ANST-Announce - Youth Fencing in Ansteorra
CADET1313 at aol.com
CADET1313 at aol.com
Mon May 10 12:48:41 PDT 1999
Youth Fencing Rules for the Kingdom of Ansteorra
The goal of Ansteorran Youth Fencing is to recreate the fencing schools of
Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries using buttoned foils. Such combat was
one on one and was used for training students in the art of rapier combat.
I Rules of the field
1. Fencers must be at least 12 years old to participate in Ansteorran Youth
Fencing. Fencers must be authorized by the Youth Fencing Marshallate to
participate as a fencer in an Youth fencing tournament.
2. Fencers need not be authorized to practice BUT 2 authorized Youth Fencing
Marshals and the Parent or Legal Guardian must be present and a Youth
Fencing Waver must be signed and on file with the marshalate.
3. Target area for both groups 12-14 and 15-17 will be the whole body.
4. Blows are to be struck by thrusting with the point.
a. Draw cuts, push cuts and tip cuts are permitted .
i. Draw cuts will be done with 5 inches of the blade or
more and must have
firm pressure.
b. chopping or saber- type cuts are not permitted and will be
grounds for
removal the field by a Youth Fencing Marshal
5. Each fencer must determine the effects of thrusts that strike him
according to the following rules:
a. Any thrust that strikes with 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of force.
This is the amount of
force it takes a #5 French foil to bend by 2 inches (5cm)
b. The effects of a good blow is:
i. all blows are to be called as if hit with a buttoned
foil. No blows are to be
considered a "kill". A good blow to the head, chest,
or back will simply
end the bout.
ii. 2 blows to a limb will end a bout. If a fencer is
struck in an arm and a leg,
both arms, or both legs the bout is over.
c. For blow calling purposes, fencers are considered to be
wearing light clothes,
such as a shirt and pants or skirt.. No blow will be
disregarded because of
actual clothing worn. Any protection or clothing that
prevents a fencer from
properly calling a blow will not be allowed.
d. Blows that strike a fencer's mask or gorget will be counted
as though the had
continued on and struck whatever part of the fencer is
behind the mask or
gorget
6. If anyone calls HOLD the fencers must stop at once and assume a
non-threatening position with their foils pointed away from their opponents.
Preferably with the point downward toward the ground.
7. If a fencer becomes blinded for any reason such as sweat, dust, hair in
the eyes glasses slipping etc. All fencing will stop immediately and a hold
will be called by the fencer or marshal.
8. Some actions are not allowed because they are unsafe and are grounds for
removal from the Ansteorran Youth Fencing Program for a time specified by the
marshal ,these include:
a . Punching, kicking, shoving, tripping, throwing or
grabbing an opponent or
his weapons.
b. Wrestling for control of a weapon or grappling
c. Whipping or chopping at a weapon or fencer.
d. Striking or pressing an opponent with rigid equipment or
any part of a
weapon not approved for such use
e. Throwing a weapon at an opponent or marshal or to the
ground in a frustrated
emotion.
f. Striking with excessive force
g. Any action the marshals feel is unsafe
9. Conduct that is obstructive to normal fencing play such as consistent
ignoring of blows, deliberate misuse of the rules (such as calling HOLD
whenever pressed), backing into the ropes purposely to avoid a press and
any other action the marshals feel is obstructive will not be allowed.
10.No real weapon will be allowed upon the field at anytime during fencing.
11. A fencer must not attack from the side of or behind an opponent who can
not turn to face him such as an opponent who has taken a leg wound.
12. Youth Fencing will not be conducted on the same field at the same time as
Armored Combat, Adult Rapier Combat or Boffer Combat..
13. Engaging in Youth Fencing with the deliberate intent to inflict injury on
an opponent is strictly forbidden.
14. Adults may face a youth opponent for teaching purposes ONLY! These
practice bouts will be at half speed.
II Equipment
A. General
1. All fencers and fencers parents/ legal guardians, prior to fencing at
each and every SCA event or practice, will insure that their equipment is
safe, in good working order and has been inspected by an authorized member of
the Youth Fencing Marshallate.
2. The marshals will reject any weapons ( nonstandard or standard) or
equipment they feel is unsafe.
B. Protective Equipment
1. The face and sides of the head back to and including the ears must be
protected with a minimum of a 12-kilo fencing mask. Masks should be tested
periodically with a 12-kilo mask tester or equivalent .. A good field test is
to press on the mask grill with one thumb. If the mesh flexes significantly,
it is not strong enough. The mask must be securely fastened so that it cannot
be removed or seriously dislodged during the fencing match. This includes
but is not restricted to a Mask Tie. Standard Velcro or stretch band material
originally on the mask is not sufficient.
2. All fencers will wear a gorget. It must cover he throat, the sternal notch
and the at minimum, it shall consist of 8 ounce leather ( or equivalent) with
the throat area backed by at least 1/4 inch (6m) of open cell foam. It must
not have openings large enough to permit an untipped blade to enter any of
the covered areas.
3." Puncture resistant" material is defined as any fabric or combination of
fabrics that will
withstand a punch test preformed in a manner approved by the
Marshallate.
a. kevlar and other ballistic nylons are
not an acceptable materials.
b. " Puncture resistant" material is
required on the back of the head,
the entire neck and the torso (
including the chest, back,
abdomen, sides and groin, and arm
pit)
4. Resistant material is defined as material that will withstand normal
fencing stresses( such as being snagged by an unbroken foil without tearing )
a. nylon tights or stockings and cotton
gauze shirt are examples of
unacceptable materials
b. Broadcloth, a single layer of trigger
cloth or sweatpants are
examples of acceptable materials
c. Resistant material is required on the
arms , legs and other areas not
specifically mentioned in these rules
5. There must be no skin showing, or easily accessible. There should be at
least 3 inches (7cm) of overlap between separate pieces of protective
clothing, regardless of the fencer's stance.
6. Hands shall be protected by leather gloves that overlap any sleeve
openings by at least 3 inches (7cm). Feet shall be protected by closed toe
shoes or boots. If the fencer is wearing skirts, there must be a sufficient
overlap between the hem of the skirt and the top of the shoes or boots so
that no skin is exposed while fencing. If necessary, pants or bloomers should
be worn under the skirt to ensure that no skin will be exposed.
7.Male fencers must wear rigid groin protection. Any holes large enough to
admit a broken blade must be covered from the outside with a "puncture
resistant" material. Female fencers should consider wearing additional
padding or protection for the groin and chest as they determine suits their
needs.
8. Any substitutions for standard protective gear (such as helms to replace
masks or metal gorgets to replace leather gorgets) must provide the same or
better protection as the gear it replaces. In particular it must provide
puncture resistant and rigid overage in the same areas. Such substitutions
must be approved by the Marshallate.
C. Weapons and Secondaries
1. Sharp points are not allowed anywhere on any weapon.
2. Any equipment that is likely to break or damage other equipment is
prohibited.
3. Foils and Flexi Daggers are the ONLY allowable blades in Youth Fencing.
a. All foils and flexi daggers must be
commercially produced. These
blades will not be altered by grinding,
cutting, heating, or other
actions that could significantly alter
their temper, flexibility or
durability. Normal fencing stresses and
blade care do not violate
these rule. Exceptions are:
i. The tang of the foil may be
altered as needed for handles and
pommels.
b. All foil ends will be capped with rubber
or plastic tips.
i. tips will be at least 3/8
inches (9mm) in diameter
ii. tips must be firmly taped or
glued in place. The tip or
covering tape must be of a
contrasting color so that its
absence is readily apparent.
Any foil that has a threaded end
must also be tipped with a
standard practice threaded tip cap
under the rubber tip..
iii. "Tool Dip" may be used but
will be checked after each use
for wear and chips.
c. Any foil with kinks, sharp bends,
multiple curves or cracks will
not be used. Foil blades shall have a
single gradual curve. Metal
blades that kink or develop sharp bends
that cannot be repaired
must be retired.
d. Foils may have a hand guard such as a
bell guard, knuckle bow
and/or quillons. Quillons will not be
longer than 12 inches ( 30cm)
overall, and the ends must be blunt and
of at least 1/4 inch (6mm)
in diameter.
e. Orthopedic (" Belgian" or "Pistol")
grips will not be used unless
the fencer is approved to do so by the
Kingdom Youth Fencing
Marshal for medical reasons.
4. Any equipment that has any rigid openings large enough to admit an
untipped foil tip or that is likely to trap a blade will not be used.
5. SECONDARIES will be dependent on the age group that you are fencing in.
The age group breakdown is this:
12-14: single foil
buckler
cloak
15-17: single foil
buckler
cloak
dagger (flexi)
case of foils ( 2 size 5 foils)
6. Fencers must be authorized in each style to use them in tournament bouts.
Fencers do not need to be authorized to practice with these weapons.
7. Guidelines for construction of secondaries.
a. Defensive Secondaries such as bucklers and cloaks will be constructed
using only the following guidelines:
1 Defensive secondaries will be made of
sturdy, lightweight
materials. They have no sharp edges
or corners or exposed wood
edges that can splinter.
2 A buckler will not weigh more then 3
pounds (135g), and cannot
exceed 255 square inches (1640 sq.
cm) of surface area, the same
surface area as an 18 inch (45cm)
diameter circle.
3 Soft, non-rigid secondaries such as
cloaks may be made of, cloth,
foam, leather and similar materials.
They may not be weighted
with a rigid material including
metal, chain and fishing
weights.
4 Secondaries that are likely to cause
excessive tangling of
equipment, such as whips and flails,
are not allowed.
5 Secondaries must reasonably mimic the
characteristics of some
real period object that might have
been used for parrying or
blocking.
b. Daggers will not weigh more than one and 1½ pounds (680g).
c. Hand guards for daggers are subject to the same restrictions as hand
guards for rapiers.
d. Rigid metal "parrying-only" daggers such as those made from cut down
blades will not be allowed.
e. All other weapons and secondaries will be considered nonstandard and must
be approved by a marshal designated by the kingdom Youth Fencing Marshal in
addition to the regular inspection process.
III Marshalling
1. Before any fencing, Youth Fencing Marshals must inspect the gear of all
the fencers who will participate to ensure it is safe and functional. Before
any bout, the marshal(s) on the field should take a moment to glance over
each fencer to be sure his equipment is properly in place and to assure that
no real weapons are carried on the field.
2. Any foil that is inspected and found to be safe shall be tagged with a
dated temporary sticker on the forte of the blade near the guard. The sticker
is good for that date only, and will be removed at any time by the owner or a
Youth Fencing Marshal decides the blade is no longer safe.
3. Two (2) authorized Youth Fencing Marshals must be on the field for ANY
tournament bout. Rapier marshals who have not tested and been signed for
Youth fencing are NOT authorized to marshal a Youth Fencing bout. No "stand
in" rapier marshals will be allowed. This does not mean that a marshal cannot
be authorized in both styles.
4. One (1) Youth Fencing Marshal is required for any practice bouts. Marshals
MUST be an Authorized Youth Fencing Marshal.
5. One (1) of the Youth Fencing Marshals on the field will be the designated
"controlling marshal"and the other marshals on the field will be assisting
marshals. The controlling marshal will be responsible for starting bouts and
taking any disciplinary actions.
6. Before the marshals may begin a bout, they must receive a verbal
acknowledgment from each fencer declaring that they are ready to begin.
7. Anyone who sees an unsafe situation on the field must call HOLD. The
marshals should see the problem is corrected before continuing. The
marshal(s) should be particularly alert for such situations. These include:
a. Any injury occurs on the field
b. a blade breaks or tip comes off a weapon
c. any weapon, protective gear or other equipment fails
d. anyone on the field trips or falls
e. anyone other than the fencers and marshals enters the
field
f. fencers move out of field boundaries
g. a weapon is grabbed or becomes entangled
h. dangerous conduct by either or both fencers
i. if an animal wanders onto the field
j. to issue a warning.
k. any situation that the marshal feels is unsafe.
l. if a parent or guardian becomes a nuisance on or by
the field
8. Because of the nature of the weapon used, marshals and fencers should pay
special attention to missing tips or broken blades.
9. All Youth Fencing Marshals will hold to these rules strictly, ANY fencer
caught Hitting to hard, whipping with the blade, or not calling blows may be
removed from that tournament and may also have their authorization revoked.
10. Marshals that have problems with parents will first warn said parent. The
second time that day a parent is warned the child of that parent will be
removed from that tournament.
11. At this time there will be no marshals under the age of 18. There will be
a Jr. marshaling program set up in the future.
IV Disciplinary Actions
1. A Youth Fencing Marshal will issue a fencer and or the parent/legal
guardian, a warning or remove a fencer from the field anytime he feels
circumstances warrant that action. The following should be considered
guidelines.
a. If a fencer's actions violate the rules
but do not create a
dangerous situation, caution the fencer
and or the
parent/legal guardian, making sure he
understands the
violation.
b. If violations are repeated and the
marshal feels they were
deliberate, or if they create a
dangerous situation the
marshal must issue a warning to the
fencer and or the
parent/legal guardian of that fencer.
c. If a fencer or parent/legal guardian
loses control of
himself, ignores a marshals
instructions or
warnings, refuses to obey the rules,
a violation creates
a very dangerous situation, or
someone
is injured as a result that fencer
must be removed from
the field. Removals from the field
will be
immediately reviewed by the marshal
in charge of a
tournament or practice.
2. The marshal in charge of a tournament or practice may bar any fencer from
all fencing for the remainder of that event or practice if circumstances
warrant. Normally, this is done when a fencer has received multiple warning
or has been removed from the field. Any fencer who receives three (3)
warnings in one tournament or practice must be barred from further fencing in
that tournament.
3. A regional youth Fencing Marshal, the Kingdom Youth Fencing Marshal,
Kingdom Rapier Marshal, or an at large deputy of either may suspend a fencer
from ALL SCA Youth Fencing if circumstances warrant. He should specify the
length of the suspension when it is issued. Normally this will occur after
serious violations.
4. Marshals who fail to do their job or who create a dangerous situation on
the field will be subject to the same disciplinary actions as fencers.
5. Those who wish to appeal any Marshallate actions must appeal to the next
person up in the chain of command. That chain is:
a. Marshal in charge of the field /
inspecting marshal
b. marshal in charge of the tournament or
practice
c. Regional Youth Fencing Marshal
d. Kingdom Youth Fencing Marshal
e. Kingdom Rapier Marshal
f. Earl Marshal
g. The Crown of Ansteorra
6. Decisions must be appealed UP the chain. Thus one inspecting marshal
cannot overrule another inspecting marshal, and one Regional Youth Fencing
Marshal cannot overrule another Regional Youth Fencing Marshal.
7. All injuries and all disciplinary actions except cautioning the fencer or
parent/legal guardian (warnings, removal from the field, barring the fencer,
suspensions) must be reported immediately as below:
a. Marshals on the field must report to
the marshal in
charge of the tournament or practice
and
the minister of the list, if any.
b. The marshal in charge of the
tournament or practice
must report these actions to the
Regional
Youth Fencing Marshal of his area.
c. The Regional Youth Fencing Marshals
must report to
the Kingdom Youth Fencing Marshal in
writing.
d. The Kingdom Youth Fencing Marshal
must report to
the Kingdom Rapier Marshal in writing
e. If any injuries or suspensions occur,
they must be
reported to the Kingdom Youth
Fencing
Marshal AND the Kingdom Rapier
Marshal within 24
hours, This report should be by
phone
or in person.
f. Failure to report may result it in
loss of marshaling
privileges.
8. Each time a fencer is removed from a tournament or practice he/she will
have their card "clipped". When a fencer has had all 4 corners clipped off
then that fencer will be banned from Youth fencing for a period of time
specified by the regional or kingdom marshal. Field and local marshals that
clip edges must contact their regional or kingdom within 24 hours to report
the fencer and receive the time that the fencer may return to the program.
9. Local Youth Fencing Marshals will be warranted as groups form youth
programs.
V Age Group Breakdown
A. 12-14 years of age
1. Weapons: Foils, bucklers, and cloaks (must be authorized to use each
secondary weapon)
2. Target Area: whole body
3. There will be NO melees in this age group.
B. 15-17 years of age
1. Weapons: Foils, bucklers, cloaks, Flexi daggers, and case (must be
authorized to use each secondary weapon)
2. Target Area: whole body
3. There will be NO melees in this age group.
Both age groups will be fencing in the round. Bouts will consist of one valid
legal touch to the head, back, or chest. Or , 2 valid legal touches to a
limb.
1. head = end of bout
2. chest/back = end of bout
3. arm and leg = end of bout
4. both arms = end of bout
5. both legs = end of bout
When a valid blow is landed upon a limb, the fencer will not use that limb
for the remainder of the bout.
1. arm/hand = lose of use of arm
2. leg = must sit on the ground. NO movement can be made from the waist down.
VI Notes to Parents and Legal Guardians
Parents/Legal Guardians Responsibilities
1. Parents/Legal Guardians are to understand this is a full contact sport
similar to Football, Hockey, Lacrosse, or Karate.
2. Parents/Legal Guardians are to have their child's Authorization Card in
their possession at all time when Fencing Activities (Official Fighter
Practice, Tournament) are occurring.
3. Parents/Legal Guardians are to be present AT ALL TIMES while their child
is engaged in fencing activities. "Present" is defined as within visual and
vocal range of their child. (NOTE: This does not mean 100 yards away, but
close proximity to the fencing Field) The child or Marshal(s) on the field
should be able to find the Parents/Legal Guardians immediately.
4. Parents/Legal Guardians are to behave as persons of Gentle birth, in a
Courteous and Honorable manner at all times. The Marshal on the field has
control of the Youth Fencing area. The Marshal on the field may have a
Parent/Legal Guardian and Fencer removed for improper behavior.
We ask that parents become authorized marshals so that they can work closely
with their child in this activity. If it is all possible we ask that parents
not marshal there own children on the field. ( the parents of both of the
children on the field at that time)
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