ZIP Competition Days: What to Expect

Competitions take place on Saturdays and some Sundays, requiring a full-day or full-weekend commitment. IPA and WGI finalize competition schedules the week before each event, and Mr. Rennaker distributes specific times via Parent Square. While exact times vary, the general flow remains consistent.

Some competitions involve two-day events with preliminary performances to qualify for finals, including IPA Regionals, WGI Power Regional, State Finals, and WGI Worlds.

Important Notes:

  • Detailed itineraries with specific times will be provided before each travel competition

  • For overnight events, packing lists and additional guidelines will be distributed

  • Students should bring money for concessions and optional meals during travel

  • For WGI Worlds, most meals are provided as indicated in the schedule

To help you plan, here’s a standard competition day timeline and a typical timeline for WGI Worlds, which includes four days:

standard Competition day timeline

Early Morning

  • Performers arrive at ZCHS

  • Rehearsal begins in Varsity Gym

Mid-to-Late Morning

  • Final full run-through

  • Equipment loading onto trucks

Afternoon

  • Meal break

  • Change into uniforms

  • Group meeting in Band Room

  • Departure for competition site

  • Arrival and check-in at competition site

  • Equipment unloading to holding area

  • Warm-up session

  • Movement to performance staging area

Mid-Afternoon

  • PERFORMANCE TIME

  • Equipment loading

  • Change into street clothes (captains remain in uniform for awards)

Late Afternoon/

Evening

  • Watch remaining performances (bring money for concessions)

  • Awards ceremony

Evening

  • Post-event team meeting

  • Return to ZCHS

  • Equipment unloading

  • Uniform return

  • Dismissal

Late Evening

WGI Worlds (Four-Day Competition)

  • Evening: After-school rehearsal, load trucks, send-off dinner, depart

  • Late Evening: Hotel check-in, lights out

Wednesday

  • Morning: Breakfast, uniform preparation, travel to competition venue

  • Mid-Morning: Check-in, unload, warm-up

  • Afternoon: Preliminary performance, group photos

  • Mid-Afternoon: Rest period or meal break

  • Evening: Rehearsal at practice site

  • Night: Return to hotel, lights out

Thursday (Preliminaries)

  • Morning: Travel to venue, warm-up session

  • Late Morning: Semi-finals performance

  • Afternoon: Rest period at hotel

  • Evening: Rehearsal session

  • Night: Return to hotel, lights out

Friday (Semi-Finals)

  • Morning: Final preparation, travel to arena

  • Late Morning: Finals performance

  • Afternoon: Watch remaining groups, awards ceremony, team meeting

  • Evening: Return travel to ZCHS, unload equipment

Saturday (Finals)