The Tournament of Bands (TOB), also known as Tournament of Bands / Tournament Indoor Association (TOB/TIA), is an American school band association and governing body that sanctions marching band, color guard, and drumline, competitions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. The "tournament of bands", or "tournament indoor", culminates in regional championships, or Chapter Championships, followed by the Atlantic Coast Championships (ACC), every November and May.

Founded in 1972 by the National Judges Association (NJA),^[1] TOB is composed of 439 member bands organized into eleven regions or chapters. It provides a large array of competitive performance opportunities including marching band, indoor guard, majorette, percussion, and dance teams. TOB/TIA sanctions approximately 150 marching band events and more than 100 indoor events every year.

Membership

Membership is open to any elementary, middle, junior, or senior high school, as well as any college or university. An independent unit may join if certain criteria are met such as unit size and age of members. As of 2023, membership are organized into eleven regions,^[2] or Chapters, across 9 states.

Number of members by state are:

• Delaware: 22
• Maryland: 70
• New Jersey: 61
• New York: 4
• North Carolina: 3
• Ohio: 4
• Pennsylvania: 225
• Virginia: 27
• West Virginia: 24

Marching band

The Tournament of Bands sanctions about 140 marching band competitions throughout each fall, corresponding roughly with high school football season. Bands are judged on a 100-point linear scale by judges both on the field and in the press box. Bands are also divided into groups based on their size, and judged only within their group. Sizes are as follows:^[3]

In addition to the group sizes, there are three levels of performance classification that a member may elect to participate:^[3]

Open Class (formerly Championship) – Highest level of competition, intended for experienced bands.

A Class (formerly Regional and Invitational) – Intended for young bands prepared to compete at the regional or state-level.

Festival Class – Intended for young and developing bands. No scores are given for this class, only ratings.

Every class and group combination is available at all TOB-sanctioned events and Chapter Championships, or regional championships. Festival Class is not available at the annual Atlantic Coast Championships, only Open and A Class.^[3]

Indoor activities

The Tournament Indoor Association (TIA) is one of several circuits for indoor shows in the mid-Atlantic states (other circuits include MAIN, Cavalcade, KIDA, and TRWEA). TIA sanctions competitions for indoor guard, marching percussion, concert percussion, twirlers, and dance team units. The indoor season generally runs from late January to the first weekend in May. Units can be either scholastic or independent. Scholastic units are affiliated with a school. Independent units are usually not affiliated with a school. Classifications are as follows:

• Scholastic Elementary/Independent Cadet – For elementary school students or students under the age of 10.
• Scholastic Middle/Independent Junior – For students in middle school or up to the age of 14.
• Novice A – For color guards only
• Novice – For percussion, dance teams and twirlers
• Intermediate A – for color guards and percussion
• A class
• Open class
• World class
• University – All members must be students at the university and not over the age of 22. Judged on Open class sheets.
• Senior – All members must be 23 or older. Judged on open class sheets.

Units are divided into 11 chapters based on geography. Any unit which has participated in one contest throughout the season is eligible to participate in their respective Chapter Championships, which are usually held the last weekend in April, although in order to be a chapter champion, you must compete in two shows. Any unit which has participated in 4 contests throughout the season and Chapter Championships can compete in the Atlantic Coast Championships, which are held the first weekend in May in Wildwood, NJ. Depending on the number of groups competing in a single class, the tournament can have multiple rounds in which the higher scoring groups advance.

Atlantic Coast Championships

See also

• Cavalcade of Bands
• USBands
• Bands of America

References

External links

• Official website
• TOB Info – Scores and historical rankings