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SECTION 1. - RULES OF THE LISTS, AND CONVENTIONS OF COMBAT OF THE SCA

RULES OF THE LISTS

1. Each fighter, recognizing the possibilities of physical injury to themselves in SCA combat, will assume unto themselves all risk and liability for harm suffered by means of such combat. Other participants will likewise recognize the risks involved in their presence on or near the field of combat, and will assume unto themselves the liabilities thereof.

2. No person will participate in Combat-Related Activities (including armored combat, period fencing, combat archery, marshaling, scouting, and banner bearing in combat) unless and until he or she has been properly authorized under SCA and kingdom procedures, and has signed the appropriate waiver. In a witness whereof, the participant will have, and be prepared to present, a valid Authorization Card to the Sovereign or his/her representative.

3. All combatants must be presented to, and be acceptable to, the Sovereign or his/her representative.

4. All combatants will adhere to the appropriate Armor and Weapons Standards of the SCA, and to any additional standards of the Kingdom in which the event takes place. The Sovereign may waive the additional Kingdom standards.

5. The Sovereign or the Marshallate may bar any weapon or armor from use upon the field of combat. If a warranted marshal should bar any weapon or armor, an appeal may be made to the Sovereign, or the Kingdom Earl Marshal, to allow the weapon or armor.

6. Combatants will behave in a knightly and chivalrous manner at all times.

7. No one will be required to participate. Any combatant may, without dishonor or penalty, reject any challenge without specifying a reason. A fight in a tournament list is not to be considered a challenge, and therefore may not be declined or rejected without forfeiting the bout.

8. Fighting with real weapons, whether fast or slow, is strictly forbidden at any Society event. This rule does not consider approved weaponry (which meets the Society standards for traditional Society combat and/or Society period rapier combat) when used in the context of mutual sport, to be real weaponry.

9. No projectile weapon will be allowed and no weapons will be thrown within the Lists of a tournament. The use of approved projectile weapons (see section 6) for melees or wars will conform to the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.

CONVENTIONS OF COMBAT

The following CONVENTIONS OF COMBAT will apply to all SCA Combat Activities within this Kingdom.

Introduction:

No one under the age of eighteen years will be allowed to be a participant in any SCA Combat Related Activity within the Kingdom of Ansteorra. All SCA Combat Activity within this Kingdom will be conducted in accordance with the RULES OF THE LISTS of the SCA and these CONVENTIONS OF COMBAT, using the EQUIPMENT STANDARDS established by the Marshallate of the SCA with Society approved additions and modifications by the Kingdom. Any additions or modifications upon the SCA CONVENTIONS OF COMBAT or EQUIPMENT STANDARDS are designed to strengthen those CONVENTIONS and STANDARDS and will in no way diminish or weaken such SCA CONVENTIONS and STANDARDS.

I. GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. In all matters dealing with Combat, the Crown's representative is the Earl Marshal and, by delegation, members of the Kingdom Marshallate.

1. There will be at least two marshals upon the Field to conduct the Combat during any List.

2. One Marshal upon the Field will be designated as the Controlling Marshal. All other Marshals will be Assisting Marshals.

3. Additional Assisting Marshals will be appointed as necessary.

B. Armor and Weapons Inspection:

1. All Combatants, prior to Combat at each and every Society event, will insure that their equipment is inspected by an Authorized member of the Marshallate.

2. Even though an Authorized Marshal has inspected the equipment used by a Combatant, each Combatant will accept full responsibility for the condition of his or her own equipment, and has the obligation to themselves, and all other participants to see that their equipment meets all SCA and Kingdom requirements.

C. No real weapon will be allowed upon the Field at any time during Combat. This includes metal or nonmetal edged weapons or firearms.

D. At no time shall Armored Combat and Rapier Combat be conducted on the same field at the same time.

II. BEHAVIOR ON THE FIELD:

A. All combatants will obey all applicable Rules and Regulations as well as the commands of the Marshal(s) on the Field, or will be removed from the Field. If removed from the field, said combatant may be subject to further disciplinary action.

1. There will be NO disagreements with a Marshal on the Field of Combat.

B. No Combat will commence upon the Field until the Controlling Marshal is satisfied that Combat may safely begin and has received a verbal confirmation from the involved Combatants and Marshal(s) to signify that they are also ready for Combat to begin. At the command of the Controlling Marshal, Combat may commence. The command of "LAY ON" is typically used, but other commands may be used as long as they involve no uncertain terms or utterances.

C. Upon heating the command of "HOLD", all Combat will immediately cease.

1. No other terms or commands will be substituted for the HOLD command.

2. Any Participant involved in the Combat Activity may call HOLD for just cause.

3. Any Participant involved in the Combat Activity who has called a HOLD will be required to explain his/her reason for doing so upon request of the Marshal(s).

4. Any Participant involved in the Combat Activity who repeatedly calls HOLD, without just cause, may be removed from the Field and/or subject to further disciplinary action.

FOR MELEE'S AND WARS:

1. Should a HOLD be called during a melee or war, all Combatants should kneel in their current positions and not move unless instructed to do so by a Marshal.

2. A non-aggressive posture should be assumed with all weapons, by all combatants, during a HOLD.

3. Once a HOLD has been called, there will be NO discussion of strategy among fighters.

4. When Combat is to be resumed after a HOLD, all fighters will be instructed to "Rise in place" and a command of "Lay-On" will resume Combat.

D. Each Combatant shall maintain control over his/her temper at all times!

E. Purposefully striking any prohibited target (I.E. hands, knees, lower legs) is strictly forbidden. Any Combatant intentionally or repeatedly striking prohibited targets may be removed from the field and/or subject to further disciplinary actions.

F. Any behavior that takes deliberate advantage of an opponent's chivalry or safety-consciousness, or that takes deliberate unfair advantage of an opponent, is prohibited.

1. Such infractions may include, but are not limited to. the following:

a. Corkscrewing a grounded opponent

b. Striking from behind

c. Striking a "helpless" opponent

d. Intentionally becoming "helpless" by repeatedly dropping weapons, falling down, purposefully ignoring valid attempts to gain a combatants attention, etc.

e. Grappling with, or kicking, an opponent's equipment or person

f. Intentionally moving an illegal target into the path of a blow.

g. Striking with excessive force

h. Expecting to be struck with what would be considered excessive force before acknowledging a blow.

i. Using any weapon, or other piece of equipment, in a manner that is inconsistent with its design or in an otherwise prohibited manner.

2. The responsibility for warning an offending Combatant falls upon the Marshal(s) and not upon the offending Combatant's opponent. However, a Combatant may request that the Marshals warn his/her opponent about such infractions.

3. An offending Combatant may, after having been duly warned about such infractions, be removed from the Field by the Marshal(s) upon the next occurrence and may be subject to further disciplinary action. The offending Combatant's opponent may request that the Combat be allowed to continue but the decision to continue or not belongs to the Marshallate.

G. Any combatant who cannot maintain control over his/her temper or physical actions on the field may, after review by the Kingdom Earl Marshal's office, be placed on probation or suspension as follows:

1. First offense: six months' probation

2. Second offense: 12 months' probation

3. Third offense: One year suspension of authorization

4. Fourth offense: Punishment to be determined by a Court of Chivalry

A Combatant who is on probation may not compete in any Kingdom Level fighting event during that probation (i.e. Kingdom Warlord, Crown Tournament, Queen's Champion or any other special events designated by the Crown.)