Armored Combat:Accessibility

Accessibility

General

1. The SCA is committed to promoting inclusion and equity in our martial activities. Safe and approved variations to weapons, equipment, and conventions are allowed for enabling participation.
2. Upon request, marshals should make reasonable accommodations, within limits of safety, for adaptive equipment or conventions. Only a warranted marshal can make this determination.
3. Please reach out to your Kingdom and local branch DEIB officer and marshals to explore options.

Accommodation examples

To provide a starting place for discussion, the following examples are a partial list of approaches that have been used.

1. Authorization - requesting a verbal test rather than a written test, and vice versa.
2. Fighting from a seat or platform (must be safe for the type of combat)
3. Legged: stay standing, but the struck leg is planted/not moved
4. Hand signals or flags

Other best practices

1. Locations for practices and events should:
   1. be in safe neighborhoods with safe routes to get there
   2. include well-lit parking areas
   3. have bathrooms large enough to change clothes in, for all genders.
2. Dedicated warm-up time at tournaments: Have 30-45 minutes of dedicated warm-up time before tournaments, with dedicated marshals and identified practice fighters.

Training

New fighters

1. Do not assume one weapon form or technique is the best way to start. Different body mechanics greatly influence this. For example, a glaive vs single sword, right foot forward vs left. The flat snap is easy for some, the hardest shot (and causes physical damage) to others.
2. Do not hit new people repeatedly in the head, or with hard blows, "so they know what to expect". If needed, calibration shots should be introduced on the body or arm/leg, when the new fighter is ready.

Methods NOT to use

1. Hitting people hard and/or repeatedly until "they get it" or "learn how to block".