Rapier:Accessibility

Accessibility

General

1. The SCA is committed to promoting inclusion and equity in our martial activities. Safe and approved variations to weapons, equipment, and conventions are allowed for enabling participation.
2. Marshals are encouraged to be flexible and creative in finding ways to enable participants of diverse abilities to learn and participate in SCA martial activities with utmost regard to the safety of all.
   1. If it can be safely done, it should be done.
3. Upon request, marshals should make reasonable accommodations, within limits of safety, for adaptive equipment or conventions. Only a warranted marshal can make this determination.
4. Marshals should recognize that not all disabilities are visible.
5. Accessibility issues are to be handled with courtesy, respect, and confidentiality.
6. Medical documentation is not required.
7. Please reach out to your kingdom and local branch Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) officer and marshals to explore options.

Accommodation examples

To provide a starting place for discussion, the following examples are a partial list of approaches that have been used.

1. Authorization - requesting a verbal test rather than a written test, and vice versa.
2. Fighting from a seat or platform (must be safe for the type of combat).
3. Legged: stay standing, and the struck leg is planted/not moved.
4. Hand signals or flags.

Other best practices

1. Locations for practices and events should:
   1. Be in safe neighborhoods with safe routes to get there,
   2. Include well-lit parking areas,
   3. Have bathrooms or private spaces large enough to change clothes in, for all genders.
2. Dedicated warm-up time at tournaments: Have 30-45 minutes of dedicated warm-up time before tournaments, with dedicated marshals and identified practice fighters to make it easy to find a sparring partner.

Rapier specific

1. The grip of a sword may be modified. The combatant must still be able to wield it safely and deliver blows of appropriate calibration.
2. Use of youth combat rapiers by adults may be approved by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal.
   1. As a non-standard weapon, anyone is allowed to decline to face it without forfeiting the bout.
   2. All combatants involved must meet the appropriate youth combat armor requirements for the weapons used.
   3. Youth combat rapiers may not be used against adult rapiers.
   4. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal will identify or delegate marshals that can perform the weapon and armor inspections.