Flag throwing (color guard) is an art and sport mixed all into one. Flag throwing tends to coordinate with marching bands all throughout the world. It has become a competitive art that takes place in schools all over the world.

The art of flag throwing dates back to medieval guilds (principally in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Flanders, and Southern Netherlands). A guild's banner or flag was considered a symbol of purity, and as such it was not allowed to touch the ground.

There are two major categories of flag throwing: classical and acrobatic. In classical flag throwing, the flag is turned left and right around the body in a standing posture. In acrobatic flag throwing, the thrower uses both hands to move the flag in a sitting, lying, or kneeling posture.

• Federazione italiana Sbandieratori The Italian official flag throwing federation.
• Lega italiana Sbandieratori The Italian flag-throwing league.
• Flag throwing, on Flags Of The World website.
• SbandierAutori – An Italian book on the flag throwers tradition
• Alfieri's "La Bandiera" – Information on Francesco Alfieri's treatise on flag waving, 'La Bandiera', published in 1638