Rapier:Marshalate - Overview

Marshalate - Overview

General

1. Society events that include martial activities must have at least one warranted marshal, designated by the marshal of the sponsoring branch, in attendance and responsible for those activities. (Corpora II.D)
2. For a martial discipline to be included at a Society event, there must be a warranted marshal for that discipline.
3. Marshals support martial activities through ensuring our participants' equipment meets any required safety or game play standards, ensuring that participants are following the rules of the activity, keeping an eye out for safety issues for participants and spectators, and managing the conduct of the activity so that everyone involved can have a good time.
4. There are two categories of marshals:

   Warranted marshals

   • Have been authorized as a marshal and warranted as an officer of the SCA.
   • Can monitor and make decisions about their martial discipline, with designated authorities defined by their kingdom and/or society.

   Unwarranted marshals (aka "field marshals")

   • Appointed by the marshal-in-charge during an event to assist in tasks that don't require decision making, such as ensuring that boundaries are maintained, or looking for immediate issues of safety.
5. Marshals can be warranted or designated with particular authorities as defined by the Kingdom Earl Marshal, the Society Marshal, and the Society Marshal's Handbooks.
   1. This can be by discipline (e.g., armored combat vs. rapier combat), by role (e.g., field marshal or authorizing marshal), or other defined roles in the chain of command (e.g., Deputy Earl Marshal).
6. Kingdoms must publish clear procedures outlining authorizing of marshals, types and designated authorities of marshals (e.g. marshal-in-training, authorized marshal, authorizing marshal, etc.
7. Only the Kingdom Earl Marshal, the Kingdom Deputy for the discipline, or their designated deputies are allowed to conduct the authorization of a marshal for a discipline.
   1. They must witness your authorization process and execute the appropriate paperwork to ensure that the authorization is registered.
8. Once authorized, you must also be be warranted by the Earl Marshal, following the procedures in Corpora, to become a warranted marshal.
   1. Roster warrants are acceptable, and must be updated and signed a minimum of once per reign.
9. All warranted authorized marshals (including Kingdom and Principality Earls Marshal, Society, and their Deputies) must meet Society and kingdom requirements before they can be authorized and warranted in that martial form.
   1. You are not, and cannot be, automatically authorized and warranted in any martial form solely because you hold an office or an award.
   2. Rank or bestowed award must not replace formal training and kingdom procedures for training and assessing competency of marshals.
      1. You do not need to be an authorized participant in order to be a marshal. (e.g. you can be a non-fighting marshal).

Warranted marshals

1. A marshal that is warranted (or roster warranted) is an officer of the kingdom or Society.
2. Only warranted marshals that have passed a marshal's authorization are allowed to perform the following duties:
   • Authorize people
   • Perform armor and weapons inspections
   • Give final approval of the suitability of weapons, armor, or equipment
   • Serve as the marshal-in-charge of an event
   • Serve as a marshal-at-large
   • Serve as a local group marshal (e.g. "Knight Marshals")
   • Serve as Kingdom Great or Lesser Officers (Earl Marshal, Principality Earl Marshal, or a Deputy Marshal for a specific discipline).
3. To be a warranted marshal:
   1. You must be at least 16 years old.
      1. You must be at least the age of majority to be warranted as a group marshal, authorizing marshal or marshal-in-charge of an event.
   2. You must be a current paid member of the SCA Inc, or its affiliates.
   3. You must be an authorized marshal in the discipline you are being warranted for.
   4. You must show proof of being an authorized marshal to the lists officer or responsible marshal or marshal-in-charge, if requested.

Authorized marshal requirements

1. A marshal may be authorized after demonstrating the ability to oversee combat, judge a fighter's authorization, inspect weapons and armor, and be knowledgeable about the safety and rules of rapier combat.
2. At a minimum, a marshal's authorization must include the following:
   1. The candidate must have a good working knowledge of the Rules of the Lists, the conventions of rapier combat, and any additional kingdom rules or conventions.
   2. The candidate must be willing to enforce the Rules of the Lists, the conventions of rapier combat, and any additional kingdom rules or conventions.
   3. The candidate must have a good working knowledge of the Society minimum armor and weapons standards and any additional kingdom armor and weapons standards.
   4. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to conduct an inspection of armor and weapons for use in combat.
   5. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to conduct an inspection of combatants.
   6. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to safely control rapier combat, whether this is single combat, team combat, general melee, or battle environment.

Expiry and renewal

1. Kingdoms may determine the authorization period of marshals, but not exceed 4 years.
2. You must demonstrate your competence in the practical components, and be re-tested for your theory knowledge at least every 4 years to maintain your authorization.