As it is the Kingdom's prerogative to add to or make more rigid the Society's Rules and Standards, I feel it is important the ABC identifies what are Society Minimum Standards, and what are the additional Kingdom of An Tir Standards. To facilitate the identification between the Society's and the Kingdom's standards, the ABC utilizes two types of text:

Society minimum standards text is displayed in bold text:

Reporting to the Crown, Kingdom Seneschal, and Society Marshal on a quarterly basis.

Kingdom standards text is displayed in regular text:

Maintaining the warrants and rosters of all authorized Marshals in the Kingdom.

A] GEOGRAPHIC MARSHALS

Note: Any person becoming a Geographic Marshal must be a member of the SCA, Inc.

Kingdom Earl Marshal

This is the person appointed by the Sovereign and warranted by the Society Marshal to oversee the Marshallate in the Realm. This person must be a senior warranted marshal.

The duties of the Kingdom Earl Marshal are:

1. Reporting to the Crown, Kingdom Seneschal, and Society Marshal on a quarterly basis.
2. Supervising all regional, local, and specialized marshals and responding to their correspondence.
3. Maintaining the warrants and rosters of all authorized Marshals in the Kingdom.
4. Authorization of new fighters.
5. Functioning as Marshal-in-Charge at Kingdom level events, or designating an alternate with Crown approval.
6. Providing final approval or disapproval of equipment, subject to the Sovereign.
7. Formulating, maintaining and spreading of relevant information on: armor standards, conventions of combat, rules of the lists, etc.
8. Providing council to the Crown, Kingdom Seneschal and Society Marshal on policies of the Marshallate (International or Kingdom).
9. Mediation of disputes arising from combat, and act as a buffer for the Crown with regards to said disputes. Note: the Crown has the final say in all disputes concerning combat.
10. Respond to correspondence from Regional, Branch and Field Marshals.

Deputy Kingdom Marshals

These persons are appointed by the Earl Marshal to be his/her deputies. In all cases, the Sovereign shall approve the appointments.

The Deputy Kingdom Marshals are:

Kingdom Armored Marshal

This is a warranted senior armored marshal who assists the Earl Marshal in formulating, maintaining and enforcing the armored combat rules and regulations.

Kingdom Rapier Marshal

This is a warranted senior rapier marshal who assists the Earl Marshal in formulating, maintaining and enforcing the rapier combat rules and regulations.

Kingdom Royal Archer

This is a warranted senior archery and lights marshal who assists the Earl Marshal in formulating, maintaining and enforcing the Target Archery, Missile and Mixed combat rules and regulations.

The duties for each consist of:

1. Report to the Earl Marshal on the status of his office.
2. Assist in the warranting of associated Senior Field Marshals, Principality and Regional Marshals, local Branch Marshals.
3. Be in charge of training and authorization of associated marshals and combatants.
4. Regularly communicate safety and re-creative developments through the Kingdom newsletter, direct communication to branch marshals, and other means as necessary
5. Maintaining Branch and Field Marshal Rosters.
6. Convene and preside over regular meetings of the associated Marshallate for the purpose of advice and counsel upon matters of concern.
7. Train his or hers successor.
8. Act as Marshal-in-Charge at any event they attend that does not have this position of responsibility occupied.
9. After consultation with the Kingdom Earl Marshal, limit, revoke, and/or suspend any of the warrants or authorizations of the aforementioned individuals for cause.
10. Assist in the development of Kingdom policy regarding associated combat and target archery as it pertains to the Marshallate, equipment standards, weapon standards, combat styles, and/or events in accordance with weapons and lists requirements.
11. Encourage the development of Ithra classes and other workshops dealing with the history, tactics, construction and use of weapons, armor and combat.

Regional Marshals

At this level of the Marshallate, you now see a three way split in the structure:

1. Regional Master of Stables for Armored combat.
2. Regional Rapier Marshal for Rapier combat.
3. Regional Royal Archer for Archery and Light combat.

Special Note: Principality Marshallate

The Principality Marshallate has the opportunity to determine the degree of responsibility it wishes to assume upon approval of the Kingdom Earl Marshal and the Crown.

The absolute minimum level of responsibility to assume is to continue acting as the Marshallate would within a region.

The most involved degree of responsibility is to imitate the Kingdom in structure and responsibility in all aspects of the Marshallate. However, the principality Marshallate, while reporting to the Coronet, is still required to follow Kingdom regulations, policies and procedures and reporting requirements.

A Principality must follow the ABC as a minimum standard. They may wish to make portions of its content stricter.

Regional Marshals Continued:

Regional Master of Stables

This is a warranted Senior Armored Marshal who has been appointed by the Earl Marshal to assist in the administration of the Marshallate in a specific regional area. In all cases, the Sovereign shall approve the appointment.

Regional Rapier Marshal

This is a warranted Senior Rapier Marshal who has been appointed by the Earl Marshal to assist in the administration of the Marshallate in a specific regional area. In all cases, the Sovereign shall approve the appointment.

Regional Royal Archer

This is a warranted Senior Archery Marshal who has been appointed by the Earl Marshal to assist in the administration of the Marshallate in a specific regional area. In all cases, the Sovereign shall approve the appointment.

Their duties are:

1. Reporting to the associated Kingdom Marshal.
2. Ensuring local Branches within their region are reporting .
3. Providing information to local marshals on armor standards, conventions of combat, rules of the lists, etc. ...
4. Interpreting conventions and rules.
5. Mediation of disputes arising from combat
6. Authorizing new fighters and training new marshals.
7. Conducting the authorizations of new marshals and reporting their recommendation of these authorizations to the Earl Marshal's office.
8. Functioning as Marshal-in-Charge at Crown Events, or designating an alternate with Earl Marshal approval.
9. Providing interim approval or disapproval of equipment. All non-standard weapons and armor approved must be reported to the associated Kingdom Marshal. The decisions of these officers may be appealed to the Earl Marshal.

Branch Marshals

At this level of the Marshallate, the three way split continues:

1. Master of Stables for Armored Fighting.
2. Master of Swords for Rapier combat.
3. Chief Archer for Archery , Missile and mixed combat.

These members have been selected by their branch, and then appointed and warranted by the Sovereign through the Earl Marshal, to oversee the administration of the marshallate in a particular venue for their local group. This person must be 18 years of age or older, a Junior Marshal, and a member of the SCA, as they will be an official officer of the SCA. This is the only time a Junior Marshal will be warranted and thus allowed to act as a MIC.

As a branch representative, you are required to be warranted into the office and must provide regular reports as determined by the Kingdom on the state of fighting within your branch. If their are subsidiary branches (i.e. Barony with Cantons, Province, Principality.) this includes summarizing the reports that you get from them. You are required to submit any other reports the Earl Marshal of the Kingdom requires.

Their duties are:

1. Submission of regular reports. Copies of Injury and Dispute reports are filed with the associated Regional Marshal and the Earl Marshal.
2. Ensuring that information is made available to all fighters on armor standards, conventions of combat, rules of the lists, and any other information they are directed to distribute.
3. Ensuring that their branch has trained marshals present at events.
4. Ensuring that fighters and marshals in his branch receive proper training.
5. Supervising marshaling activities at local events.
6. Assisting in the authorization of new fighters. This means giving local authorization, Local authorization will allow a new fighter the ability to fight in the local fight practice and at small local events. This authorization must be redone for kingdom or regional events by a Warranted Senior Marshal.
7. Ensuring that equipment conforms to the required minimums of the Kingdom regulations as listed in the An Tir Book of Combat (ABC).
8. Keeping authorization records on all fighters in the branch and keeping records on all fighting events in branch.

B] WARRANTS OF GEOGRAPHIC AND FIELD MARSHALS

Warrants for Geographic Marshals

Those requesting to be warranted as Kingdom, Regional or Branch Marshals must send a completed Job Application Form (See Appendices) to the appropriate Kingdom Officer:

Kingdom Earl Marshal.

Warrant issued by Society Marshal and the Crown.

Kingdom Lesser Officers, Armored Marshal, Rapier Marshal, Royal Archer, Equestrian and Lists.

Warranted by Kingdom Earl Marshal and Crown.

Regional Master of Stables, Rapier Marshal and Royal Archers.

Warranted by Kingdom Earl Marshal.

Branch Master of Stables, Master of Swords and Chief Archers.

Warranted by Kingdom Earl Marshal.

Warranting and Grading of Field Marshals

The Marshallate utilizes the same warranting and grading systems for all three combat elements, Armored, Rapier and Archery.

Society's requirements for Marshals:

1. A Marshal may be authorized after he/she demonstrates the ability to oversee combat, judge a fighters' authorization, and inspect weapons and armor. Unless he/she is warranted or rostered by the Earl Marshal as an officer of the kingdom. However, he/she may not be the Marshal-in-Charge of an event, or sign the paperwork to authorize a fighter or non-contact participant.
2. Kingdoms may have other types of Marshals other than Authorized Marshals (local knight marshals, constables, et cetera) as they see fit. These individuals may be warranted or rostered by the Earl Marshal of the kingdom. However, unless the marshal has undergone a Marshal's' Authorization, he/she should not give final approval of the suitability of weapon's or armor, or be involved in the authorization of participants.
3. Only the Earl Marshall or one of his/her Deputies may perform a Marshals' authorization. He/she must witness the authorization and execute the appropriate paperwork to insure the authorization is registered. As a minimum a marshals' authorization shall include the following:
   1. The candidate must be at least 18 years of age and have a good working knowledge of the Rules of the List, the Societies Conventions of Combat, and any additional Kingdom rules or conventions.
   2. The candidate must be willing to enforce the Rules of the lists, the Societies Conventions of Combat, and any additional Kingdom rules or conventions.
   3. The candidate must have good working knowledge of the Society Minimum Armor and Weapon Standards and any additional Kingdom rules or conventions.
   4. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to conduct an inspection of Armor and Weapons for use in combat.
   5. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to conduct an Authorization of Combatants and Non-Contact participants.
   6. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to safely supervise and control SCA combat. Whether this be single combat, team combat, general melee, or in part of a war environment.

Warrants

The warrant is issued by the Kingdom Earl Marshal and the Crown. Field Marshals maintain their warrant at the discretion of, and are answerable to, both entities. Requests for warranting or recommendations of people to be warranted as Field Marshals, must be sent utilizing the Marshal Promotion Form (See Appendices) writing to the appropriate Regional Officer, who will then comment on and submit to the Kingdom Earl Marshal's Office (i.e. the appropriate Deputy Earl Marshal) for approval.

If you are not on the Kingdom Senior Field Marshal Roster, You are not a Senior Field Marshal. An individuals Authorization Card will indicate if they are a warranted Senior Field Marshal.

Duties of Warranted Field Marshals

Senior Field Marshals

A senior marshal is a warranted marshal and must be a member of the SCA. A senior marshal should be able to be head marshal of one of the Eric's at a Crown event. He or she is responsible for Crown fighting authorizations, and should take an active part in the training of new marshals. A senior marshal should be appealed to when there is a question about required armor or a new weapon, before it is appealed to the Earl Marshal or his/her representative for the tourney. Senior marshals are encouraged to fight, and/or learn as much as they can about SCA fighting and armor.

The best senior marshal can act in the place of the Earl Marshal at major events and prepared to act on Marshallate disputes, major weapon and armor questions, and be Marshal-in-Charge at Crown events.

Senior Field Marshal Duties:

1. Possess an up to date copy of the An Tir Book of Combat.
2. Training other marshals.
3. Assist with the warranting of marshals.
4. Inspecting armor prior to the opening of the lists.
5. Fulfilling the duties of the MIC of an event when requested.
6. Training fighters, if applicable.
7. Assisting or authorizing fighters.
8. Approve or disapprove of any equipment, weapon, or combat style, so long as said decision is in keeping with the An Tir Book of Combat.
9. Assisting or settling disputes over armor, weapons or combat.
10. Enforce compliance with the An Tir Book of Combat.
11. Report on what you personally observed of any incident during or related to combat, which the MIC was required to report on.
12. Confer with and advise the Kingdom Earl Marshal on matters pertaining to said rules.
13. Limit or suspend a warrant and/or authorization of said individuals and submit "Incident Report" immediately to the Earl Marshal.
14. Halt or disallow any combat activity for cause.
15. Ensure that all persons taking part in combat are authorized in that particular combat style, and to conduct day authorizations of persons who wish to participate.

NOTE: A Senior Marshal is one that can produce, upon request, a signed Combat Authorization card (showing their marshaling level) and a current SCA membership card.

Junior Field Marshals

A Junior Marshal is not warranted and is in training to be a Senior Field Marshal. The Junior Field Marshal must be familiar with the Kingdom regulations and must have taken at least one marshaling class.

Junior Field Marshal Duties:

1. Possess an up to date copy of the An Tir Book of Combat.
2. Assist in the training of marshals and fighters (as required).
3. Assist with the duties of MIC of an event when delegated to do so by the branch marshal.
4. Assisting in armor inspection.
5. Assisting in field marshaling.
6. Reports on what you personally observed of any incident during or related to combat, which the MIC was required to report on.

Apprentice Field Marshals

An Apprentice Marshal is anyone who has exhibited an interest in marshaling and is currently being trained by a more experienced marshal. The title implies no particular level of knowledge. Once an Apprentice Marshal has demonstrated reasonable marshaling skills, they should become a Junior Marshal.

C] SPECIALTY MARSHALS

Marshal in Charge (MIC)

A Marshal in Charge (MIC) is a warranted senior marshal or warranted branch marshal of the same combat style (Armored, Rapier or Archer) who is responsible for maintaining and enforcing the combat rules and regulations at an official SCA event. A marshal in charge does not have to be the branch officer, but it is strongly recommended. However, the Marshal in Charge must meet the approval of the sponsoring branch's seneschal, marshal, and event autocrat.

The responsibilities of the Marshal in Charge include:

1. Check the safety of the field, preferably before it is reserved for the event. Ask yourself if someone in armor with restricted vision can cross it safely? (i.e., without injury; tripping is an inherent hazard of combat in rough terrain.) At minimum, check at the beginning of the day to see if there are holes, soft spots, rocks, etc. If conditions are hazardous and cannot be worked around, move the fighting somewhere else.
2. Oversee the thorough inspection and testing of all weapons and equipment for compliance with SCA and Kingdom standards.
3. Arrange for enough marshals. This means an absolute minimum of one marshal per single combat (two or three is best), and enough marshals for group combats (i.e., melees and wars to both surround the fighting, keep an eye on the boundaries, and keep most of the fights under general surveillance for things like armor falling off, broken weapons, etc.)
4. Write a report about the event when it is over and submit it to the appropriate Regional Marshal within 30 days.
5. Consult with the event Chirurgeon to find out what trained medical personnel are attending the event; their names, location and qualifications so they can be called upon if needed. The MIC should determine the location and phone number of the hospital with emergency facilities nearest the tourney site, and insure this information is available to all marshals and attending first aid personnel. (See also the Combat Injuries section)
6. Reject any weapon or piece of equipment for non-compliance with SCA and Kingdom standards.
7. Suspend any combatant or marshal under their authority.
8. Halt or disallow any combat activity under their authority.

D] AUTHORIZATIONS

Authorization Card

Each authorized participant in an SCA combat related activity (armored combat, rapier combat, war archery, marshaling, scouting, banner bearing, etc.) shall be issued an authorization card. This card is proof that the participant has demonstrated their ability to function on the field in a manner that is safe to both themselves and their opponent. This card must be presented to the Lists Official at an SCA event to register for participation. This card must be shown to any marshal or lists official upon request, and may be confiscated by the Marshal in Charge of an event, for just cause. Any confiscation of an authorization card must be followed up with a report to the Earl Marshal stating the reason for confiscation.

A warranted senior marshal will conduct authorizations. The authorized participant and authorizing warranted senior marshal must complete the appropriate authorization and waiver form, which goes to the Kingdom Lists Office (the An Tir Authorization and Waiver Form has a temporary card valid for 30 days). The Kingdom Lists Office will then issue the authorization card. The Kingdom Lists Office should be informed of changes to current cards. An up-to-date listing of all authorizations will be maintained by the Kingdom Lists Office.

NOTE: An authorization card is proof that a fighter has an authorization and waiver form on file with the Kingdom Lists Office. A kingdom authorization and waiver form may not be enough protection for the Society in Canada, so an on-site waiver should be signed in addition to showing a current authorization card.

Authorization of Contact Participants (Fighters)

Only a senior marshal warranted by the Earl Marshal of a Kingdom may perform an fighter authorization. This marshal must witness the authorization and execute any appropriate paperwork to insure that the authorization is registered with the Earl Marshal through the Lists Deputy.

An Tir authorizations shall be standardized along the following minimums:

1. The fighter must be familiar with the Rules of the List of the SCA.
2. The Armor and Weapon standards of the SCA and An Tir.
3. The fighter must be safe to himself and his opponent.
4. The fighter must demonstrate adequate competence with each of his chosen weapons.
5. The fighter should pass an oral examination demonstrating their knowledge of SCA and An Tir combat rules and conventions.
6. The fighter must fill out the "Waiver and Informed Consent to Participate in SCA Combat Related Activities " form and send it to the Kingdom Lists officer or to a designated deputy.
7. When conducting an authorization, the marshal should observe the fighter's ability to attack his opponent and defend himself in a coordinated and competent manner whether standing or kneeling. If they look uncoordinated and/or throw their blows ineffectively or unsafely, they will not be authorized to fight.

The philosophy of the Kingdom of An Tir is not to regulate the use of a particular weapon, but to authorize the safe use of a weapon by the individual fighter. It is the fighter who is authorized, not the weapon. Thus authorization to use a pole arm means the fighter can use any pole arm and does not have to be re-authorized for each variation of the weapon i.e., yari, spear, glaive etc. To become authorized on a local level with a weapon, the fighter should approach any warranted marshal who will then observe the fighter's skill with that weapon. If the marshal feels the fighter is skilled enough not to be a danger to himself or others, he will authorize him to use the particular weapon.

To become authorized on a kingdom level, the fighter must approach a senior warranted marshal who will repeat the process. The marshal and the fighter should report the authorization to the Kingdom Lists who will then record it on the fighter's roster which they maintain. In addition to the Lists fighter's card, the individual will, AFTER signing a TWO YEAR WAIVER, be issued with his/her own fighters card with the signature of the senior marshal who has done their authorization (the fighter's card is only valid while the two year waiver is still in effect so check the dates on the cards).

Local lists persons, or the branch marshal if no local lists person is available, are encouraged to maintain fighter cards as well. This card will notify the Field Marshal of the weapon techniques the combatant is capable of using. If it is not on the card that the fighter has been authorized with a particular weapon, he will not be allowed to use it. The Earl Marshal has the final say on whether the weapon or defense can be used.

Authorization of Non-Contact Participants

Non-Contact Identification

All non-contact participants in mixed archery, missile / armored SCA combat (including archers, javelineers, scouts, banner bearers, etc.) must wear helms which are colored white. No armored combatant may wear a helm which is colored white. Non-combatant participants must display the Archers Badge (which is a red pheon (arrow head) at least 3" wide) on the front, back, and both sides of the helmet. The Archers Badge must be displayed in enough places that the non-contact participant cannot possibly be mistaken for a Armored Combatant. It is recommended that the Badge be displayed in strongly contrasting colors on chest and back as well. The Society non-contact badge is a white diamond at least 6 inches on a side. Since an Tir non-contact combatant's helm is white, a red diamond has been deemed acceptable (though a red pheon is strongly encouraged).

Note: It is the responsibility of any color-blind person to make their condition known to the marshals before equipment inspection so that there will be no confusion on the field.

Non-Contact Authorization

Participants in combat related activities must be authorized by a warranted senior marshal. The marshal must witness the authorization and execute the appropriate paperwork to insure that the authorization is registered with the Earl Marshal through the Lists Deputy.

All authorizations will be standardized along the following minimums:

1. The Participant must fill out the "Waiver and Informed Consent to Participate in SCA Combat Related Activities" form.
2. The Participant must be familiar with the Rules of the Lists.
3. The Participant shall pass an oral examination demonstrating their knowledge of SCA conventions and An Tirian additions.
4. The Participant must be safe to self and opponent.
5. The Participant must demonstrate adequate competence with their specific missile weapon.

Authorization of Minors

(16 to 18) may be authorized with these additional criteria:

1. No person below the age of sixteen (16) may be authorized for any form of SCA combat-related activity.
2. The parents or guardians of the minor must witness SCA combat, discuss how it relates to their child's participation with a senior warranted marshal or the local Master of Stables, and fill out a "Minor Waiver and Informed Consent to Participate in Combat-Related Activities" form.
3. The Earl Marshal, the Crown Principality Earl Marshal, or a Senior Warranted Marshal must be the one to authorize the minor for SCA Combat-Related Activities.
4. At any event in which the minor is involved in SCA combat related activities, he must either have a parent or guardian present, or must be in possession of a properly filled out "Medical Authorization Form for Minors" designating some adult present at the event as able to authorize medical treatment in care of an emergency and also have a waiver signed by the Parent/Guardian for that event. Event as used in this context includes, without limitation, fighter practices and demos.

E] DUTIES OF A MARSHAL SAFETY FIRST!

To clearly identify the Marshals on the field of combat, all Marshal Helms must be marked with an Yellow "X".

During Tournaments or Wars, all marshals shall carry onto the field of combat a Marshaling pole that is spirally marked yellow and black at each end for 1.5 feet (45mm). The spiral mark is to indicate to the Fighter that the pole belongs to the Marshal. The length of pole should allow the Marshal to comfortably direct the fighter without exposing the Marshal to being struck by the fighters weapon. No marshal shall carry any pole on the field that has sharp or jagged edges (i.e. walking staffs, tree limbs, etc.).

The Marshal must be prepared to act upon his own initiative and judgment in the absence of the Earl Marshal or the MIC, or in cases where the MIC has disqualified himself as an observer (i.e., an elimination combat involving the MIC's squire, or the authorization to compete in the lists of one of his students). He must be able to fulfill his duties, acting with neither fear nor favor, to insure that the Rules of the Lists are obeyed, that field safety is maintained, that proper armor is worn, and that combats are in all ways fairly and properly conducted.

A marshal must be thoroughly familiar with the Rules of the Lists, and Kingdom standards, traditions, and conventions of combat. When observing a combat, they must keep an eye on the field and the fighters at all times, watching each fight closely enough to answer questions from the combatants, from the King, or from the MIC as to what has occurred. A marshal must remember that they are an observer with the duty of providing their observations to the combatants. A marshal is not the final judge; the fighter himself can best decide what blows have fallen on his own body. A marshal should understand anatomy sufficiently to be able to advise fighters on the effects of their blows, and should learn to note particularly the direction and angle of a blow. Whenever possible, tact should be used when asked for a comment on a particular blow. It is best to determine the opinion of the person who struck the blow, as this can save time and worry.

If a fighter repeatedly appears to disregard blows or to disobey the rules of honor and safety, the marshal should select a member of the Chivalry if available to assist in observing. This often eliminates further infractions. There may also be additional observers for any fight if either fighter requests it.

A marshal should be prepared to stop a fight at any point under the following circumstances: an infraction of the rules, danger to either the fighters or the spectators, or when one of the fighters has called for a halt. A fight shall be stopped by whatever means necessary, including physical restraint of one or both of the fighters. A marshal should, in the ultimate extreme, prefer catching a blow himself to having someone else get injured (this is why a staff is a highly recommended item of equipment). A marshal must therefore know how to move safely within an effective distance of a fight but well outside the range of the weapons. During melees, particular attention should be paid to preventing fighters from being forced off of the field into the spectators.

Because of the nature of SCA combat, injuries, both serious and trivial, can occur. Accordingly, it is the duty of a marshal to be able to cope with field injury situations both coolly and effectively. It is recommended that marshals themselves be versed in first aid procedures so that they can treat field injuries in the absence of more qualified medical personnel. Possession of a basic First Aid certificate is recommended and advanced training is even better.

Marshals shall act in a crowd control capacity at such times as an injury does occur on the field. Only the opponent, the medics, the injured person's squire (if he has one, to get him out of his armor without compounding injuries), and the injured person's next-of-kin (this includes his lady, if present) are to be allowed near him. The rest of the populace shall be kept back at a distance of at least 20 feet or to the Eric's edge by the marshals. If the injury is serious enough to require taking the injured person to the hospital, a incident report must be filed immediately with the Earl Marshal.

A marshal should stay informed of events and rulings in the Society and the Kingdom, and to further this end, he should keep his subscription to at least his local newsletter up to date.

The Powers of a Marshal

A marshal should attempt to arrange matters so that it is never necessary to use their official powers. Always attempt to use persuasion first before invoking your full authority.

If there is a violation of the Rules of the Lists, equipment regulations, or other principles covered under Duties of a Marshal or the section on Marshaling Fights and Enforcing the Rules, which is of such a nature that a Court of Chivalry or a Court of Inquiry is called for, the marshal should file a report to the Earl Marshal requesting that he call such a court.

In the event of a serious violation of the Rules of the Lists, the marshal on duty shall use their authority to stop the fight and/or take such other action as is necessary to correct the situation. If a marshals authority is questioned or if they are unable to stop the activity which is in violation, the marshal shall summon the Marshal in Charge who, if he is unable to stop the violation, will use the following EMERGENCY PROCEDURE.

The Marshal in Charge will go immediately to the King (or prince, or baron, or whoever is the authority present), and say: "Your Majesty (Highness, etc. ... ), it is my duty to inform you of a violation of Rule No. xxxx, and to advise you to use your authority to correct the situation. If this situation is allowed to continue, the SCA will be forced to withdraw its sanction from this event (tournament, revel, etc. ...) and you will be held legally responsible for any consequences." If the Authority is unavailable, unable, or unwilling to act, the Marshal in Charge will go to the Seneschal and say: "My Lord Seneschal, it is my duty to inform you of a violation of Rule No. xxxx. In the name of the SCA I demand that you aid me in correcting the situation, and if the situation cannot be corrected, I order you to withdraw the sanction of the Society from this event." If this does not work, the Marshal in Charge is instructed to summon a Herald and to order him to make the following announcement: "My Lords and Ladies, I regret to inform you that, since the Rules of the Lists are not being obeyed, this event can no longer be considered an official event of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., and is officially closed. Any activity taking place upon this field from this time forward is a private affair, for which the individuals concerned shall be totally and solely responsible." If no Herald is available to make the announcement, the Marshal in Charge shall make it himself. The Marshal in Charge should then withdraw from the field, taking all SCA officers with him. The MIC must then immediately file a report with the Earl Marshal by telephone, followed by a report in writing with copies to the Society Marshal and the Board of Directors. A Court of Chivalry will inevitably result from events which force a Marshal in Charge to use this procedure.

Enforcing the Rules in the Kingdom

One of the more difficult aspects of a marshal's job is that he is occasionally called upon to witness serious breaches of the Rules which leave a less than favorable impression of a fighter's conduct. This section, hopefully, will provide such guidelines, so the marshal will know when and how to act.

The first and most easily detected and stopped form of misconduct is dangerous or dishonorable offensive technique. The predominant forms that this takes are blows at or below the knee, thrusts with weapons not approved for such use, and striking the opponent's body or limbs with the shield. The procedure for dealing with any of these possibilities is the same. The first time that a fighter violates the rule, the marshal seeing the infraction (if it was not loudly brought to his attention by the opponent) will cry "HOLD", and warn the offender that he has broken a rule and should correct his technique so that the violation does not reoccur. If the marshal spotted a flaw in the offender's technique, he may offer advice on how to correct the problem. Since, in most cases, the cause of the infraction is faulty technique or accident, the problem will usually end with the warning. The warning should be reported to the office of the Lists if it is a tourney, which will keep track and inform the marshals for subsequent fights.

If during the same fight, the fighter violates the same rule, the marshal will again stop the fight and issue the second warning. If a third infraction of the rule occurs, the marshal will instruct the fighter that he may not use that technique for the duration of the fight. At the end of the fight, the Marshal will inform the MIC and the Lists that he has had to prohibit so-and-so from using leg blows, or whatever.

Should a further violation of the rule occur in that fight, the fighter will forfeit, and the MIC will take action. The fighter can either be banned from further fighting at that event, or may be prohibited in using the offending technique for the remainder of the event or until further notice. The MIC will report the facts of the case in writing to the Earl Marshal (if he is not present) and recommend any action that he deems necessary. Although the above are strong guidelines, they are to be used with discretion. There are several possible sets of circumstances which could modify the sequence given. One example is a violation of the Rules which results in a serious injury. This would be grounds for immediate prohibition from using the technique which caused the injury until further notice. Conversely, a fighter who is himself struck on the knee while striking a proper blow so that he collapses involuntarily and his own blow arrives lower than expected, would likely not be subject to censure at all. Similarly, blows which a fighter blocks with his own shield and deflects into his shins are not grounds for censure.

The second form of misconduct is much more difficult to handle. That is, the case where a fighter fails to acknowledge blows which should be counted. The mildest form of this is referred to as a "Turkey Fight" one with flurries of blows, some of which look good, but none of which are counted. If there is a member of the Chivalry available, the marshal should ask them to view the fight. If there is no one available to observe then the marshal may have to handle this situation in the following manner.

If the problem does not correct itself after the second engagement, the marshal should cry "hold", and confer with the fighters, stating, "My lords, you are not creating a favorable impression by the conduct of this fight". He should preferably ask about specific blows which he thought may have been good, i.e., "Can you feel those leg blows through that 12 gauge plate cues, my Lord", or: "Was that last backhand to your helm solid?", or even: "Are either of you two connecting at all?" The problem may be faulty technique on the part of one or both fighters which has resulted in blows which connect but which lack force (i.e., wrist flicks, or striking out of range). Generally, the fighters will not count any of the blows from those first flurries, but they will be more aware from then on.

If, however, when the fighting resumes, one or both fighters continue apparently to ignore blows or a particular type of blow (which is not uncommon), the marshal should again stop the fight. This time he should ask the person who struck the blows if, in his opinion, the blows were good. If the response is neutral or positive, it is time to "calibrate" the fighter who is failing to recognize blows. The marshal should have the fighter stand in guard position, then, using the opponent's weapon, strike several blows at varying speeds and angles. He should comment as he strikes, saying: "This is good", "This is light", "That glanced", "That was a tip", etc. The blows should NOT be full force. This is to take into account two factors: 1) In combat, the relative motions of the fighters make it virtually impossible to strike a perfect solid blow, and 2) During the calibration the fighter is paying attention only to the blows struck upon him, which is not the case in combat. In the majority of cases the problem will stop here, since not only will the fighters be more conscious of the blows they receive, but they will be under a fair amount of peer pressure to behave properly, due to the sudden public scrutiny.

Unfortunately, there have been, and will be, cases where the foregoing procedure will prove insufficient, due to the ineffectual blows by the opponent, over effective armor, loss of temper, or, worst of all, sheer determination not to lose. If, after the basic procedure has been followed, the counting of blows is still flagrantly absent, the marshal shall call "HOLD", and summon the MIC. When the MIC arrives and the situation has been discussed between the marshals and the fighters, the fight may resume. If the situation does not then improve, or if the marshal's testimony is convincing, the MIC should take action.

The MIC then has several options. He can cancel or postpone the fight, in the hope that the fighters will have cooled off by the time it is re-fought (in which case the MIC will marshal the fight). He can have a member of the Chivalry talk to the fighters involved. He can remove either or both fighters from the Lists for the remainder of the event. Or he can confiscate the authorization card of one or both of the fighters. If either of the last two options are used, the MIC will report the facts to the Earl Marshal with comments and recommendations. Formal complaints can also be filed by any of the marshals, the observers, or either combatant. If the misbehaving fighter is a belted fighter, the situation should be viewed much more seriously.

One final problem which requires prompt action by the marshals is the fighter who appears to be losing his temper. In such a case, the marshal will stop the fight and talk to the fighter about the conduct of the fight. If the fighter is in fact angry and, in the considered opinion of the marshal, in danger of losing control of his temper, the rest of the fight shall be postponed until later. If the fighter just snaps and goes berserk on the field, the marshals shall restrain him and stop the fight from continuing. As a matter of routine, the MIC shall be informed in either case.

In conclusion, it should be mentioned that a marshal has two sets of powers: the formal power to enforce the rules granted to him by the Crown and the SCA, and the informal power of persuasion and possibly social peer pressure that he may wield as a marshal and also possibly as a fellow fighter. The second set of powers should be used to the utmost, in order to avoid, if possible, the necessity for invoking the first set. A fighter places his honor on display when he is on the field, and it is far better to persuade him to improve his showing by himself then to tell him outright that he is not being honorable.

F] MARSHALLING

Equipment Inspections

At each event, the Marshal in Charge must arrange for the inspection of all armor and weapons to be used in combat. This in no way relieves the fighters of their responsibility to follow the Equipment Standards. Rather, it is intended to provide a safety check. Equipment that was passed at a previous event may since have become damaged and unsafe, and even the most experienced fighter sometimes forgets some piece of armor. A check list might be helpful as you do the inspection. In addition, a quick visual check of the combatants just before the start of an individual combat or battle is also a good idea.

A Sample Equipment Inspection.

The inspection outlined below is for purposes of Illustration and is for regular SCA combat, without missile weapons.

Armor inspection must be done with all of the armor on the body of the fighter who is going to wear it. It is not otherwise possible to get an accurate idea of what is covered and what is not, nor of where gaps may occur as the combatant moves. Branch Marshals should keep track of the fighters' armor and make sure that they keep it in good repair. They should remind fighters to give their own armor a thorough going over prior to major tourneys or wars. This will cut down on frantic armor repairs the day of the event.

Before you start, remind yourself that armor is hot, not to mention heavy. If the weather is too sunny and hot, try to find some shade in which to hold the inspection, or at least for the fighters to stand in while waiting to be inspected. Similar reasoning applies in case of rain, freezing cold, or other inclement weather. Just because it is possible to fight in bad weather, does not mean it is pleasant or desirable to stand around in it during inspections.

1. Armor (refer to the Equipment Standards section for details)
   1. Leg Armor: The front and sides of the knees must be covered. Have the fighter flex his knees (either a deep knee bend or one knee at a time) and see that the knee remains covered and that the articulation (if any) does not significantly gap. Check for sharp edges, broken or missing rivets, or other signs that the equipment is falling apart.
   2. Groin: The groin must be covered. ASK the fighter if they remembered their groin protection. Do not knee someone in the groin to check!
   3. Body: The kidneys must be covered. Make sure the armor covers the lower back, short ribs, sternum and solar plexus.
   4. Elbows: The point and sides of each elbow must be covered. Have the fighter flex his elbows and see that the elbow remains covered and that the articulation (if any) does not significantly gap. Check for sharp edges, broken or missing rivets, or other signs that the equipment is falling apart.
   5. Hands and Wrists: The hands and wrists must be covered. Check the gauntlet and/or basket hilt. Look to see if the gauntlet will pinch the hand if it is hit. Check for sharp edges, broken or missing rivets, or other signs that the equipment is falling apart. Check that when the hand is fully bent the wrist is still covered.
   6. Neck and Head: The neck and head must be covered. Check the face plate and eye slots both for size of openings (a 1-inch dowel is a quick way to check and hard to argue with) and to be sure that it is firmly secured in place. Put your hand on the front of the helm, and have the fighter push against it to make sure his face does not hit the face plate. (A gentle touch of the tip of the nose at maximum pressure may not be desirable, but is not necessarily grounds for rejecting the helm.) Repeat with the sides and back to make sure that his neck is still not exposed. Have the fighter turn his head towards his shield side . This is to see that the neck is still not exposed. Repeat for the sword side. Have the fighter tilt his chin up as far as possible and check the neck again. If you can reach in (From the front, at a slight upward angle. Not from directly below) and touch bare throat with a fist, it must be fixed before it can be passed. Have the fighter move his chin down as far as possible and repeat for the back of the neck. Test the chin strap by lifting up on both sides of the helm. It should not rise up so far as to expose the head or neck. Check for sharp edges, cracked welds, broken or missing rivets, or other signs that the equipment is falling apart.
   7. Shield: Check the rim for sharp edges, broken or missing rivets, or other signs that it is falling apart.
2. Weapons (refer to the Weapons Standards section for details)
   1. The primary consideration is safety. If you, as a marshal, do not believe that the weapon is safe (i.e., you would not be willing to fight against it yourself), do not let it be used on the field. In all cases, if there is a dispute, refer the matter to a warranted senior marshal or the Earl Marshal. Until it has been approved on a senior level, it may not be used regardless of whether it meets all other requirements.
   2. Swords: Check that they meet the minimum diameter 1 1/4" (3.3 cm.) A "no-go" gauge will speed this up enormously. Check to see if there is a lanyard, (wrist strap that is used to keep the sword from flying away), or equivalent (Trigger finger is considered equivalent). Check that the ends are taped, and that there are no exposed cuts in the rattan. Check the quillons or basket hilt for cracked welds, sharp edges, broken or missing rivets, or other signs that they are coming apart.
   3. Thrusting Tips: Check that they have the minimum cross section as defined in the regulations. Push on the end to verify the required amount of compression and make sure it does not fold over.
   4. Mass Weapons (i.e., axes, maces, etc): Check the padding for compression. Check the wrist strap. Consider the total weight of the weapon.
   5. Pole Weapons: Check the thrusting tips, if any. Check the padding for compression. Consider the total weight of the weapon. Check that the weapon meets the relevant length restrictions.

Marshaling Fighter Practices

A fighter practice is considered a legal SCA event (i.e., sponsored by a branch of the Society, registered with the seneschal of the sponsoring branch, publicized at least to the membership of that branch, and conducted according to Society and Kingdom rules). However, the branch marshal or their recognized deputy should be acting as the Marshal in Charge at that practice, with the understanding that branch marshal is responsible for the combat-related activities at that fighter practice and is the final arbiter at that practice regarding marshaling issues, unless a regional deputy, the Earl Marshal, or the Crown is in attendance. While it is a good thing for a field marshal to advise the branch marshal of marshaling issues, the branch marshal has the final say.

All combatants shall adhere to the appropriate armor and weapons standards of the Society, and to any additional standards of the Kingdom in which the event takes place. For the beginning fighter, a formal armor inspection may be warranted to insure that the beginning fighter is adequately protected. For the experienced fighter, a visual inspection by the branch marshal should suffice to insure that "well-worn" armor is complete and not breaking down. However, since a practice is in itself a learning environment and not a combative environment, as a tournament is, some discretion may be made with regards to armor that may be questionable but not in blatant violation of Society and Kingdom standards. In this case, the branch marshal or their recognized deputy at the practice should make the final call (after hearing advice from any attending field marshals).

Each fighter practice has its own unique mix of fighters (both new or experienced), availability of practice area, and ease of dealing with spectators. The branch marshal should be taking these factors into account when deciding on the number of field marshals needed to insure a smooth running practice. In some cases where the practice is small in attendance, large in practice area, and relatively isolated from spectators and passers-by, all that is needed is a single spotter to watch out for armor failure. As the number of fighters increase, a second spotter may be needed. If the practice area is limited in size, single marshals may be needed to insure that the fighters don't wander into other practice bouts. As the number of spectators increase, a "fixed-location" marshal might be needed to keep the fighters and spectators from mixing. At no time should the philosophy of "no marshals, no practice" be endured. The fighters, even the branch marshal himself, should be willing to supervise the fighting when called for. In all cases, the branch marshal or their recognized deputy should be in attendance to supervise the practice. Likewise, at all times there should be at least one spotter to keep their eye on the fighters and any spectators.

The branch marshal should understand that the use of field marshals should be for managing the fighter practice, not as a fix-all for an overcrowded fighter practice site. If a practice has become unmanageable, then decisions should be made pertaining to spectator attendance, number of fighters sparing at any one time, or if the current practice site still meets the needs of the branch.

Marshaling Single Combat

There must be at least one marshal for a single combat. Two or three is preferable as they will be able to see more of the fight. Four or more will get in each others' way and block the view from the side lines without providing noticeably better marshaling.

Safety

The field itself can cause safety problems. Before you begin, walk over the area where the fighting will take place. Look particularly for holes, soft spots, and rocks. The fighters will generally accept small holes, rocks, etc... as part of the background. Once the fight starts, you will want to try to keep it away from these areas. If the hazards are serious, move the fight or eliminate the hazard. You should advise the fighters of all perceived hazards.

As the fighters come out onto the field, take a quick look to see that they have remembered all of their armor. This should not take any time at all. It is not a meant to be a full inspection. It IS meant to provide a final safety check and IS meant to catch someone who may have taken off their armor between rounds and forgot to put it back on.

Once the fight has started, watch particularly for breakage: broken weapons, broken armor, broken tempers, broken people (i.e., injuries), broken boundaries (i.e., intruders into the Eric, especially small children and pets). If any of these breakage's occur, shout "HOLD", several times if necessary. Fortunately, most fighters are conditioned to respond to a cry of "HOLD", even when they won't respond to their own names. If the first cry of "HOLD" does not cause the fighters to stop, get in between the fighters, or between the fighters and the hazard. Block the weapons with your staff until the fighting does stop. Keep yelling "HOLD" while you do, eventually they may notice. (That's why you should carry a staff on the field. Otherwise you are expected to hurl your fragile, unarmored body into the fray rather than let someone ELSE get injured.)

"Center" is used as a call by the marshals to tell the fighters that they are getting too close to the edge of the Eric, and they should begin immediately fighting their way back toward the center of the field. "Center" is called instead of "Hold" so that the fight may continue without interruption. "Center" is called purely at the discretion of the marshal closest to the combat; avoid making a call of "Center" if the fighters appear to have control of the fight.

A call of "Center" by a marshal is not a hold, and the fighters should continue to maintain their guard.

Fair Witness

You are expected to be an impartial witness to exactly what happened during the fight... and to keep your mouth shut unless a safety hazard occurs, or you are asked for what you saw by the fighters. Ideally, you should be able to describe the last 3-4 blows on your view of the fight: where the blows started, their angle of approach, how they were blocked or where they landed. Do not be afraid to say "I don't know", "I didn't see it", if you were looking at one part of the fight when something happened in another part. In general, do not try to impose your view, unless you see what appears to be a major problem as outlined further on. Leave the blow counting to the participants unless you see dents forming in armor. Usually, the fighters have a much clearer perspective than the marshals on what happened.

If the fighters do ask you what happened, or you feel compelled to make remarks, try to do so tactfully. Preface your statements with "It looked like..." or "It appeared.....". This is preferable to a dogmatic assertion of what happened. It is better to ask, "My lord, was that dent in your helm there before the fight?" rather than saying "That blow put a six-inch dent in the side of your helm!" The latter may be 100% accurate, but it is unnecessarily antagonistic to someone who may honestly have thought the blow too light because most of its energy was absorbed in bending metal.

How to Watch a Fight

In order to be a fair witness, you need as clear a view as possible. This means being close to the fight. You need to strike a balance between getting closer to see better, and staying back out of range of the blows yourself. Just what the appropriate distance is for you will depend on your level of experience with fighting or marshaling, i.e., how well you can judge what the range of weapons are and whether you are in too close. Also many fighters resent having a marshal hovering just within their peripheral vision as they find it distracting. 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 1/2 feet in length and 8 yards if either combatant has a longer weapon. Try to keep moving so that the combatants are roughly centered between you and the other marshals.

Showmanship

Keep an eye on the audience. SCA combat is a spectator sport. Your part of the show is to keep things moving and avoid blocking the view from the sidelines more than necessary. 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. (If it's cold, wear several layers of clothing rather than a cape and move even more; one man in a cloak can cut off the view of a whole pavilion, or even two. As well, you can get tripped up by your own cloak.)

Crown/Coronation Marshaling

The Earl Marshal is responsible for marshaling activities at Crown events. If he is participating in the lists, he will appoint a Marshal-in-Charge for the event. The MIC is then responsible for all qualifications, inspections and marshaling.

The MIC and the marshals present will meet prior to Armor inspection. At this meeting, the MIC will appoint one senior marshal per field who will pick their marshaling teams. Any marshals left will be split up amongst the teams. With two teams per field, they can spell each other. Whenever possible, a member of the Chivalry will be assigned to overlook the fighting on each field. Their job is to assist in the dispute resolution with regards to fighting and chivalry.

Teams will then conduct armor inspection under the experienced senior marshals overseeing the work of junior marshals. If there are any problems about armor or equipment, a warranted senior marshal will make the decisions. Should this fail to satisfy the fighter, take the matter to the MIC. His decision should be final. If not, the matter may be brought to the Earl Marshal, whose decision is final, short of appeal to the Crown.

We are concerned that every fighter meet the minimum armor and weapons requirements, which the marshals will enforce. Only the warranted senior marshals can conduct qualifications and sign authorization cards.

During the first half of the tourney, each senior team leader should arrange for the apprentice marshals to be out there getting experience. While marshaling, keep moving to maintain the fight between the marshals. If the fighters are getting close to the Eric, call "center". If the fighters are heading out of the Eric, call "hold" and get in between them and the spectators, who should be reminded to keep at least 6 feet back from the Eric. Do not get too close to the fight. The fighters do not want you looking directly over their shoulders.

When one or both of the fighters are on their knees, the marshals must kneel also, so as not to block the spectators view any more than necessary.

Try and keep interruptions in the fight to a minimum. If you have to speak to the fighter, first say "hold" at an appropriate moment, not when one fighter is in the middle of his attack, if it can be avoided. Wait for a pause in the fight, then cry "hold", and do your business. Ask the fighters if they are ready prior to calling "lay on" or " continue" again.

The Rules of the List will be enforced. This does not mean the marshals may tell a fighter he is dead. But if the senior marshal of the field suspects a problem with a given person, he should call "hold", and discuss his suspicions with the Knight assigned to watch that field. If both are in agreement that something is wrong, they will bring the matter to the attention of the MIC, who will diplomatically discuss the problem with the people involved. The MIC will also report to the Earl Marshal. Blatantly ignoring the Rules of the List will be grounds for disqualification and ejection from the lists.

Fighters should be aware of the "three times you're out" procedure. For the first infraction of a rule, i.e., hitting the knee, the marshal will issue the 1st warning. Same upon the second. After the third repetition of the act, the fighter will restricted in the use of his technique:

1. Repeated strikes to the knee, and the fighter will not be allowed to throw leg blows.
2. Repeatedly falling, loosing grip of ones weapon, running out of the Eric, etc. ... the fighter will forfeit the fight.
3. Repeated anviling and the sword will be deemed broken and the fighter shall have recourse to his secondary which is to be at the side line of the field. Anviling is defined as the weapon in contact with a fighters helm, shield, or body, which is then struck or if the weapon is slammed with considerable force into the helm, shield or body. Deliberate strikes to the hands are prohibited, but accidental strikes will not be condemned.

It is the marshals job to enforce the Rules of the Lists, which include certain conventions. These are listed in Section B of the ABC. There are some other conventions which is not the job of the marshal to enforce.

As the tourney reaches the midway point, the more experienced marshals should take over. Also by this time, with the Lists being cut down to fewer fields, arrange for one of the other fields to be set aside as a challenge field with the junior marshals taking care of it. The semifinals, and the finals should be marshaled only by senior warranted marshals.

Marshaling Melees

When marshaling a melee, the witness function is necessarily relegated to a very low priority. It is not that it is unimportant, just that it is impossible for a handful of marshals to be accurate witness to the details of a couple of dozen separate combats. Safety and showmanship should still be emphasized.

The marshals should station themselves around the edges of the fight. This allows control of the borders at the same time that it allows the marshals to see as much of the fighting as possible in one glance. It also keeps them from having a fight run into them from behind. Be careful that you do not get so engrossed in the fight in front of you that you forget about another which is moving around behind. As always, keep moving and stay close enough to spot safety problems.

You should have a minimum of three marshals for the first 20 fighters, plus one additional marshal for each 15 fighters up to a total of 500 fighters and 35 marshals. If you have more than 50 fighters, you should have an experienced Marshal-In-Charge and a sizable percentage of experienced marshals. It may be possible to manage with fewer marshals in large battles between well organized sides with well defined boundaries i.e., bridge battles. It is preferable to have more marshals for free-for-all melees and no less than three.

In very large melees, it may be desirable to have some of the marshals in the middle of the field in addition to those around the edge. If you are one of these, be especially aware of fighters who may be coming up behind you (or who you may be backing into).

Marshaling Wars

• Pre-War Combat Requirements
  1. The general rules under which wars are conducted are called the Tactical Rules and Parameters, or TRPs. TRPs may be a compromise between the conflicting standards of more than one branch, especially kingdoms. TRPs in inter-kingdom wars may not alter the standards defined here in the An Tir Book of Combat. TRPs should be negotiated based on, and in conformance with, set standards and agreed to in writing in advance by the authorized representatives of all truculent (Feeling or showing ferocity, aggressively, self-assertive) groups involved. The TRPs should be published in the appropriate newsletters at least 30 days prior to the date of the event. In addition, copies of all of the rules and agreements should be available on-site, as a handout or on an announcement board, for people who do not receive (or do not read) the appropriate newsletter.
  2. Each side in a battle must provide a reasonable ratio of marshals to the number of fighters (1 per 15) that side will have participating in that battle, unless otherwise negotiated. If not enough marshals volunteer, the sides should arrange for a draft of suitable marshals from their sides.
  3. All Marshals shall be briefed prior to the battles with emphasis given to enforcing the TRPs and preventing accidents that could arise from hazards and the terrain.
  4. Prior to arming, the TRPs and any special rules for specific battles should be read and explained. Questions should be answered by the Autocrats and the Marshal-in-Charge. If rules vary radically from battle to battle, this procedure should be repeated for each battle.
  5. In order to fight in a war, all fighters must be authorized to fight in his Kingdom's Lists prior to the first battle.
  6. All fighters must be armored as required by their respective Kingdom or by negotiated armor standards. (These should be published in advance.)
  7. Equipment inspection must take place before combat starts, with particular emphasis on any modifications which have been made due to conflicting Kingdom Standards. The Marshal-in-Charge (MIC) will use some method to insure controlled inspections. (i.e., colored tape on helm once the armor has been inspected, cards or tags punched at armor inspection and authorization card inspection)
• War Marshaling Rules
  1. The Marshal-in-Charge may not participate in the battle as a combatant.
  2. "HOLD" will normally only be called for safety hazards, injury, or to enforce the TRPs. Safety hazards include, but are not limited to, broken weapons, broken tempers, broken people (injuries), armor or helm failure, impaired visibility on the field (e.g. dust clouds), or the near approach of the battle to a real terrain hazard, or to a boundary lined with spectators. "Hold" shall not be called for dropped weapons, fighters who have slipped and fallen (unless they are injured or in danger), or the near approach of a fighter to a boundary where there are no spectators.
  3. When "hold" is called, all fighting will cease and the fighters will drop to one knee where they stand. Conversations relating to the conduct of the battle between fighters and changes of position or location are not permitted during a "hold" unless ordered by a marshal. If movement away from a boundary or hazard is necessary, the fighters will maintain their relative positions and distances. To end a "hold", the marshal will call "all rise". When the combatants have resumed standing, the marshal will call "lay on" to signal the resumption of the battle. It is often useful to have one side rise, and then the other. This makes it easier to tell if there are enough left on both sides for the fight to be worth continuing.
  4. Marshals have the power to remove from combat any fighter who violates the TRPs or who knowingly performs any unsafe or dishonorable act. Such removal may only be discussed during the battle if the marshal permits it. The marshal's ruling may be appealed to the MIC after the battle.
  5. Marshals have the power to regulate the movement of non-combatants on the field and to control the location of spectators before, during, and after battles.
  6. In the event of an emergency, the marshals will cooperate with the medics.
  7. Non-Contact Combatants (i.e. Archers, javelineers, and scouts) on the field during heavy mixed combat must display a distinctive marking on their body that is visible from all sides, i.e., tabards with fluorescent markings, pheon (arrowhead) symbols marked with contrasting fluorescent tape, white diamonds on the front and back of the helm, or other items or markings to identify them as lights.. As some people are color blind, avoid using blue and green.
• Suggestions for Running a War
  1. Have a relief station in a designated area with shade, water bearers, medics etc. where fighters and marshals can come to during the course of the battle. This can also be where additional lives are picked up.
  2. Battles should alternate between Heavies plus Lights and Heavies only. This allows, after a Heavies plus Lights battle, for all missile weapons to be gathered in a pile in one spot on the side lines where the Lights can sort and check their gear (inspect each arrow etc.) while the Heavies have another battle. This keeps things from bogging down.
  3. Marshals should always know who and where the Medics are, and should inform the fighters before the battle begins. This is much easier with a relief station.
  4. Marshals, chirurgeons, heralds, and water-bearers should be wearing tabards or baldrics bearing the insignia of their office. This will allow the marshals to identify those who have business upon the field before, during and after the battle.
  5. The dead should leave battles with their weapon held horizontally and high above their head.
• Marshaling Missile Combat
  1. All equipment must be inspected for compliance with Kingdom standards and the TRPs prior to the beginning of combat.
  2. Missile combat, especially archery, will not be conducted within a tourney Eric or where spectators are in close proximity to the field boundary.
  3. A safe area for spectators and non-combatants should be established. All spectators should be warned of the danger of missile weapons prior to the start of combat. Attempts should be made to minimize the risk to all spectators, participants, and bystanders as much as is possible given the constraints of the site.
  4. Where missile combat is to take place, a readily identifiable boundary line shall be established, and all spectators shall be at least 40 yards or meters beyond this line unless otherwise determined by the marshals.
  5. Any combatant who violates the boundary of the spectators' area is considered to be routed and will be removed from combat for the duration of that battle. Any missile combatant who, after violating said boundary, then discharges a missile towards the field of battle will have his authorization removed for at least that event.
  6. Rules for capturing and slaying missile combatants will combine fairness and realism with safety. These rules will be announced and made clear to all combatants before the beginning of combat.
  7. Marshals, heralds, water bearers, and other non-combatants who will be on the field of battle must wear archer's helms and must bear conspicuous insignia which identify their non-combatant status. It is recommended that the elbows, knees, kidneys, and groin be covered according to missile combatant standards. It is strongly recommended that this protection be inconspicuous (i.e., you should not be mistaken for a missile combatant).

Marshaling Rapier Combat

The differences between rapier combat and regular SCA combat are sufficiently large that marshals should not assume that competence to marshal one automatically confers competence to marshal the other. Accordingly, marshals for rapier combat should be separately warranted. As rapier combat is set up, you can be a rapier combat marshal without being a rapier combatant, but you can't be a rapier combatant without being a rapier marshal.

1. Marshals shall be specifically trained and warranted for rapier combat.
2. Rapier combat marshals will inspect weapons and equipment for compliance with Kingdom standards prior to allowing its use. Any new weapons or materials must be passed by a senior warranted rapier marshal. Because of the nature of the weapons used, particular attention should be given to tips coming off weapons.
3. All bouts shall have at least one rapier marshal present.

G] COMBAT INJURIES

It should always be remembered that when an injury occurs on the field the primary concern is getting to and assisting the injured party. Second to this objective, but no less important, is the safety of persons entering the field to help and the well-being of anyone already on the field. (for example, fighters standing around in armor in the sun could be subject to heat problems.) The marshals and chirurgeons shall work together to assist the injured and promote the safety and well-being of all parties on the field.

When an injury is suspected on the field

1. No chirurgeon shall enter the combat area until summoned by the marshal.
2. In the event of any suspected injury on the field, the marshal should halt all fighting in the area and determine if a Chirurgeon is needed. The hold may be a "Local Hold" as long as the safety of the injured person is maintained.
3. A marshal should call for a Chirurgeon if he or she suspects that a participant is experiencing more than momentary distress. It is an extremely serious matter to delay the application of first aid when it is needed, and marshals who ignore injuries may be subject to revocation of their authorization to supervise combat-related activities.
4. Once the Chirurgeon is summoned to the field, he/she should determine the extent of the problem and appraise the marshal of this status, consistent with the ethical constraints of patient confidentiality.

Procedures For Treating Injuries On The Field

1. Once on the field, the Chirurgeon will determine if the injury can be tended to "in place" or if the injured party can be removed from the field and then given attention.
2. No conscious person will be forced to accept treatment without his or her consent.
3. Fighting cannot resume until the injured participant can continue, is removed from the field, or the provisions in item 5 below are met.
4. The Chirurgeon is responsible for the care of the injured party. If removal from the field is necessary, the Chirurgeon is responsible for determining and implementing the most appropriate manner (i.e., supported by others, carried on a shield / backboard, ambulance, etc.)
5. If the area is large enough and the Marshal-in-Charge on the field can provide adequate marshals to protect the injured party and the support personnel, fighting may be moved and allowed to continue on the rest of the field. Both the Marshal-in-Charge and the responding Chirurgeon must be in agreement for this to happen.
6. A Chirurgeon must survey the overall situation as well as attending to the injured party, and make every effort to release as much of the field as possible so the combat may proceed. Chirurgeons who repeatedly exercise poor judgment in such matters may be barred from the field.

H] RESOLUTION OF GRIEVANCES

Grievance Procedure

The An Tir Grievance procedure, outlined below, will be used. The Grievance procedure is applicable to all participants in SCA combat related activities.

1. An attempt must be made to discuss the problem with all participants in a non-hostile manner with the intention of achieving a satisfactory conclusion.
2. If this is not possible, ask the MIC or the Master of Stables, to mediate the problem.
3. If there is still no satisfactory conclusion to the dispute, the Regional marshal shall mediate the dispute and attempt resolution.
4. Upon trying the first three steps, bring the matter to the attention of the Earl Marshal at which point he may ask a Regional Knight Advisor to try and resolve the dispute and/or provide advice on the grievance. The Kingdom Earl Marshals decision should end the matter.
5. You may appeal to the Crown if not satisfied with the Kingdom Earl Marshal's decision.

Reporting of the Inappropriate Behavior

The Society Report Procedure, outlined below, will be used. The Report procedure is applicable to all participants in SCA combat related activities. (Combatants and Marshals).

1. The Earl Marshal will review the behavior of any individual after receiving 2-3 unsolicited complaints.
2. If these complaints are justified, the individual will be put "on report" (and told of this in private) for a given period of time (usually three to six months).
3. While the individual is "on report", no further disciplinary action will be taken unless additional complaints are received.
4. If the individual returns to accepted levels of conduct during the report period, no further action will be taken, and the individual will be removed from the Report List.
5. If additional complaints are received, further disciplinary action will be taken by the Earl Marshal (i.e., cancellation of fighting authorization) on a temporary basis. This decision may be appealed to the Crown.
6. If still further complaints are heard, and verified, after disciplinary action is taken, then the situation will be referred to the Crown for further action.

I] Experimental Weapons Policy

1. Before any non approved weapon or material can be used at Society activities, a test plan must be submitted to, and approved by, the Society Marshal. This plan should include specifics on construction (i.e., materials used, how assembled, etc.), an outline of the test, and all restrictions that will be imposed on the test. It should also tell how long the test period will be.
2. It is the prerogative of the kingdom Earl Marshal to allow limited testing of alternate or non approved materials and weapons within a kingdom. Limited testing means the weapon or material may be used at fighter practices, tourneys, and in small melees after all combatants and marshals have been informed the weapon or material is being tested and that it is not approved for SCA use.
3. All combatants and marshals must consent to the use of the weapon or material before combat begins. If any of the marshals or combatants object to the use of the material or weapon, the material or weapon may not be used. All non approved materials and weapons shall be marked with three one inch (1") wide bands of blaze colored (hunter orange) tape totaling six inched (6") in length. Bands shall be visible during weapon usage.
4. At regular intervals throughout the test period, the kingdom Earl Marshal will update the Society Marshal on the progress and results of the testing.
5. At the end of the test period, the kingdom Earl Marshal will provide the Society Marshal with a test summary. This summary should include a list of injuries that resulted from the use of the weapon or material, and any concerns from fighters and marshals that resulted from the testing. The Society Marshal, after consultation with the Earl Marshals, shall determine if the weapon or material is suitable for SCA Combat-Related activities.

DISCLAIMER:

This is the HTML version of the An Tir Book of Combat. We have made our best effort to ensure what you see here is identical to the copy distributed by the Kingdom Stock Clerk. If there are any discrepancies, the version distributed by the Stock Clerk is correct - by definition.

The An Tir Book of Combat is a publication of the Kingdom of An Tir of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. The An Tir Book of Combat is maintained by the Kingdom Earl Marshal's office and is available through the Kingdom Stock Clerk (Please see the Kingdom newsletter, The Crier , for current addresses.). The An Tir Book of Combat is not a corporate publication of the Society of Creative Anachronism, Inc., and does not delineate SCA policy.

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Last changed: 15-Sep-1997 13:53:19 PDT