Fencing:Rapier Administration

Rapier Marshallate Organisation

Group Rapier Marshals (sections 5.1.1 to 5.1.4) must make quarterly reports to their superiors. Their superior will inform them of the due dates of these reports when their office is confirmed. Reports may not be made public unless approved by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal.

Kingdom Rapier Marshal

1. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal shall be appointed by the Kingdom Earl Marshal in consultation with the Crown and shall act as a deputy of the Kingdom Earl Marshal.
2. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal shall report to the Kingdom Earl Marshal and the Society Rapier Marshal.
3. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal shall maintain a current Rapier Marshal authorisation.
4. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal shall coordinate all Rapier Combat within the Kingdom of Lochac.
5. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal shall maintain the rules for rapier combat in consultation with the Kingdom Earl Marshal and the Crown.
6. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal is responsible for implementing disciplinary procedures up to and including suspensions with a specified minimum length and revocation of authorisations.
7. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal or their representative shall be one of the administrators of the Lochac Rapier Facebook page.

Deputy Kingdom Rapier Marshals

Cut and Thrust

1. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal shall appoint a deputy for Cut and Thrust Rapier for the country in which they do not normally reside (the two countries in consideration being Australia and New Zealand).
2. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal may (if they so choose) appoint a deputy for Cut and Thrust Rapier for their normal country of residence, or may assume this role themselves.
3. The Deputy Kingdom Rapier Marshal(s) for Cut and Thrust (the Deputy) shall report to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal along with Group Rapier Marshals.
4. The Deputy shall maintain a current Authorising Cut and Thrust Marshal authorisation.
5. The Deputy shall coordinate Cut and Thrust Rapier activities within the Kingdom as directed by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal and reports on those activities to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal.
6. The Deputy shall assist training and conduct authorisations of combatants and marshals in Cut and Thrust Rapier.
7. The Deputy shall advise the Kingdom Rapier Marshal on persons applying to receive the Authorising Cut and Thrust Marshal delegation.

Spears/Pole Weapons

1. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal may appoint a deputy for Spears/Pole Weapons
2. The Deputy Kingdom Rapier Marshal(s) for Spears/Pole Weapons shall report to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal
3. The Deputy shall maintain a current Authorising Spears/Pole Weapons Marshal authorisation.
4. The Deputy shall coordinate Spears/Pole Weapons activities within the Kingdom as directed by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal and reports on those activities to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal.
5. The Deputy shall assist training and conduct authorisations of combatants and marshals in Spears/Pole Weapons.
6. The Deputy shall advise the Kingdom Rapier Marshal on persons applying to receive the Authorising Spears/Pole Weapons Marshal delegation

Youth Rapier

1. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal may appoint a deputy for Youth Rapier
2. The Deputy Kingdom Rapier Marshal(s) for Youth Rapier shall report to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal and also to the Kingdom Youth Combat Marshal
3. The Deputy shall maintain current SCA Lochac requirements for working with youth and also Authorising Youth Rapier Marshal authorisation.
4. The Deputy shall coordinate Youth Rapier activities within the Kingdom as directed by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal and reports on those activities to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal and also to the Kingdom Youth Combat Marshal
5. The Deputy shall assist training and conduct authorisations of combatants and marshals in Youth Rapier.
6. The Deputy shall advise the Kingdom Rapier Marshal on persons applying to receive the Authorising Youth Rapier Marshal delegation.

Group Rapier Marshals

1. Group Rapier Marshals shall be appointed and registered by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal in consultation with the local Seneschal. They are direct deputies of and shall report to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal as well as report as required to the group Seneschal.
2. The Group Rapier Marshals shall maintain a current Rapier Marshal authorisation. Where needed, alternative authorisation requirements may be sought from the Kingdom Rapier Marshal by the candidate in conjunction with the local Seneschal.
3. Group Rapier Marshals shall coordinate Rapier Combat in their respective groups and oversee the rapier activities of their subgroups, in particular collecting group reports from the subgroup officer.
4. Group Rapier Marshals shall ensure that a qualified marshal is appointed as the "Rapier Marshal in Charge" of any event sponsored by their Group.
5. Group Rapier Marshals shall ensure that the Rapier Marshal in Charge of each event sponsored by that group files all the necessary reports within 30 days of the event, and that a copy of this report is forwarded to their superior.
6. Group Rapier Marshals shall report breaches of the safety regulations and disciplinary actions taken by the Rapier Marshals in Charge of events to ensure that further disciplinary action can be taken where appropriate.

Rapier Marshals in Charge

1. Rapier Marshals in Charge shall possess a current Rapier Marshal authorisation.
2. Rapier Marshals in Charge shall oversee all aspects of safety and proper conduct of rapier combat at an event (including official practice sessions).
3. Rapier Marshals in Charge shall select the marshals to assist with an event.
4. Rapier Marshals in Charge may suspend combatants from fighting for the duration of the event. Details of these actions must be included in event report
5. Rapier Marshals in Charge may not participate in any Rapier Combat during the event if they are the only marshal present. They may not marshal their own bout.
6. Rapier Marshals in Charge need not be constantly present in the vicinity of all rapier combat, but must be readily accessible to any Marshal of a particular bout at the event for which they are Rapier Marshal in Charge.
7. Rapier Marshals in Charge must submit an event report to their Group Rapier Marshal that includes:
   1. The name of the Rapier Marshal in Charge and the names of all the Marshals who assisted.
   2. A list of all authorisations, whether successful or not, and the results of those attempts.
   3. The names of all the participants in Rapier Combat.
   4. A description of any problems or disputes that occurred during the fighting, and of any injuries that occurred.
   5. A list of those combatants who were suspended from fighting for the duration of the event, the reasons for the suspensions and recommendations for any higher level disciplinary action they consider that might be required.
   6. Details of any Cut and Thrust Rapier activities done during the event.

Rapier Combatants

1. Any authorised rapier combatant may supervise (marshal) rapier combat at the discretion of the Rapier Marshal in Charge (see 5.2.2.9).

Rapier Events

Equipment Inspection

1. At least one authorised rapier marshal must be present to perform equipment inspections.
2. The rapier marshal conducting equipment inspection shall not damage a combatant's equipment unduly, such as by excessively bending the combatant's weapon blade to test flexibility or curvature, or performing the Standard Fencing Armour Test on the combatant's protective equipment improperly.
   1. If such testing is necessary it is preferable that the Standard Fencing Armour Test be performed on a sample of the combatant's protective equipment provided the sample has been sewn to the equipment from the time the item was made.
   2. When checking for groin protection the rapier marshal shall ask the combatant to self-test.
3. Equipment may not be used on the field until approved by an inspecting rapier marshal. Equipment that fails the field inspection may be modified or repaired to meet the equipment standards, and then returned to the inspecting rapier marshal for approval.
4. An appeal can be made on any equipment that fails the field inspection. Such appeals are addressed to the Rapier Marshal in Charge first, then the Group Rapier Marshal (if applicable) and finally to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal who will make a final decision. The equipment may not be used until the appeal is resolved.

Conduct of Combat

1. Because of the nature of the weapons being used, marshals, and combatants should pay special attention to tips missing or broken, and for badly bent or fatigued blades.
2. The marshal supervising a bout or melee shall enforce the rules and canon governing rapier combat. If infractions occur during a bout, the supervising marshal shall warn the combatants involved and take steps to prevent their recurrence.
3. If no other solutions are workable, the Rapier Marshal in Charge may suspend a combatant and remove them from the competition field for the duration of the event for any of the following reasons. (If the Rapier Marshal in Charge is not available during the bout, the supervising marshal may take this action, thereafter reporting to the Rapier Marshal in Charge.)
   1. The combatant has made their third violation of the rules during a bout.
   2. The combatant, through demonstration of behaviour on the field, poses a risk to the safety of themselves or others and the supervising marshal believes that the combatant shall continue to pose a risk regardless of verbal warning.
   3. The combatant refuses to obey the legal commands of the marshals supervising the combat. All infractions of this type shall be reported to the Rapier Marshal in Charge, as they must be included in the event report.
4. Any rapier combatant who has been suspended may not participate further in any Rapier Combat until the suspension has been resolved. For such resolution, the case must go to the Group Rapier Marshal for a ruling in consultation with the Kingdom Rapier Marshal.
5. Unsafe or excessive force blows shall be discussed on the field, and failing a mutually satisfactory resolution, the aggrieved combatant may write an official letter of complaint to the Group Rapier Marshal for due consideration in consultation with the Kingdom Rapier Marshal. The accused combatant shall be made aware of the existence of such a letter and the nature of the complaint.
6. At the end of a combat the supervising marshal shall ask whether the combatants are satisfied. Any combatant who leaves the field without stating a problem is declaring their satisfaction with the outcome of the combat. Disagreements with the Marshallate shall be resolved off the field through the appropriate Kingdom grievance and appeal procedures.
7. Supervising marshals shall report immediately to the Rapier Marshal in Charge any injury where the fencer was unable to continue participating, or required the attention of a health professional (e.g. Doctor, Registered Nurse, Chiropractor, or Paramedic). The Rapier Marshal in Charge shall report any such injury to the Group Rapier marshal and Kingdom Rapier Marshal within 24 hours. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal will investigate the incident and provide a report to the Kingdom Earl Marshal within 10 days of the incident being reported.
8. If for any reason it becomes impossible to conduct Rapier Combat safely and in accordance with the rules, or if any officer acting with their due authority removes sanction from an event, the Rapier Marshal in Charge shall cooperate to halt all Rapier Combat at the event. If the Rapier Marshal in Charge makes this determination but is unable to stop Rapier Combat then they must withdraw sanction for Rapier Combat from the event. This action and why it was taken must be included in the event report, and all efforts made to immediately contact the Kingdom Rapier Marshal and sponsoring Group Seneschal
9. An attending marshal (chosen by the Rapier Marshal in Charge from the available rapier combatants and rapier marshals) must supervise all rapier combat bouts. No marshal may supervise combat they are participating in. The Rapier Marshal in Charge shall delegate additional marshals to supervise the marshalling of each bout if more than one is being run at any given time:
   1. Each bout of 2 combatants shall be supervised by at least 1 marshal. If the bout is part of a tournament it is recommended that there be an additional marshal.
   2. In a melee (more than 2 combatants) there shall be at least 1 rapier marshal for every 8 combatants. For example, a field of 8 to 16 combatants requires 2 marshals, a field of 17 to 24 requires 3 marshals and so forth. The Rapier Marshal in Charge shall provide procedures for the identification and removal of "dead" combatants, removal of abandoned equipment, rules of engagement and rules for engaging from behind.
   3. If there are not enough marshals available, then the number of bouts or number of combatants in melees being run at any given time must be reduced to match the number of marshals. In no case is a bout or melee to be run without a Rapier Marshal to supervise the combat.

Disciplinary Action

Combatants

1. Any combatant who is suspended from fighting at an event, or for whom the Kingdom Rapier Marshal has received 3 letters of complaint, shall have their combat authorisation automatically temporarily suspended. This suspension shall last no longer than is required for the Group Rapier Marshal to conduct an inquiry into the situation, or 6 weeks, whichever is the lesser (unless otherwise approved by the Earl Marshal). The results of the inquiry are to be notified to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal, who shall forward this information along with a recommendation of action to be taken to the Earl Marshal.
2. In the event that the suspended combatant is a Group Rapier Marshal, the inquiry shall be undertaken by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal.
3. The Earl Marshal's determination (which may include suspension of authorisation, mandatory retraining or other outcomes as are appropriate to the situation) shall be communicated to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal, Group Marshal, and combatant.
4. Upon receiving a suspension or retraining notification, the combatant, in conjunction with their local Group Rapier Marshal must make arrangements for retraining under an Authorising Rapier Marshal (or an Authorising Cut and Thrust Marshal if applicable). Retraining shall continue until the appointed trainer feels that the combatant has overcome the problems that resulted in the suspension.
5. Once retraining is completed, the Group Rapier Marshal shall arrange a re-authorisation bout for the combatant with two impartial Authorising Rapier Marshals (or two Authorising Cut and Thrust Marshals if applicable). The trainer shall provide a report to the impartial marshals prior to the reauthorisation, outlining the training undertaken. Both marshals must agree that the suspended combatant has overcome the problems that resulted in the suspension. If the combatant is found acceptable, the impartial marshals shall then complete the authorisation paperwork, and the Group Rapier Marshall shall forward it to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal, along with the trainer's report. If the combatant is not found acceptable, the marshals shall discuss further requirements they feel necessary with both the combatant and their trainer and report their decision to the Group Rapier Marshal and Kingdom Rapier Marshal.
6. Upon receiving the re-authorisation paperwork, the Kingdom Rapier Marshal shall ensure that the reauthorisation process has been followed correctly, and if satisfied, shall notify the suspended combatant in writing that the suspension has been lifted.
7. Any combatant who is reinstated after a suspension shall be placed on probation for a 12 month period. Any probationary combatant who is suspended shall have their authorisation revoked for 12 months. After an authorisation revocation, the combatant must restart the authorisation process from the beginning as a new combatant.
8. Any combatant who has their authorisation revoked twice shall be recommended to the Earl Marshal and Crown by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal for permanent revocation of their rapier authorisations.
9. Combatants who knowingly take the field with equipment not approved by the inspecting rapier marshals shall have their authorisation suspended for a period of 12 months, subject to review by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal.

Marshals

1. Any marshal who knowingly allows a combatant to engage in combat with any equipment that does not pass safety standards shall have their Marshallate authorisation suspended for a period of not less than two years, subject to review by the Kingdom Rapier Marshal.
2. Any marshal, for whom the Kingdom Rapier Marshal has received 3 letters of complaint, shall have their Marshallate authorisation temporarily suspended. The Kingdom Rapier Marshal shall then establish the factual basis of the complaints. If the Kingdom Rapier Marshal upholds the suspension, they shall then notify the marshal and the local Group Rapier Marshal that the marshal's authorisation has been suspended.
3. Any marshal, who has their rapier combat authorisations suspended, shall also have their rapier marshallate authorisation suspended. Rapier marshallate authorisations cannot be reinstated until the probation period has expired, after which they must retake the marshallate authorisation examination.

Appeals

1. All Marshallate decisions regarding suspensions and authorisation revocations may be appealed.
2. Appeals shall first be directed to the Rapier Marshal in Charge, then the Group Rapier Marshal, the Kingdom Rapier Marshal, and finally the Kingdom Earl Marshal. Appeals against the decisions of the Kingdom Earl Marshal shall be heard by the Crown.
3. In all cases of appeals, the grievance procedure as specified in Lochac Kingdom Law shall apply. In the event of differences between Lochac Kingdom Law and this text, Lochac Kingdom Law shall have precedence.
4. Appeals against rulings shall only be taken to a higher authority, if a satisfactory resolution cannot be found at a lower level. A lower authority cannot overrule rulings made by a higher authority.
5. All appeals must be lodged within 72 hours of being informed of the decision. Appeals to a higher authority must be lodged in writing (electronic mail, surface mail or fax).