Youth Martial:Armored Combat Rules Of The Lists

Youth Armored Combat - Rules of the Lists and Conventions of Combat

Rules of the List

Rules of the List and Conventions of Combat as listed in the "Armored Combat Marshal's Handbook", apply to Youth Combat unless superseded by a rule in this document. Conventions may be modified for a specific tournament with the full explanation of the changes given to all of the combatants.

1. All combatants shall adhere to the Society minimum armor and weapons standards for their division and to any additional standards or conventions of the Kingdom in which the event takes place.
2. All youth combatants shall ensure their armor and weapons are inspected by a Youth Combat Marshal prior to combat at each and every SCA-sponsored event or fighting practice.
3. A marshal may disallow use of any weapon, or armor, deemed to be unsafe from use upon the field of combat.
4. All combatants shall act in a courteous and chivalrous manner at all times.
5. No one may be required to participate in combat related Activities.
6. No weapons shall be thrown within the Lists of a tournament. The use of approved thrown weapons for melee shall conform to the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.

Behavior on the Field

1. Striking an opponent with excessive force is forbidden.
2. The instructions of the marshals on the field shall be followed at all times.
3. Each fighter shall maintain control over his or her temper at all times.
4. Should a safety issue arise the marshal will call "HOLD" and all combat activity in the list will stop until the marshal indicates that it is safe to resume.
5. Any behavior that takes deliberate advantage of an opponent's chivalry or safety-consciousness, or that takes deliberate unfair advantage of an opponent, is prohibited.
6. A fighter shall not deliberately strike a helpless opponent.
7. Any fighter who obtains an unfair advantage by repeatedly becoming "helpless" (for example, by falling down or losing their weapon) may, after being duly warned by the marshals on the field, be forced to yield the fight at the next occurrence of such behavior.
8. Grappling, tripping, throwing, punching, kicking, and wrestling are prohibited.
9. Deliberately striking an opponent with a shield (shield bashing) is forbidden.
10. Grasping an opponent's person, shield, or weapon is prohibited.

Target Areas

1. Legal target areas are the same as those in adult Armored Combat, except face thrusts are not allowed in Division 1. Shots to the groin and throat are legal, but discouraged.

Melee Conventions

1. Youth fighters may only charge to gain ground. They may not intentionally run into their opponents.
2. Thrown weapons may be used in a melee scenario provided that all marshals and combatants are informed of their use before the melee begins.
3. Deliberately striking from behind without gaining engagement is forbidden.
4. No more than four fighters shall attack a single opponent except in the case of engaged units.
5. Rules of engagement shall conform to the standard of the kingdom or event where the activity takes place.