Preseason Training Information

Everyone participating in Marching Chiefs must complete a physical examination to determine their suitability for participation in an activity that requires strenuous physical exertion. This examination must be completed before the first home football game. Please refer to the Welcome Book for more information about this process.

This schedule is a sample of what a day of Preseason Training looks like. When you report for training (first day), you will be given a detailed daily schedule. We make every effort to use this time productively and efficiently.  

• 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Drill (Chiefs Field) 
• 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch 
• 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Music Rehearsals 
• 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Dinner 
• 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Drill (Chiefs Field) 

Report to the check-in location indicated in the Welcome Book.

You must provide your own housing and meals during preseason training.  

Meals: There are many fast-food and family-style restaurants around campus. Many students also bring breakfast items to be eaten in their residence halls or apartments. Due to the extremely rigorous physical activity involved in our training sessions, all students are cautioned against missing regular nutritious meals. It is imperative that you eat well-balanced meals three times a day. 

Housing: If you live in campus housing, you will be able to move into your residence hall the day before the first official day of preseason training (usually Thursday). Important information concerning residence hall move-in is contained in the Welcome Book.

Please remember that you will move into a residence hall with the FSU Housing Office ONLY if you have secured a room for the fall semester with your own contract. The FSU Band Office does not provide housing, nor does membership in Marching Chiefs guarantee you a residence hall room. The University does not have residences specifically for band members. We can only provide early check-in to students who have made their own arrangements for University housing.

If you live in off-campus housing, those arrangements are left to you. Students living in private residence halls or apartments must make their own arrangements with those businesses to move in prior to preseason training. The FSU Band Office will not make these arrangements for you.

We will excuse you from training when you have something important to do regarding medical appointments, orientation, and/or class registration. All you need to do is advise the staff that you must leave and when you will be back. We do not want to keep you from conducting important business. Please make every effort to schedule medical appointments so as not to interfere with training, and remember that it is your responsibility to catch up and practice anything that you miss while away from training.

If you decide to go through Greek Rush during preseason training, you will be responsible for keeping up with everything that is taught in the rehearsals that you miss, and you will be evaluated on the same standards as those who attended all rehearsals. Please note that being in the Marching Chiefs and a sorority or fraternity will place a lot of demands on your time. Some students are able to do both, but you should weigh the pros and cons carefully.