In a Marching Band, the color guard is a non-musical section that provides additional visual aspects to the performance. The marching band and color guard performance generally takes place on a football field. The color guard performs alongside the marching band at football games and most guards regularly compete in competitions during the fall. The purpose of the color guard is to interpret the music that the marching band is playing via the synchronized work of flags, sabres, rifles, and through dance to enhance the visual effect of the marching band as a whole.