SR - Boffer guidelines...

[SirKief at hotmail.com]

This is being forwarded for Sir Kief. Please send commentary to him at
either sirkief at hotmail.com or deer_kief at hotmail.com.

-Pug

====
Heilsa Lord Charles and all other Ansteorrans interested in Boffer.

Charles has written and requested:

>  Very well. Where can one obtain a copy of these rules?
>Ld Charles MacKinnon
>Bryn Gwlad

As many have asked, so it is done... 

(NOTE: This FIRST DRAFT is substantially the same as posted by Her Grace 
Larissa - Thanks, Larissa, for sending them in the first place!) 

Please Cross-Post as needed.

These Rules are for young Ansteorrans 6 through 15 years in age.

You all will note that there are no rules for Ansteorrans of 16 and 17 
years... 

Therefore, I propose that those young Gentles be allowed, if there is no 
legal impediment, to suit in full armor of Ansteorran minimum or better. 
Then, after suitable weapons, modified standards of blow acknowlegement, 
and sufficent training procedures have been developed and implemented, 
to the satisfaction of the Crown, Senschalate, and Marshalate. That 
those young Ansteorrans be allowed to engage in Modified Full Contact 
Combat in the Tournament style.

Here now follows the First Draft as text.

I fully expect that you all will want to modify these Rules in some way. 

PLEASE DO NOT RE-POST THE WHOLE SET OF RULES EVERY TIME YOU MODIFY THE 
TEXT!!!!



Ansteorran Boffer Rules


ALL Age Divisions

These rules apply to all Youth divisions. Ages 6-15.

Rule #1
 All fighters must accept any blow that is dealt if it is a fair, clean 
and purposely-delivered shot.
Rule #2
 No fighter will give or accept blows on or below the knee or wrist.
Rule #3
 A blow to the body, shoulder, or head is accepted as a "killing" blow.
Any blow to the arm or leg results in the loss of that limb. If two 
blows are delivered to the arm, it will be considered a body blow. If a 
blow is delivered to the leg, the fighter must remain in a seated 
position.
Rule #4
 There must be an authorized SCA Marshal and a Youth Marshal present on 
the field while combat is in progress. The current Earl Marshal or 
Society Marshal and/or a warranted Boffer Marshal must authorize Youth 
Marshals! If no warranted Marshal is present, combat is not permitted
Rule #5
 An authorized Boffer Marshal must check all weapons on the field. Armor 
will be inspected while being worn by the combatant. For melee combat, 
authorized weapons must be visibly tagged prior to combat.
Rule #6
 Marshals are responsible for combat security. This includes, but is not 
limited to checking weapons, observing combat, warning a fighter of 
inappropriate or dangerous actions, and by disallowing dangerous 
weapons.
Rule #7
 In case a fighter refuses to accept the judgment of a Youth Marshal the 
Youth Marshal shall be charged with calling hold on the field until an 
adult Marshal resolves the situation, if necessary. Decisions can result 
in removing a fighter from the field.
Rule #8
 During melee combat there will be no blows counted from behind. Any 
inadvertent blows shall not be counted. Any repeated offense will result 
in the removal of the combatant.
Rule #9
 Before combat begins a parent or legal guardian must sign a waiver for 
Full Contact competition.  Such a waiver must be presented to the List 
Official.  If the parent authorizes another adult as guardian for the 
combat, the parent must submit a Minors Medical Authorization form to be 
witnessed by the List Official, naming that individual for the event.  
The parent or authorized guardian must remain present throughout the 
duration of the child competition.

Parents Marshals, well meaning friends: Please, do not ask the List 
Official to break Kingdom Regulations by violating this rule.

Rule #10
 Prior to melee combat, all combatants must be inspected, must be 
authorized for use of a particular weapon, and shall meet all safety and 
armor requirements pertaining to the appropriate Youth Division.


BOFFER YOUTH DIVISION DESCRIPTION: Age 6 through 9 years

Required protective armor:
* Marshalate approved-helmet (minimum leather or plastic) with chinstrap 
and face and neck protection. Full coif is recommended
* Hand and feet protection is required
* Minimum groin protection for all fighters sport cup, padded skirt, or 
umpire pads.
* For females: As a girl matures, she must also have adequate breast 
protection, e.g. quilted material tunic or umpire pads.
* Full tunic and full length pants or sweats required.

Weapons Construction:
* All weapons will be made of non-reinforced foam rubber.
* No thrusting weapons will be accepted.
* Weapons may be covered with single layer, loosely wrapped duct tape 
for support.

Accepted armor convention:
* All fighters are presumed to be wearing only a loincloth. Beginning 
fighters need to work on coordination and motions only. Power and 
strength are matters of development and will be addressed in later 
divisions.
*
Blow description:
* Touch only. Any blows that touch the opponent's body area will be 
accepted.
Exclusion: lower arm and legs. No fighter will give or accept blows on 
or below knee or wrists.

Education and Instruction should include:
* Introduction into the graces of formal combat and field etiquette
* Familiarization with field heraldry format
* Introduction to chivalric behavior
* Encouragement of good sportsmanship
* Explanation and practice in use, function, and techniques of Boffer 
Youth Weapons



LIGHT WEAPONS YOUTH DIVISION DESCRIPTION: Age 10 through 12 years

Required protective armor:
* Marshalate-approved helmet (minimum converted sports helmet) with 
chinstrap
* Face protection (minimum hockey mask and/or grill) must be constructed 
to prevent access to the face or throat from underneath the faceplate.
* Neck protection, full coif, is required.
* Protection is required for elbows, knees, feet and hands.
* Minimum groin protection for all fighters sport cup, padded skirt, or 
umpire pads.
* For females: As a girl matures, she must also have adequate breast 
protection, e.g. quilted material tunic or umpire pads.
* Full tunic and full length pants or sweats required.
* Sternum protection is to be added if single-handed thrusting weapons 
are to be used.

Weapons Construction:
* All swords/ non-thrusting type/ must consist of:
a. 1/2 inch I.D. PVC minimum.
b. Two layers of glass strapping tape.
c. 1/2 inch foam extending 1 and 1/2 inch past tip of PVC
d. Minimum one layer duct tape wrapped loosely.
e. Quillions or basket hilt shall be the same construction as above.
* All shielding devices:
a. MAY NOT BE USED AS OFENSIVE WEAPONS.
b. Materials: wood, plastic, or aluminum.
c. All edges must be covered by tubing, leather, or foam.
d. Shape should be recognized as SCA shield.
e. Shields shall not exceed documentable size (in proportion to user) 
both historically and within SCA standards.
* All swords/ thrusting type/ must consist of:
a. Leather or rubber, covering 6 inches of thrusting end of PVC
b. Foam and tape to be a minimum 2 and 1/2 inch in diameter and extend 
3 inches past PVC
* Specialty weapons to be used one-handed, such as madu, may be used if 
properly researched and fall within the parameters stated above for 
single-handed, thrusting weapons.
* All thrusting weapons must be disassembled and inspected for 
structural damage once a year.

Accepted armor convention:
* All fighters are presumed to be wearing a quilted coif and tunic only.
Blow description:
*   Solid contact, no force required. Any blow that firmly connects will 
be accepted. Use of force is to be discouraged.
Education and Instruction should include:
* Introduction to assisting List Official, Herald, Marshal, or Event 
Steward.
* Introduction to gaming, to weapons and armor construction.
* Refinement of techniques in defense, accuracy, and speed.
* Continued encouragement in good sportsmanship and chivalric behavior 
on and off the combat field.


MULTIPLE WEAPONS YOUTH DIVISION DESCRIPITION: Age 13 through 15

Required protective armor:

* Helmet (minimum converted sports helmet) with secured heavy chinstrap 
and attached gorges.
* Gorget must be constructed to prevent access to the face or throat 
from underneath the faceplate.
* Full face protection with reinforced grill (maximum of 1/2 inch 
spacing to prevent 1/2 inch I.D. tubing from accidentally penetrating 
faceplate.) 
Plastic facial protection will no longer be sufficient.
* Neck protection must extend in the rear to at least mid-shoulder 
blade. Full coif required.
* Minimum groin protection for all fighters: sport cup required for 
males and rigid pubic arch protection required for females.
* For females: As a girl matures, she must also have adequate breast 
protection, e.g. quilted material tunic or umpire pads.
* Full rigid frontal thrusting and lateral protection required, e.g. 
heavy leather, scaled leather, or metal or Kydex plate armor;
* Full tunic and full length pants or sweats required.
* Minimum leather kidney and lower back protection required.
* Elbows and knees require light leather covered basketball pads 
minimum.
* Hand protection must include heavy gloves or gauntlets with flared 
(belled) or padded wrist protection.
* Boots with toe and ankle protection required.

Weapons construction:
* Sword and shield construction must meet Light Weapons Youth 
requirements.
* Two-handed thrusting weapons, e.g. spears, axes, glaives, etc. will be 
used in this Youth division only.
* All two-handed, thrusting type weapons must consist of:
a.  Leather or rubber, covering 12 inches of thrusting end of PVC with a 
secured capped, tipped, or balled end.
b. Foam and tape to be a minimum 2 and 1/2 inch in diameter and extend 3 
inches past PVC. Striking tip shall also include one half split tennis 
ball end or equivalent over foam on end.
* Thrusting weapons require inspection for wear and cracks immediately 
before each use.

Accepted armor convention:
* All fighters are presumed to be wearing mid-thigh leather gambison and 
leather skullcap.

Blow Description:
* Solid, non-glancing contact. Any blow that makes solid edge or point 
contact will be accepted. Use of force is still not to be encouraged. 
Any fighter using force sufficient to bruise or injure an opponent 
should recalibrate blows.

Education and instruction should include:
* Encouragement to participate in dance, theater, and arts.
* Continued development in all SCA activities: arts, courtly graces, 
games, offices, courtesy, chivalry, arms and armor.
* Introduction to unit/melee combat.
* Continued encouragement in good sportsmanship and chivalric behavior 
on and off the combat field.
============================================================================
Go to http://lists.ansteorra.org/lists.html to perform mailing list tasks.