The goal of the deputy marsahl for youth is to provide fun combat for all ages of youth in the Middle Kingdom. This is to be done through a combination of different types of boffer combat and youth divisions of rapier and armored combat. The goal of all of these will be to prepare the combatant to compete as an adult in both rapier and armored combat.

A new clean version of the rules is available on the rules button for 2007

Youth Combatant Information is now listed in the Marshal Database!

Quick Reference Guide for Boffer Gear on line

This is a simple two page guide for boffer combat. It is designed as a packing list and sword construction cheat sheet. These can be printed and handed out quickly and cheaply. Thanks to Warder Moira MacGillavrey for creating this. It can downloaded for easy printing as either a pdf file or a Microsoft Word file. You can also read it on line.

At Crown Tournament on Sunday, May 29, 2006, Master Sean o’Shaughnessy turned over the Special Deputy Marshal job to THL Acelina of Derelei but he kept the Special Deputy for Youth Armored Combat Marshal job.
At Festival of Maidens on January 25th 2003, Sir Ix stepped down as the Youth Combat Marshal. Sean o’Shaughnessy succeeded him and was then put on vigil for the Pelican when Sir Myles and Sir Ix begged this boon. Master Sean o’Shaughnessy was then elevated the next weekend at Candlemas by TRM Tarrach and Fina.

Youth Combat Fast Track Program

In 2004, the Midrealm adopted the “Fast Track” program for the warranting of adult marshals for  youth combat.  Those eligible to participate in the youth combat program are knights and parents of warranted youth combatants.  The Earl Marshal, Special Deputies for Youth Combat, Regional Youth Marshals and past Regional & Kingdom Youth Marshals are available to conduct the Fast Track classes and approve youth marshals via the Fast Track Program.

The youth rapier program is being run throught the Rapier Marshall office.

Blow Force Rule Change Clarification

Touch - Any directed blow that is not deflected by a weapon or shield.
Positive Force - A blow that produces a slight bounce or bend of the weapon on contact.
Light Armored Force - Any blow that you would consider taking in armored combat. If you do not know what this means then you should not marshal this age group. Blow force in the normal armored combat range is fine for this group.

A blow should not be discounted unless it exceeds the force of the next age group. That is not to say that the combatant who throws the shot should not be told that the shot was too hard, he must be. But to discount the shot, it must be way too hard.

Relating to the blow force above, please remember it is the marshal who is to call a blow too hard in youth combat. All youths should take all blows and tell a marshal if it was too hard. A youth is never to simply say to hard and continue to fight. Marshals are also to call blows as light when needed, but the youth fighters may also call them light. If a blow is called light, and the marshal disagrees, he is to stop the fight and discuss it. In youth combat, the marshal gets the final call and in youth combat the marshal should use this ability. These are kids who are just learning about both fighting and what their bodies can do. We must help them.

Here are some clarifications on the rules that have been asked more than once.

• Parents may request that their child be moved up or down one age group. The marshal in charge will make the decision to allow it. This request should be based on relative size of the children participating.
• Neither youths nor parents must be paid members of the SCA, Inc. to authorize in boffer combat.
• Youths must be members to authorize in armored or rapier combat.
• Any warranted marshal can observe and pass/fail a youth rapier or armored combat authorization.
• Training that can not result in a bruise can still be conducted with youth by anyone, just as before these rules were added. Full combat may only occut with a youth approved marshal.
• Two youths can practice with each other under the supervision of any marshal of the activity they are practicing ie rapier, armored or boffer.
• Authorized youths of any youth combat activity, can practice with any age group of boffer combat.
• Youths may start practicing for youth rapier and youth armored combat or boffer combat when their parents and the local marshal feel they are ready. They only need to be the minimum age to authorize.
• Youths may always spar with their parents.
• Youth Marshals (those marshals under the age of 18) can act as MITs for the adult combat form that they are authorized in.
• Melee is allowed in all ages of boffer combat.