I am having an awful time with my middle schoolers marching indoor. They can't get the right left thing in their heads. I have tried metronome with accent for left foot and counting. I am open to anything that might work. We have done block marching, forward, sideways and backward. Its always the same they loose the beat and get out of step. I have a snare player that can march until she starts playing and then looses the beat.

Hmm. Maybe show them in the music the exact place where your foot should hit the ground according to the note. Like mark count one two three and four on each measure, and then go over how all the notes fit into that one count. Might help. I hope so!

Stand behind them and tap each shoulder on the beat for the corresponding foot.

The main problem is that it is in their heads instead of an unconscious action. Marching has to become a natural action, and until it does, they will continue to have problems. They probably don't have the music committed to memory, so when you add marching, their minds have to switch focus.

I teach a dance class and I have the same problems with some people. They can execute the steps but can't keep up with the music. Once the steps become more natural to them, they keep up with the music much better and stay on step. I tell them it's the difference between going through the motions and dancing.

Try the things suggested by Forte and Jeff and continue to practice marching and playing.

What about just marking time to music? Throw in some music you can really tap your foot to, and that way they will have a better understanding of downbeats in general. Then throw in some basic 8's or doubles (on a pad) while they listen. That has helped me a lot of weirder rhythms, and it certainly would have helped me greatly in middle school.

Try having them count outloud while they are marking time, and make sure they know what foot goes on what beat. First, do it without the drums, and slowly add to it. Say, after they get the feet in the right spot, have them play with it on their chest or on pads or tables, and then have them put their drums on. Probably having them play on a pad or table and doing simple check patterns would help from them getting bored with just 8's.

If you have a recording of the music, you could have them march to it without playing. Have them concentrate just on their feet. When they start getting the hang of it, then add the playing.
Also, if they get off, just start saying "left, left", on the same beats their left foot should be on. Keep saying it until they march with the right foot at the right time.

I personally seem to have a harder time with my feet than some other people. For me, the solution actually isn't to work on my feet, but to work on my hands so much that the music becomes second nature. Once I can play the music without having to think so much about it, the feet come a lot easier.

This might not work so well for middle schoolers, though, since it involves a number of extra hours working on music. There's a pretty good chance they won't have the attention span or desire to work through it.

Skydog, you may have given me the answer. I have tried a lot of whats been posted, but my middle schoolers actually do practice at home and this could be the key. It has gotten better since I made my first post here about the R and L issue. Also, I wanted to thank all who have given me ideas, some have worked with certain kids while it didn't for others. Being that they are each very different, it is a challenge to fix this, but its coming around. THANK YOU ALL

I hope i helped a little.

Good luck.