Youth Combat and Activities

Ages for Participation in Marshal Activities

1. Marshal activity participation is based on age.
2. Parents/guardians of minors must sign a waiver for the minor’s participation in any combat or live steel competition (archery, thrown weapons, et.al.) By signing the waiver, parents/guardians assume all responsibility for injuries of their minor child. Substantial blows may be received but it is not intended.
3. Lords must additionally approve and sign the waiver giving their acknowledgement of parental/guardian consent. 
4. Minors must wear appropriate kits required of their age and/or activity and have appropriate equipment.
5. At least one (1) parent/guardian must be present at the time of the activity for the minor to be able to participate. 
6. Parents/guardians have the right to remove their child from participation for any reason at any time.
7. Parents/guardians are required to read and understand the rules of the Youth Combat activity in which their child participates.
8. Parents/guardians may train as Youth Marshals.
9. Adults attending Youth Marshal activities are to act in a chivalric and youth appropriate manner. Adults who demonstrate inappropriate behavior will be asked to leave the youth field which may include their child having to withdraw from the activity.
10. The following grid is intended that age groups fight in their approximate age groups. Combat against adults (18+) is on approved basis only.
11. Activities and Ages:
    1. Note: The following is a guideline as we recognize that some youth may be smaller or larger than their age group. In such a situation, the age group in which the youth is placed may be determined by the Lord, the Marshal and the parents/guardians of the participants. Older youth who engage in a younger division are to follow the rules of that division including appropriate calibration of their shots.
    1. In field battles that may contain a variety of ages, shots must be calibrated to the lowest level of calibration.

Activity	Age	Activity	Age
Unarmored Combat (Foam/Larp Combat)	All ages as stated may participate with parental/guardian permission. For tournaments, participants may be grouped by age, size, or skill set/experience level. 5-7 y/o – Division 1 8-10 y/o – Division 2 11-13 y/o – Division 3 14-16 y/o – Division 4 16+	Target Archery	All ages as stated may participate with parental/guardian permission. For tournaments, participants may be grouped by age, size, or skill set/experience level. 5-7 y/o 8-10 y/o 11-13 y/o 14-16 y/o 16+ Ranges must be set according to the age, size, or skill set/experience level of the participant.
Fencing (non-C&T)*	Training may begin at age 12+. The determination of maturity level will be considered as this is a higher-level risk activity. For tournaments, participants may be grouped by age, size, or skill set/experience level. 14-16 y/o 16+	Thrown Weapons (Except spears)	Synthetic (plastic) is open to all ages. Live steel forward weapons: 12+ For tournaments, participants may be grouped by age, size, or skill set/experience level.
Synthetic Weapons / Cut & Thrust*	S/CT training may begin at age _____. 14+ are eligible for tournaments. However, minor participants must have a minimum of 1 year of training and have the approval of both their Lord and their parent/guardian. Hema styled combat is limited to 16+. Combatants may refuse to engage with a minor at their sole discretion. This does NOT create a forfeiture in the tourney list.	Spears (target)	Live steel spear target weapons: 12+ For tournaments, participants may be grouped by age, size, or skill set/experience level.
Armored Combat (Rattan)*	Rattan training may begin at age 14 based on the rules in the Treatise of War manual.  Rattan combat: 16–18 Tournament only (except as noted in the “Special Rules” section) 18+ unlimited Combatants may refuse to engage with a minor at their sole discretion. This does NOT create a forfeiture in the tourney list.	Equestrian Archery	EA training may begin at age _____. 18+ unlimited
Combat Archery / Range Forward Weapons*	Light Infantry: 14-16 may be positioned behind friendly lines and use range weapons (archery, ballistae, javelin, trebuchet, catapult, or other siege and/or range weapons). They do not engage on the melee field. Heavy Infantry: 16-18 must wear an orange tabard. They may engage on the field. Soft kill only.  18+ unlimited	Equestrian Combat	18+ for training and combat.
Armored Combat (Steel)*	Steel training may be at age 16. 16-18 Tournament only 18+ unlimited Combatants may refuse to engage with a minor at their sole discretion. This does NOT create a forfeiture in the tourney list.	Siege Weapons	Ages 16+ as approved

*Special Rules for Minors

1. Lords retain the right to refuse entry of a minor into any competition, list or activity.
2. Training Required Prior to Engagement for Minors:
3. Must have an experienced mentor/trainer (one or more) until their majority.
4. Must learn and follow all rules of combat / activity.
5. Must be able to communicate their understanding of the rules for the activity in which they engage. 
6. Must demonstrate safe and appropriate fighting ability during training. Once approved, they may engage in the activity at events and in competition under the following additional rules.
   1. Demarcation:
      1. Minors who are approved to assist or engage on a melee field must wear an orange tabard or orange tape on their helm visible enough to others that they are “soft kill”.
      1. Fighters are to calibrate their shots accordingly.
   1. It is encouraged for minors to be skirmishers and not on the shield wall.
   1. It is encouraged for minors to run with an adult to assist with guidance during melee combat.
   1. Soft Kill
      1. You may point your weapon at them and declare them dead or use a light touch kill.
      1. The point must be visible to the youth fighter (not behind the shield).
      1. The aggressor must be within reasonable engagement range for a “point” kill.
   1. Death from Behind may NOT be used on a youth fighter.
   1. Minors may not be punched or taken to the ground.
   1. Option to Flee
      1. As a measure of honor on the field you may give the minor the option to flee and let them continue to fight instead of declaring a kill.
   1. During a charge
      1. A warning must be given pre-charge for the youth to remove themselves from the area.
      1. Youth fighters should leave the area and engage in the fight elsewhere on the field.
      1. However, they may be caught up in a charge incidentally beyond the control of Solara.
7. Any violation may result in an immediate suspension from the list/field for the day.
   1. Exception: 14+ who are approved may engage in small melee such as 3 on 3 OR 5 on 5 style melee for training and to gain experience.
      1. All aforementioned Rules for Minors apply.

Youth Padded Combat

1. Marshals must be obeyed at all times including being on the sidelines.
2. Target areas are the same as rattan except:
   1. Unarmored – head strikes and face thrusts are prohibited.
   1. Shots should be calibrated for the age division and should never be excessive.
3. Multiple Opponents
   1. Division 1 – Only one on one fighting.
   1. Division 2 – No more than 2 on one fighting.
   1. Division 3 – No more than 3 on one fighting except in engaged units.
   1. Division 4 – No more than 4 on one fighting except in engaged units.
4. Weapons may only be used according to their purpose (Example – you may not strike with the pole of a spear, only thrust). Trainers should work with students to teach them appropriate shots (blade edge versus blunt edge).
5. Thrusting is allowed with weapons that have appropriate thrusting tips. Thrusts may NOT be to the face or head and must at all times be below the shoulders.
6. Shots must be called out loud as in rattan combat. 

Prohibitions for Youth Padded Combat

1. Marshals may disallow any weapon or armor from the field / list.
2. Weapons may not be thrown in a tournament.
3. No strikes of excessive force.
4. Hits, kicks, and grappling are prohibited.
5. Shield bashing is prohibited.
6. Grasping an opponent’s weapon is prohibited. Moving a hand or foot to block a weapon is not considered a grasp of that weapon. This may occur as a reflexive action but is not to be used as a defense.
7. A charge or rush is to gain ground and NOT to run into another combatant.
8. NO death from behind except in Division 4 and according to the Death from Behind rules.

Youth Combat Shot Calibration

1. Age Divisions
   1. Division 1 – A well-placed, unimpeded shot that can be felt but not hard enough to bruise (light touch).
   1. Division 2 – A well-placed, unimpeded shot that is felt but not hard enough to bruise and could be felt through medium weight cloth.
   1. Division 3 – A well-placed, unimpeded shot that is felt but not hard enough to bruise and could be felt through heavy weight cloth (ex: canvas).
   1. Division 4 – A well-placed, unimpeded shot that is felt through light armor (Hema style or other such light / plastic armor).
2. All youth combatants should learn and understand appropriate calibration of shots they receive and to count such blows that are clean and well-placed within the calibration of their division.
3. All youth combatants should be honorable and trained to recognize if they hit flat and to not allow that strike to be called as valid.
4. FACE Thrusts:
   1. Face thrusts may only be used if a minimum helm (light fencing mask) is worn and it is declared beforehand that face thrusts may be utilized.
   1. Face thrusts are touch only. Thrusts should adequately touch the face but not move the head.