Thrown Weapons:Change log

Change log

Completely new version - Approved by the Board of Directors for commentary - March 2, 2026

In 2023, the Society Marshal's office embarked on an ambitious modernization project. The goal was to update all the Marshal handbooks, along with the marshal related sections in Corpora, to better reflect the current structure, culture, and safety best practices we use today in our SCA martial activities. We wanted to create online-focused, user-friendly handbooks to make it easier for newcomers and current members to find relevant information. The architecture of the online system was also developed to support consistency, easier and timely updates, while preserving Kingdom specific rules and culture.

User friendly

The handbooks start with the information that new members need to know and provides context of SCA martial activities. The information you need to be able to participate is first, followed by the information for marshals and those who administer martial activities. We have used Plain English as per https://www.plainlanguage.gov/ and other similar standards where we can, though there is room for improvement.

Same template and categories of information

Each discipline's handbook will be structured the same way, so that you can easily find key differences between martial forms. You should find the same kind of information in the same chapters whether you are looking at armored combat, fencing, target archery, etc.

Consistency

Some information should be the same for all martial forms. However, previous handbooks referenced other handbooks and version control created issues and unnecessary differences. Through the use of the wiki-engine, in places where handbooks should have the same content (eg how you report an injury), they now pull the same content from our global pages - rules that are global across all of our disciplines. If those global rules are changed, they will change consistently for all disciplines.

Kingdom handbooks

Online kingdom handbooks will include the Society level information and their Kingdom specific rules and standards. The Kingdom specific information will be denoted in a different color, so differences are easier to identify and find.

Redline copy isn't available for this first online version

Because we have rebuilt the rules from the ground up, a direct redline version of the rules from the old rules is not possible. However, all of the old rules have been accounted for and tracked in a separate document - many are just reworded for clarity and Plain English, many are now in a different (hopefully better) location. We will also point out the rules that functionally change the way that we play in the summaries below, and in the cross check document.

• Cross check document from 2020 handbook to 2026 version

Summary of changes from 2020 edition to the 2026 edition

1. Handbooks
   • Handbooks are self-contained. Prior references to rules and processes in the Marshals Handbook are now included here. Many of these are global sections.
   • Kingdom handbooks will be developed and formatted with the new online format, which enables kingdom specific rules and policies to be added to the Society rules.
2. Weapons and equipment
   • Weapons and equipment must be inspected by a warranted thrown weapons marshal prior to use in activities. In the previous handbook, marshals had the authority to inspect but it was not required.
   • Several size, weight, and other safety considerations changed from "should" to "must".
   • A section for targets was added, with general guidelines.
3. Participation and Marshaling
   • The Rules of the Line added two common practices: not throwing other person's weapons without their permission, and removing weapons by "worrying" them vs yanking.
   • A section on scoring conventions was added.
   • Range set-up: Specifics and recommendations to the safety zone were added.
   • For spears, there is now one minimum distance (15 feet) for both soft and hard targets.
   • Range procedures and commands restructured into two sections (marshal and thrower), and clarifying language added.
   • Inspecting equipment added "Is the distance this weapon will travel appropriate for the range where it is being used?"
4. Administrative
   • The Chain of command for handling disagreements is now consistent with the overall marshalate.
   • Injury reporting now follows the same reporting chain and timeline as all SCA martial activities.
   • A glossary has been added for commonly used terms in SCA Thrown Weapons.

Chapter summaries

1. Introduction to SCA martial activities (global)

   This chapter is one of our global ones that appears in every one of the new Society Marshal's Handbooks for each discipline. It contains an overview of all the martial forms, layout of the handbooks, general rules, in or out of kingdom guidelines, and a section for newcomers so they know what to expect when showing up for the first time.

2. Rules of the Lists (global)

   The Rules of the Lists apply to all of our martial disciplines, so they are global and the same content appears in every handbook.

   Changes to the Rules of the Lists in Corpora were consulted on and approved by the Board of Directors in November 2024. The applications of the Rules of the Lists have all been incorporated into their relevant section of the rules.

   Change:

   • The Rules of the Lists were reordered, and the prohibition of missile in tournament lists has been removed. Whether missiles are allowed is now set at the tournament level, and events such as combat archery tournaments can now be held without bending the rules.
3. Overview of thrown weapons

   This chapter is a brief description of the discipline, includes some definitions of key terms, a list of the types of activities, and authorization categories. Most of this content captures existing concepts.

4. When you are allowed to participate

   This chapter provides age requirements, sign-in requirements, authorization and inspection requirements, reminds you that you can't use real weapons, includes key injury and impairment rules, and reminds you that you can always refuse to participate.

   Many of these rules were scattered through Sections I-III of the Marshals Handbook, and have been reworded without functional change.

   Changes:

   • Marshals must be at least 16 years old.
   • Added sign-in requirements for events or practices. These have been requirements from Corpora for a long time, now included in the handbooks for clarity.
   • Weapons and equipment must be inspected by a warranted marshal before engaging in any thrown weapons activities.
   • Added concussions to the prior list of when you cannot participate with impaired judgment.
5. Expected behavior and responsibilities (partial global)

   These are global rules of behavior that apply to all martial disciplines - follow the rules, behave in a chivalrous manner, etc. These rules were variously scattered through the old handbooks, and have been gathered together and reworded. The "Rules of the Line" can be found here.

   Changes:

   • Added - do not throw at a target containing other person's weapons without their express permission.
   • Added - Remove weapons by "worrying" them out. Do not yank them out.
6. Activity guidelines

   This chapter provides newcomers with descriptions of our activities and competitions. This topic was missing in most martial handbooks, making it hard for people to know what we actually did. It includes a brief historical reference for each activity.

7. Conventions - Holds (partial global)

   This chapter includes what everyone needs to do when a hold is called, so some of this content is global, regardless of the discipline, and also includes thrown weapons specific.

8. Conventions - Range procedures and commands

   This chapter includes provides the standard default procedures and commands.

   Changes:

   • Added clarifying language and additional considerations.
   • Restructured into two sections - "If you are the marshal" and "If you are a thrower".
9. Conventions - Scoring

   This chapter includes the general guidelines on scoring.

10. Equipment standards - All equipment

    All of the standards for weapons are in this chapter: axes, knives, spears, plumbata, slings, and other. It also includes a new section on targets.

    Changes:

    • Guidelines on targets were added.
11. Designated areas: Range set-up

    Each handbook will have a section on the requirements and considerations for the areas set aside for the activity.

    Changes:

    • Hard and soft targets now have the same distance safety requirement of 15 feet. This was the result of the experimental program conducted in 2025.
    • Additional guidelines on safety zones were added.
12. Authorization (global)

    There is no requirement at the Society level for throwing weapons. i.e. throwers do not need to be authorized.

    This chapter is included for clarity and consistency, as many of our martial disciplines require you to authorize. i.e. officially demonstrate competence and the required level of safety before allowing you to participate in competitions or other activities outside of formal training.

13. Accessibility (partial global)

    This is a new chapter in all our handbooks, to support inclusion and equity in our martial activities. It provides a starting place for discussion about what is possible, with examples of approaches that have been widely used.

14. Safety resources (global)

    This entirely new global chapter will appear in all of our handbooks.

    It includes information about managing concussions, including a strong recommendation to follow international sporting body guidance that participants who have experienced a concussion be symptom free for 14 days before return to any contact training, and wait at least 21 days (and have been symptom free for 14 days) before return to competitive contact activities.

    We recommend that kingdoms develop heat policies to help prevent heat injury, and air quality policies.

15. Injury procedures (global)

    How we manage injuries should be consistent across all of our disciplines, so this global chapter will appear in all of the handbooks.

    Changes:

    • The safety of responders has been prioritized. No one else should get hurt in the process of responding.
    • We remind you than anyone can call hold, it doesn't have to be the marshal.
    • We have removed the requirement to get the event marshal-in-charge's permission to remove an injured person from the field. Medical personnel dealing with an injured person must be able to respond as they need to. Requiring extra time to locate specific SCA personnel, especially at a large event, is problematic.
    • If your injury involves free flowing blood, you must leave the field immediately and you are not allowed to return until the flow of blood has been stopped.
    • If your injury includes any level of suspected concussion (even without loss of consciousness), we strongly recommend you follow international sporting guidance on managing your return to the activity - i.e. be symptom free for 14 days before return to any contact training, and wait at least 21 days (and have been symptom free for 14 days) before return to competitive contact activities.
    • If your injury includes a period of unconsciousness, you will not be allowed back onto the field for remainder of the event (including multi-day events) and you are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention as loss of consciousness due to injury is a medical emergency.
    • Injury reporting requirements are covered in the chapter on Reporting requirements.
16. Managing misconduct (global)

    How we deal with issues in our activities should be consistent across all of our disciplines, so we have a global chapter in all of our handbooks about how to manage when there is unacceptable behavior or people break the rules.

    Changes:

    • Many sports include a mechanism for removing and excluding a player (being sent-off) for misconduct for a period of time, or a game or two, such as football/soccer's red cards, or ejection from a gridiron football game or baseball, benching a player, etc.
    • If there is unacceptable behavior, whether as a participant or a marshal, a marshal can decide that you are no longer acceptable to be on the field, and exclude you from taking part for a period of time.
    • We have provided marshals with escalating levels of options for managing misconduct, articulated the processes and reporting required, and included the process for appealing if you think someone got it wrong.
    • Options for managing misconduct include examples ranging from someone losing their temper because they just need some water and a snack, through to "you can't fight at this event," and up to revocation of authorization.
    • Revocation of authorization was a significant step that many marshals were unwilling to take. Smaller steps, with recommendations up the chain, have been included.
      • A marshal for a bout can stop the bout and send someone off.
      • The marshal-in-charge of the activity (e.g. a tournament) can remove someone from that activity.
      • The marshal-in-charge of the event can remove someone any further participation in any martial activity at the event (even a multi-day event).
      • Any disciplinary action that would last longer than an event will escalate to your Kingdom Earl Marshal, Principality Marshal, or Kingdom Deputy for Thrown Weapons. If another kingdom marshalate thinks action is needed, they will make that recommendation to your kingdom's marshalate.
    • We added Marshal reviews as a best practice recommendation.
17. Marshalate - Overview

    This global and thrown weapons specific chapter gathers the existing information about what marshals can do, depending on whether they have a warrant or not. It's consistent across all the handbooks. It also sets out the requirements for authorizing and warranting of marshals for thrown weapons.

    Changes:

    • A reminder that roster warrants need to be signed every reign.
    • Marshals must meet Society and kingdom requirements before they can be authorized and warranted. You cannot automatically be made a marshal due to awards or title (such as being a member of the Order of Chivalry, Defense, or Mark, or the Crown).
    • You must maintain current knowledge of the Rules of the Lists, the conventions of armored combat, and any additional kingdom rules or conventions, as they change or are updated.
    • Marshal authorizations may not exceed 4 years.
    • 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. This matches the requirements for other authorizations.
    • You must be an authorized marshal in the discipline you are being warranted for.
18. Marshalate - Responsibilities and chain of command (partial global)

    This chapter includes global content that is common to all disciplines, and content specific to thrown weapons. It also lays out the chain of command from a warranted marshal to the Society Marshal and the Board of Directors.

    Changes:

    • The escalation paths require subject matter experts to be used to make decisions about a particular discipline. For example, if you are not a warranted and authorized marshal for rapier combat, you do not get to make decisions about rapier combat.
    • This is why the crown is not automatically in the basic chain of command of the marshalate, as they may not be qualified in other disciplines beyond the one that got them the throne.
    • For roles that include multi-discipline responsibility and accountability (e.g. marshal-in-charge of the event, Principality Earl Marshal, Kingdom Earl Marshal, Society Marshal etc.):
      • You should consult a subject-matter expert (SME). You can support the SME recommendation, or, if you disagree with the SME, document the reason.
      • You should verify and document whether the correct procedures have been followed to manage any issues, that the appropriate subject matter experts were involved and actions are justified, and direct any further appeal (if applicable) to the next person in the chain of command.
    • We've use RACI definitions (responsible, accountable, consulted, informed) to help define what our marshals do. At each level we have included:
      • What the role is responsible for
      • Who appoints them
      • What they are held accountable for
      • Who they report to
      • Who keeps them informed
      • Who they consult with, if needed
19. Kingdom marshalate

    In the Kingdom versions, this chapter includes information about how that kingdom manages training and authorization of marshals.

20. Inspecting equipment

    This chapter provides sample processes for inspecting weapons and other equipment.

21. Inter-kingdom events (global)

    This global chapter applies to wars, where multiple kingdoms need to negotiate how they will play together in all disciplines, where there would otherwise be conflicting rules between kingdoms. This includes general guidelines from the referenced Marshals Handbook.

    Changes:

    • This section is new to the thrown weapons handbook, previously referenced to the Marshals Handbook.
22. Reporting requirements (global)

    This global chapter occurs in all of the handbooks and includes injury and incident reporting, event reporting requirements, and officer reporting requirements.

    There were up to 5 different reporting processes and timelines for injuries, depending on the martial handbook, which caused confusion to multi-discipline marshals and participants.

    Changes:

    • There are a range of issues that can occur at events or practices that must be reported. This includes:
      • Injuries (examples include, but are not limited to: loss of consciousness, major bleed, injury to head, major joint or bone injury)
      • An incident or injury which required a combatant to retire from the field, even briefly
      • Anything involving calling emergency services to the site
      • Weapons, armor, or equipment failure
      • A serious safety issue that could have caused injury (a near miss)
      • Conduct/behavior issues
    • Marshals involved in the response to one or more of these issues that occurred at an event or practice will need to assist with reporting.
    • Serious injuries:
      • Includes all injuries which require hospitalization or similar care, may require future or complex medical care, or include a period of unconsciousness.
      • Must be reported immediately to the marshal-in-charge of the event.
    • All other injuries, incidents and adverse events:
      • Must be reported to the marshal-in-charge of the event and the marshal-in-charge of the activity.
      • Must be reported to the kingdom marshalate within 2 weeks and to the Society Marshal within 3 months of the incident.
    • If the incident or injury involves calling emergency services to the site, notify the Kingdom Seneschal immediately.
    • We have included a list of the information that should be included in the incident report.
    • We want to collect information about incidents of misconduct on the field as they help identify low-level but repeating problems. We remind marshals to report these, and how they dealt with them.
    • For officers, we have included who your report needs to go to and what your report should cover. Your kingdom may have additional requirements.
    • Reporting dates have been made consistent across all disciplines:
      • If you are a Kingdom Deputy for a discipline, your quarterly reports are due March 1, June 1, Sept 1, Dec 1.
      • If you are a Kingdom Earl Marshal, your quarterly reports are due March 15, June 15, Sept 15, Dec 15.
      • If you are a Society Deputy for a discipline, your quarterly reports are also due March 15, June 15, Sept 15, Dec 15.
      • These feed into the Society Marshal's reports which are due Apr 1, July 1, Oct 1, Jan 1
23. Experimentation (global)

    This global chapter is included in all of the handbooks so that the way experiments are conducted is consistent.

    Changes:

    • We have created a standard template to capture necessary information to approve, track, and monitor programs.
    • There are now 3 levels of administration control, depending on risk and participation levels. Society and Society+Kingdom-level programs provide greater control and risk management, and provide a consistent approach. *This enables better management of activities that could have higher risk level through common controls and training. It also better supports activities that may have lower numbers of participation by reducing the burden on local kingdoms with shared marshals and a centralized authorization process/tracking. Kingdom-only is the traditional experimental program method.
24. Handbook updates (global)

    This global chapter is new for all the handbooks. It includes the process for changing the Society Marshal's Handbooks and how that flows into kingdom handbooks, including their electronic versions held in the wiki.

    Changes:

    • All kingdom additions and changes must be submitted to the Society Marshal or the appropriate Deputy Society Marshal for review and comment. This ensures that kingdoms do not drift into incompatibility or inadvertently allow things that are not allowed at Society-level.
    • When Society rules are updated, kingdoms must update their handbooks within a specified timeframe, though kingdoms can ask for extensions if needed.
    • We have included the process for managing rule changes with affiliate organizations, recognizing that they have different needs and processes.
25. Glossary
26. Change log

    This edition of the change log will be a different from future editions, due to the complete re-formating. In future, the changes should be in the form of:

    • Rule identification: Which rule is changing?
    • Was: the text of the old rule
    • Now: the text of the new rule
    • Functional change: What does this actually change about the way we do things? Sometimes there's none, we've just come up with an easier way to word it.
    • Reason: Why are we making this change?

    Significant changes will also be noted in the Notes tab linked at the top of the Chapter. This information doesn't appear in the PDF of the rules, but is a record of what changed when and why. It helps future marshals understand why a rule change was made, just in case we ever think about changing it again.