Global:Introduction to SCA martial activities - Handbooks

Handbooks

General

1. Each martial activity has a set of rules which must comply with the Society Marshal's Handbooks and the SCA Governing Documents (relevant to and operating under local state and country laws).
   1. The Society Marshal's Handbooks define the SCA minimum requirements and standards for participants, marshals, administrators, including allowed activities, conventions, weapons, armor, equipment, and authorizations.
   2. Kingdoms can define additional requirements, standards, conventions, marshals, or types of authorization (such as weapons forms) if they decide those are necessary. However, they cannot reduce or disregard the requirements and standards delineated in the Society handbooks without a variance from the Society Marshal and approved by the Board of SCA Inc. (Corpora IX.A.2)
2. These handbooks are laid out in the following order of information relevant to:
   • Participants - How to participate, types of activities and their requirements, conventions (competition guidelines), equipment standards, authorizations, accessibility
   • Participants & marshals - Authorizations, and other safety related information (heat, concussions) and procedures (injuries, misconduct).
   • Marshals - Requirements, types of marshals, roles and responsibilities/chain of command, how to do inspections and marshaling. Marshals ensure participants and equipment comply with SCA rules, conventions and established standards.
   • Administration - Reporting, insurance, inter-kingdom events, and experimental programs.
3. These rules are subject to change or clarifications.
   1. The official versions of the Society Marshal's Handbooks can be found at https://www.sca.org/resources/document-library/#marshal.
   2. Kingdom-specific rules are denoted by the kingdom's name and shading (online format) or with blue text (PDF).
   3. Additional kingdom-specific information can be found on each kingdom's website.

Use of particular words

Throughout these handbooks, particular words have specific meanings.

1. When we say "we" and "our", we mean the marshalate.
2. When we say "you", we mean the person who needs to follow this rule.
3. When we say "shall" or "must", we mean that it's compulsory, it's an absolute requirement.
4. When we say "shall not" or "must not", we mean it is absolutely not allowed or prohibited.
5. When we say "should" or "recommended", there may be valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore it, but the full implications must be understood and carefully weighed before choosing a different course.
6. When we say "should not" or "not recommended", there may be valid reasons in particular circumstances when the action is acceptable, but the full implications must be understood and carefully weighed before doing so.
7. When we say "may", we mean that it is optional. You can choose to do it, or you can choose not to.

Application of the rules

1. These handbooks contain vital and required information, rules, standards, conventions, and procedures meant to promote safe and effective participation in SCA martial activities. However, they cannot cover every situation or scenario, or replace common sense, good judgment, and empathy.
2. If there is a question when applying these rules, marshals should choose the answer that promotes the greatest degree of safety for everyone, while being flexible and creative to enable participation to the maximum extent possible.
3. When not otherwise directed by the Crown, the Crown's representative upon the field and in all matters dealing with Society martial activities is the Kingdom Earl Marshal and, by delegation, warranted members of the kingdom marshalate.
   1. Unless otherwise directed by Kingdom Law, the Crown's representative upon the field and in all matters dealing with martial activities within a discipline is the Kingdom Earl Marshal, the Kingdom Deputy Earl marshal for the discipline, and, by delegation, warranted members of the kingdom marshalate.
   2. The discipline marshalate has jurisdiction over all SCA martial activities for that discipline.