Three years ago, when she was a senior in the West Allegheny High School color guard, Jen Rudge so enjoyed performing during the fall football season she was sad to see the season end.

But that year, one of her instructors suggested the start-up of winter guard -- indoor competitions between November and April that showcase the talents of the color guard and extends the length of the performing season.

Ms. Rudge, who is studying at Penn State Beaver, now serves as director and choreographer of the winter guard, a club sport that is supported by the West Allegheny High School band boosters organization.

"The events are cool because you see things you wouldn't normally see, especially from the independent groups," Ms. Rudge said. More emphasis is placed on costuming, scenery, makeup and visual effects.

West Allegheny band director Jason Cheskawich said winter guard is a great activity because it gives the girls and opportunity to perform as stars of the show.

"While performing with the band in the fall, they are part of a much larger group," Mr. Cheskawich said. "In winter guard, they are front and center. And, this gives them an opportunity to perform during the winter months."

In winter guard, teams representing school districts and performance schools compete in a series of local and regional events. The teams are primarily high school students, but some have performers through age 22.

The nine girls practice to recorded music for three hours two nights a week with flags, rifles and sabres for a 3- to 5-minute routine. They have participated in six shows this year -- none of them in their home district this season.

"I love the success of the students and enjoy knowing that they are having good shows and a good season," Ms. Rudge said.

Their performance is to Josh Grobin's, "February Song" in which they give an emotional interpretation, reaching out toward the audience in the slower segments and doing flag tosses at high moments of the song, explained Ms. Rudge.

Jacque Quarles, 18, said that the girls in her group wear t-shirts to competitions with the names of local sponsors on them. They usually need to raise about $200 each to participate.

Being in the color guard has helped to teach her about working with different people and being able to get her ideas for the group across to the younger girls, Ms. Quarles said.

The Blackhawk High School winter guard, which was founded 15 years ago, consists of 15 girls in grades nine to 12. The group participates in five or six events each year and they perform to recorded music with flags, rifles and sabres.

Blackhawk will host a competition among more than 30 groups April 19.

Some winter guard teams are affiliated with schools, but directors are not teachers.

Winter guard is most popular among schools in eastern Allegheny County and Westmoreland County.

The competitions are on two circuits: the Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association and the Tournament Indoor Association.

Both feed into larger circuits, the Winter Guard International and the Tournament of Bands, a mid-Atlantic organization.

Some groups compete nationally while others do only regional circuits, said Jan McMahon, circuit director for Three Rivers ensemble, which has about 50 participating units. Most of the scholastic units include students who are also involved with their school's marching band, she said.