All youths ages 6–17 are invited to join us on the battlefield for the Pennsic Youth Combat Program.
The basis for the Pennsic 49 Youth Combat rules is the Society Youth Combat Handbook issued in July 2017.
Youth Combat Age Divisions
- Division 1: ages 6–9
- Division 2: ages 10–13
- Division 3: ages 14–17
Youths who have been moved up a division, or held back because of size, strength, or maturity, and youths from kingdoms with different age divisions, may participate in the division that is most appropriate based on their home participation division.
On Sunday, August 6, we’re holding a class for marshals-in-training — if you’re a youth combat marshal, or would like to join our ranks and build the Known World’s youth combat program for the next generation, join us!
All youth armored combat activity takes place on our list field, located between the main gate and the battle field.
• Open Sparring sessions are our most frequent activity on the youth armored combat field. They are open to all divisions and will typically include one-on-one sparring. At the discretion of the marshals, these sessions may also be mixed with specific training activities, small melees, or other activities.
• Battlefield Games sessions are on the youth armored combat field. They are open to all divisions and will involve battlefield simulations, games using props, classic games (brought back by marshals of old), and general youth combat fun.
• Fighters’ Choice/Alternative Tournament date will be the last youth combat session on the youth list; fighters will be allowed to vote on their activities to be run on list. Last hour of the session will have youth helping clear out and take down the list with all marshals present. If bad weather required cancellation of one of the tournaments from earlier in the week, this session can be instead used as the rain date.
Wednesday, August 2
10:00 – 12:30: Open Sparring
Thursday, August 3
8:30 – 11:00: Open Sparring
2:00 – 4:30: Battlefield Games
Friday, August 4
8:30 – 11:00: Open Sparring
2:00 – 4:30: Battlefield Games
Saturday, August 5
8:30 – 11:00: Open Sparring
— no afternoon session, preempted by opening ceremonies
Sunday, August 6
8:30 – 11:00: Open Sparring
— no afternoon session, preempted by marshal in training course at 3 and Youth Marshals of the Knowne World Meet and Greet at 4
Monday, August 7
1:00 – 4:00; Ealdormere Tourney.
6:00 – 8:00: Tarl’s Youth Polearm Tournament
Tuesday, August 8
— no morning session, preempted by multiple tournaments later in the day
12:00 -4:00 : Known World Baronial Youth Champions Tournament
6:00 – 8:00: Night with Knights Tournament
Wednesday, August 9
8:30 – 11:00: Open Sparring
— no afternoon session, evening tournament day
6:00 – 8:00: Æthelmearc Tag Team Tournament
Thursday, August 10
8:00 – 11:00: Youth Castle Battle — Meet at Youth List at 8; Process to Castle at 8:15; Awards at 10:30.
— All fighters MUST already have registered and have fought at least one session to be allowed to fight the castle battle.
2:00 – 4:30: Fighters’ Choice/Alternate Tournament weather date
Youth Heavy List Marshal and MIT Meetings
When: Sunday August 6
Where: Pennsic Youth Combat List — Bring a Chair!
Class Schedule
3:00 – 4:00: Marshaling 101 [Also Via Zoom]: Marshaling from local to Society level, building your home group and practices
4:00 – 5:00: Knowne World Marshal’s Meeting [Also Via Zoom]: Meet and greet for all youth marshals and MITs
Adult attendance only for the Youth Marshal Meetings. No youth activities will be held on the list during this time session.
Online Participation
Zoom attendance is available for Youth Heavy List Marshaling 101 and the Knowne World Marshals Meeting.
Class Handouts
YC Gorget Templates and YC Gorget Guide
The SCA Youth Martial Handbook includes combined Society rules for Youth Armored Combat and Youth Rapier.
Loaner Gear
The Youth Combat program at Pennsic supplies a small amount of loaner gear. Gear borrowed will need to be signed out at the MOL table and returned by the end of the day.
Authorizations
Each Kingdom may elect to hold authorization sessions for Youth Combat during the week. Check at the Youth Combat administration tent for more information. Youth fighters are not required to be authorized to fight at Pennsic.
Service
Youth combatants are expected to provide service at Pennsic. At a minimum, this will take the form of field sweeps for trash and water bottles in our own lists as well as the surrounding area.
Volunteers
We encourage parents/notarized guardians and marshals in training to volunteer at the Youth Combat list.
A parent/legal guardian/notarized guardian must accompany their child/youth to the field and complete the registration process. To accommodate the growing number of youths attending Pennsic with a single parent/notarized guardian, or with parents/notarized guardians who are very active at Pennsic, the following parental presence rules will be in effect at the Youth Combat lists.
- Division 1 participants must have a parent/guardian/notarized guardian or other adult (age 18 or older as designated by their parent/legal guardian/notarized guardian) remain with them during Youth Combat sessions.
- The parent/legal guardian/notarized guardian must identify and introduce the responsible adult to the youth marshals in charge so that the youth marshals can confirm the parent-approved responsible adult designation and make sure that rapid contact information (cell phone number and/or home camp location) is documented on the youth combat sign-in forms.
- The designated responsible adult is required to have the rapid contact information with him/her during the Youth Combat sessions.
- Parents/notarized guardians must repeat the above procedure if they decide to appoint additional or different responsible adults during the course of Pennsic.
- Division 2:
- In accordance with the Pennsic Youth policies, participants under the age of 10 must be within voice range or in sight of a responsible adult or teenager while participating in Youth Combat. This encompasses the area immediately surrounding the Youth List Fields.
- Youth fighters ages 10-12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult when attending evening combat sessions, since those sessions typically run from 7-9 pm and children ages 10-12 must be accompanied after 8 pm per Pennsic Site Rules.
- All Youth Combatants and their responsible parent/adult/teenager will sign-in with the marshals for each session. Even if a Youth Combatant has attended the morning session, a separate sign-in is necessary for the afternoon session.
The marshals in charge of Youth Combat at Pennsic, as listed on the Pennsic staff list must present proof of a current SCA required background check(s) before they can assume their roles at Pennsic. Additionally, the Background Check Policy applies to marshals in charge of the individual list fields for Divisions 1, 2, 3 and the youth combat administration tent.
- No youth combat may occur without the presence of a warranted youth marshal.
- The word “HOLD” is to be used by marshals, fighters, parents or spectators to stop combat activities when they see a problem. When witnessing a behavior, weapon, or armor condition that is unacceptable or dangerous, “HOLD” is to be used.
- Any combatant who refuses to obey the commands of the marshals shall be removed from the field.
- Parents, guardians, mentors and other observers are expected to act with courtesy and behave in a responsible manner when in the list area.
- Shields must be appropriate to the size, strength and control of the fighter. A fighter may be asked to demonstrate control with a shield if it appears to be too heavy or large for the fighter to handle properly.
- Shields may not be used as offensive weapons. NO deliberate or offensive contact between shield and the opponent’s body is allowed.
- At no time shall there be tournament combat between different divisions.
- “Death From Behind” conventions will not be used.
- Engagement shall be the same as for Adult Heavy Combat at Pennsic.
Inspection
Prior to participating in youth combat activities, and at the beginning of each session, all equipment must be inspected and shall meet all safety and armor requirements of the appropriate division.
Armor Standards
Per the SCA YC Rules with these additional notes;
HELMET: A helmet with a lengthy open slot across the face, such as a catcher’s mask eye slot which does not have a nasal guard, will not be permitted in Div 2 or 3.
Weapon Specifications
Standards are per the SCA Youth Combat rules, with these additional notes:
DIVISION 1: Cores of 1/2 inch nominal Siloflex are permitted for use in smaller hands. Golf tube cores are also permitted, but grandfathered.
Throwing hammers made without a solid core, which otherwise meet the safety criteria for weapon builds, may be used in melee if the marshal permits thrown weapons.
Javelins made with a 3/4 ” Siloflex or PEX core and standard thrusting tips may also be used in melees where the marshal permits thrown weapons.
Shield Standards
Standards are per the SCA Youth Combat rules. There is a minimum shield edge thickness of 1/2 inch.
THL Metheus Weasel
Youth Combat Marshal in Chargeyouthcombat@pennsicwar.org
