The Board of Directors is requesting commentary on the changes to the Rules of the List proposed by the Society Marshal.
These proposed changes aim to update the Rules of the List to include all SCA martial disciplines, while preserving their intent. Explanatory information is outlined for each rule with the functional change and the reason for the change provided where appropriate.
The Rules of the List are a critical core of SCA culture, values, and behavior. However, as written, they are mostly limited to Armored Combat and Rapier, and create contradictions for the approved martial activities of Equestrian, Combat Archery, Siege, Thrown Weapons, and Target Archery. The proposed changes also include a reordering of the list, to start with general underlying principles and then proceed to specific applications.
The proposed changes to the Rules of the List are as follows:
- Currently Rule #1 / Proposed as Rule #1
Each fighter participant, recognizing the possibilities of physical injury to themselves in such combat SCA martial activities, shall assume unto themselves all risk and liability for harm suffered by means of such martial activities. Other participants shall likewise recognize the risks involved in their presence on or near the field of combat or designated areas and shall assume unto themselves the liabilities thereof.
Functional change: To include all SCA martial disciplines, change “combatants” and “fighters” to “participants”, and “combat” to “martial activities”.
- Currently Rule #7, Proposed as Rule #2
No one may be required to participate in marshal martial activities. Any combatant participant may, without dishonor or penalty, reject any challenge without specifying a reason. A fight bout in a tournament list is not to be considered a challenge, and therefore may not be declined or rejected without forfeiting the bout.
Functional Change: Includes martial activities and tournaments that do not involve fighting.
- Currently Rule #6, Proposed as Rule #3
Combatants Participants shall behave in a knightly and chivalrous and honorable manner and shall fight engage in martial activities according to the appropriate Society and Kingdom conventions and standards.
Functional Change: Includes all SCA martial disciplines.
Reason for change: Wording change aligns with SCA Core Values and is inclusive of all martial disciplines.
- Currently Rule #4, Proposed as Rule #4
All combatants participants in martial activities shall adhere to the appropriate armor, weapons, and equipment standards of the Society, and to any additional standards of the kingdom in which the event takes place or in the negotiated agreements for interkingdom events.
Functional Change: Changing “combatants” to “participants” will include all martial disciplines. Allows for agreed upon additional standards for interkingdom events rather than limiting it to only society or host kingdom.
- Currently Rule #2, Proposed as Rule #5
No person shall participate in martial activities requiring authorization outside of formal training sessions unless and until they have been properly authorized under Society and Kingdom procedures. Classes and SCA practices do not require authorization. Experimental programs may further restrict participation.
Functional Change: None
Reason for change: There are multiple rules and/or clarifications regarding whether or not people need authorizations to participate in practices, classes or other similar training activities. Adding examples of typical activities not requiring authorizations will help alleviate that confusion, while ensuring new situations can be added as they evolve.
- Currently Rule #3, Proposed as Rule #6
All combatants participants in martial activities must be presented to, and be acceptable to, the Sovereign Crown or their representative(s).
Functional Change: To include all martial disciplines, changing “combatants” to “participants in martial activities”. Changing “Sovereign” to “Crown” to be consistent with language in Corpora.
Reason for Change: While originally intended and mostly used for armored combat and Crown tournaments, it has become a pervasive element of SCA culture in all martial disciplines.
- Currently Rule #4, Proposed as Rule #7
The Sovereign Crown or the Marshallate may bar any weapon, armor, or equipment from use upon the field of combat or designated area for martial activities. Should a warranted marshal bar any weapon, armor, or equipment, an appeal may be made via the established marshallate chain of command up to and including the Sovereign to allow the weapon or armor.
Functional Change:
- Adding “equipment” will include all martial disciplines and related activities, including those that may not always use armor or weapons (e.g. siege engines, equestrian).
- Keeps the tradition that the Crown may exclude any weapon/armor/equipment. Ensures evaluation and appeal of a barred item stays within the chain of warranted marshals of the appropriate martial discipline. Clarifies that the Crown cannot include items not allowed per Society Handbooks or established processes.
- Changing “Sovereign” to “Crown” to be consistent with language in Corpora.
Reason for Change: In the past, this was sometimes used bythe Crown to override a kingdom specific rule, such as allowing a weapon banned in their kingdom (but approved by Society), or enabling new types or variations on armor and weapons as an activity grew. However, it now creates significant issues with modern SCA practices and procedures.
- We now have established processes for experimental weapons and kingdom law changes, faster communications and a larger and more structured marshallate to respond.
- There are 9 different martial disciplines, plus 2 youth programs, all of which have specific rules and required expertise. A marshal (or participant) in one discipline should not be deciding to accept the risk of a new or potentially unsafe item in a discipline for which they are not a warranted marshal.
- For our international affiliates, a Crown cannot override a kingdom rule.
- This rule has also occasionally been used incorrectly to infer that the Crown can allow any weapon/armor in any martial discipline, including those not approved by Society.
This change keeps the tradition of Crown and Kingdom prerogative on which Society approved martial activities or items are allowed, while ensuring decisions on safety and rules are enacted by warranted marshals of the appropriate martial discipline.
- Currently Rule #8, Proposed as Rule #8
Fighting with real weapons, whether fast or slow, is strictly forbidden at any Society event. This rule does not consider approved weaponry that meets the Society and kingdom standards for Society combat and/or Society rapier combat for martial activities, used in the context of mutual sport, to be real weaponry.
Functional Change: Applies to all martial disciplines.
- Currently Rule #9, Proposed – remove in its entirety
No projectile weapons shall be allowed, and no weapons shall be thrown within the Lists of a tournament. The use of approved projectile weapons for melee, war, or Combat Archery shall conform to the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.
Functional Change: No change to current practices, and removes inconsistencies with other martial disciplines. Exclusion of projectile weapons in a tournament can be covered by Rule #5, or with additions to the appropriate handbook if needed. Any use of SCA approved projectiles from other martial disciplines (ie. Thrown Weapons, Archery) must adhere to the safety zones appropriate to that martial activity.
Reason for Change: This was originally intended to prevent the use of approved projectile weapons in Crown tournaments or similar. However, there are many tournaments across all martial disciplines that use approved projectile weapons. Too many caveats are required if included as an overarching rule. Currently, it is inconsistent with the rules of the list being applicable to all martial disciplines.
Corpora, including the By-Laws, can be found in its entirety here: https://www.sca.org/resources/document-library/govdocs/.
Please email all commentary to
and use the title “Rules of the List” in the subject line.
NOTE: Do not use attachments in your commentary. Attachments will mark your message as spam and it will be rejected by the server.
You can also send commentary by mail, Postage-Prepaid, to:
Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
RE: Rules of the List
P.O. Box 611928
San Jose, CA 95161
Please provide commentary by June 10, 2024
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