Rapier:Marshaling on the field - Marshaling single combat

Marshaling single combat

General

1. There should be at least one marshal for single combat. Two or three will be able to see more of the fight. Four or more will get in each other's way and block the view from the sidelines without providing noticeably better marshaling.

Witness

1. You are expected to be an impartial witness to exactly what happens during a fight. Ideally, you should be able to describe the last 3-4 blows on your side of the fight: where they started, their angle of approach, how they were blocked or where they landed. Do not be afraid to say, "I don't know" if you were looking at one part of the fight when something (allegedly) happened in another part.
2. Do not try to impose your view unless you see what appears to be major and repeated problems. Leave the blow counting to the participants unless you see clear reason to intervene; usually, they have a much clearer perspective than the marshals do.
3. If the fighters do ask you what happened (or you feel compelled to volunteer), try to do so tactfully. Prefacing your statements with "It looked to me like...", "It appeared...", or "to the crowd it looked like..." is preferable to a dogmatic assertion of what happened. Similarly, it is preferable to ask "Did that blade land on edge, or was it flat?" rather than saying, "You missed a good draw cut."

How to observe combat

1. In order to be a good witness and answer as accurately as possible, you need as clear a view as possible.
2. You need to strike a balance between getting closer to see better and staying back out of range of the blows.
   1. Just what the appropriate distance is for you will depend on your level of experience with fighting (e.g., how well you can judge what the range of the weapons is and whether you are in or near it).
   2. In general, for single combat, 20 yards is too far and 2 yards is too close. In the absence of a better idea, consider 5 yards for weapons less than 3 feet in length and 8 yards if either combatant has a longer weapon.
3. Try to keep moving so that the combatants are roughly centered between you and the other marshals for the fight.

Showmanship

1. Keep an eye on the audience. SCA combat is a spectator sport, just as medieval tournaments were. Your part of the show is to keep things moving and avoid blocking the view from the sidelines except where unavoidable.
2. This means fast pre-fight checks and announcements, a minimum of holds and discussions during the fight, and a strenuous effort to stay out of the way and keep moving.
3. If it's cold, wear several layers of clothing and move even more, as one person in a cloak can interfere with the view of many.
4. In some kingdoms, and/or specific tournaments, the marshal may be asked to guide combatants through salutes. This is commonly done in an early round in a tournament. This is also good opportunity to ask whether the combatants are satisfied with their opponent’s arms and armor. The salutes are usually:
   1. Salute to the Crown
   2. Salute to their inspiration
   3. Salute to the crowd
   4. Salute to their opponent
   5. When the combatants are ready, call "lay on" (or its equivalent) loudly and clearly.