Coaching appoints Coaching Mentors each season.

Judging
MNZ provides training for all Judges and are trained for the appropriate section they are adjudicating with Accreditation levels at Trainee, Qualified, National Qualified and International.  The Judging system is based on Awarding and judges adjudicate in an objective and unbiased manner and in compliance with the criteria stipulated.  Judges wishing to return to the sport after 2 years can sit a Refresher Exam and continue at their previous status.

Administration
Each local Association comprises a Committee and undertake to promote, encourage, administer and control the Sport of Marching in their geographic area. Committee Members contribute to the operational side of the affairs of the Association in accordance with the day-to-day financial management with an approved budget.  In doing so they create and provide opportunities for all participants to reach their potential and gain maximum enjoyment from their involvement in the sport.