Youth Combat Activities

Youth Armored Combat & Youth Rapier Combat Location: Youth Rapier Combat is at the south end of the Battlefield, in the Rapier area.
Youth Armored Combat is in the southeast corner of the Battlefield, along Currie Road.

Youth Combat Marshal-in-Charge: Baron Andriú Mac Domhnaill

Youth Rapier Marshal-in-Charge: Lord Daven Mackeannaugh

The basis for the Pennsic 53 Youth Armored Combat rules and Youth Rapier Combat rules is the SCA Society Youth Combat Handbook.

Youth Combat Age Divisions

All youth ages 6 to 17 are invited to join us on the battlefield for the Pennsic Youth Armored and Rapier Combat Programs.

• Division 1 (ages 6 to 9)
• Division 2 (ages 10 to 13)
• Division 3  (ages 14 to 17)

Youth who moved up a division or were held back because of size, strength, or maturity and youth from kingdoms with different age divisions may participate in the division that is most appropriate based on their home kingdom authorization. 

Loaner Gear

The Youth Armored/Rapier Combat programs at Pennsic each have a limited supply of loaner gear so that a fighter may check out items needed for them to safely participate in the program.  Borrowed items will need to be returned at the end of the session to the marshal tent. Loaner gear is first-come first-served. There is no way to guarantee that there will be an item available if the inventory has already been checked out by other fighters. Please try to have a full working set of armor upon arrival or bring as many elements as you can. 

Authorizations

Each kingdom may elect to hold authorization sessions for Youth Armored/Rapier Combat during the week. Check at the Youth Combat or Youth Rapier administration tent for more information. 

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.

Registration and Supervision

A parent, legal guardian, or notarized guardian must accompany their child/youth to the field the first time they participate in Youth Armored/Rapier Combat during this Pennsic in order to complete the registration process. 

During the registration process, the parent/legal guardian/notarized guardian must provide contact information, including a mobile phone number or equivalent method for rapid contact in the case of an emergency by which they can be reached during each youth combat session the child/youth participates in. If the contact information needs to be changed during the course of Pennsic, the parent/legal guardian/notarized guardian must repeat the above procedure.

In accordance with the Pennsic Youth policies, participants under the age of 12 must  be within voice range or in sight of their parent/legal guardian/notarized guardian’s or another designated responsible adult (age 18 or older) at all times while participating in Youth Combat. This encompasses the area immediately surrounding the youth list fields. Parent/legal guardian/notarized guardian’s who wish to designate someone else as a responsible adult for their child under the age of 12 must provide their name and contact information as part of the registration process. 

All Youth Combatants will sign in with the marshals for each subsequent session. Even if a Youth Combatant has attended the morning session, a separate sign-in  is necessary for the afternoon session.  

Youth Armored fighters must be registered and attend at least one full session prior to the Castle Battle on Thursday- no new registrations will be allowed after the last session on Wednesday, August 5th.

Pennsic Youth Armored Combat/Youth Rapier Combat Background Check Policy

The Marshals-in-Charge of Youth Armored and Rapier Combat at Pennsic, as listed on the Pennsic staff list, must present proof of a current SCA-required background check before they can assume their roles at Pennsic. Additionally, the background check policy applies to those marshals put in charge of the Youth Armored and Youth Rapier Combat administration tents and the individual list fields for Divisions 1, 2, and 3. 

YOUTH ARMORED/RAPIER COMBAT SCHEDULES 

Youth Armored Combat sessions run from Wednesday, July 29, through Thursday,
August 6.

Youth Rapier Combat sessions run from Tuesday, July 28 through Thursday,
August 6.

All personal items MUST be collected by the end of the final session on 8/6, or they will be sent to Lost & Found.

Armored Combat Sessions are scheduled daily from 8:30 to 11:00 am, and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, with a few exceptions. 

Rapier Combat Sessions are scheduled daily from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, with a few exceptions. 

New for Pennsic 53 – The Youth Armored & Rapier list fields will close if the heat index reaches 95 or higher.

Both programs also have several evening tournaments scheduled. Times may vary to avoid conflict with other events. Melee will not be available if a tournament is scheduled on the lists. Please check the schedule posted in the Minister of Lists tent at the Youth Armored/Rapier Combat lists for more information.  

PENNSIC 53 YOUTH ARMORED/RAPIER COMBAT RULES OF THE LIST 

• No Youth Armored/Rapier 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. You should use “HOLD” when you witness a behavior, weapon, or armor condition that is unacceptable or dangerous.  
• 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. Adults demonstrating inappropriate behavior will be asked to leave the Youth Martial area. This may result in their child having to withdraw from that day’s activity.
• 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 too large to handle properly. 
• Shields may not be used as offensive weapons. NO contact between a shield and the opponent’s body is allowed.  
• Rules of Engagement shall be the same as for adult Armored/Rapier Combat at Pennsic.

YOUTH ARMORED COMBAT SPECIFICS

“Death From Behind” conventions will not be used. 

ARMOR AND WEAPON 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 & armor requirements of the appropriate division.  

ARMOR STANDARDS 
Armor standards are as per the SCA Youth Combat Rules, with these additional notes:  

• All helmets must be padded with closed-cell foam. 
• Helmets with EPP foam are not allowed. 
• Helmets with Seven Technology ring-style padding are not allowed.

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 Divisions 2 or 3.  

WEAPON SPECIFICATIONS 
Weapons standards are as per the SCA Youth Combat Rules, with these additional notes:  

• The use of butt spikes is not allowed in Division 1.
• Throwing weapons (axes and javelins) may only be used in melees with the approval of the marshal in charge of the list, who may choose to exclude thrown weapons from specific scenarios or during given sessions at their discretion. 

SHIELD STANDARDS 
Shield standards are as per the SCA Youth Combat Rules, with the additional note that Society rules
require a minimum edge thickness of one-half inch.

YOUTH RAPIER COMBAT SPECIFICS

“Death From Behind” conventions will be used, but will be announced by the MiC before each scenario. 

ARMOR AND WEAPON INSPECTION
Prior to participating in youth rapier 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 
Armor standards are as per the SCA Youth Rapier Rules.

WEAPON SPECIFICATIONS 
Weapons standards are as per the SCA Youth Rapier Combat Rules.

PARRYING DEVICES
Parrying device standards are as per the SCA Youth Rapier Combat Rules.