Fencing:Marshaling Fencing

Appendix - Marshaling Fencing

General

1. Marshals may be warranted by their Kingdom for different subsets and categories of combat, and/or for different scenarios.
2. Marshals shall only officiate practices, tournaments, and scenarios for which they are warranted.
3. Marshals shall have a thorough understanding of their kingdom rules, and at interkingdom events they must have a thorough understanding of the conventions for that event.
4. Marshals must be prepared to use their discretion and best judgement when faced with questions that these rules have been unable to cover explicitly. Marshals may also ask other marshals for assistance, especially their local, regional, or Kingdom marshals, and may also decline to marshal bouts if they do not feel qualified to do so.
5. The following is not an exhaustive list of combat marshalling activities. It is a framework for basic marshaling of SCA Fencing.

Conventions for single combat

• In some kingdoms, and/or specific tournaments, the marshal may be asked to guide combatants through salutes, if the marshal is comfortable doing so. These are usually:
  • Salute to the Crown
  • Salute to their inspiration
  • Salute to the crowd
  • Salute to the opponent

This is commonly done in an early round in a tournament

• You may ask whether the combatants are satisfied with their opponent's arms and armor. This is a good opportunity for a combatant to point out, for example, that there is a gap in their opponent's armor that had been missed.

Marshaling combat

• When combatants are ready, call "lay on" (or its equivalent) loudly and clearly.
• If there are any safety issues at any point, call "hold" loudly and clearly.
  • Hold should not be called for incidental gapping in abrasion resistant armor.
• It is beneficial to carry a writing implement and paper when marshaling larger melees so that in the case of an incident, you can quickly write down the names of those involved and any witnesses, or notes to remember which combatants to speak with, for further follow up as necessary after the melee.
• Should a situation arise not explicitly covered by Corporate or Kingdom Fencing rules, the marshals should not assume that the situation is forbidden or inappropriate. Again: No matter how clear or accurate, rules cannot replace common sense, good judgement, and concern for the participants and observers.