Youth Armoured Combat Draft:Authorisation Requirements

Authorisation tests

1. When we talk about authorising, this means passing a test to show that you can understand and follow the rules, and are safe for yourself and other people on the field.
2. You don't have to be authorised to take part in youth armoured combat training sessions, classes and practices.
3. You must be authorised to fight in tournaments and wars.
4. You will need to authorise again to change to the next division.
5. To pass the test and get authorised:
   1. You will need to show the authorising marshal that you know:
      1. which parts of the body you are allowed to try to hit and what parts you aren't allowed to hit
      2. what to do if you get hit in the arm or the leg
      3. how hard you are allowed to hit your opponent. You might have to hit another fighter or a marshal, and they will say whether it was too hard or not.
   2. You will spend a few minutes play fighting with an experienced fighter showing that you know what to do.
   3. Then you will fight properly with an experienced youth fighter, including "dying" in a safe way if you are "killed".
   4. The authorising marshal is going to be watching to see if you are:
      1. hitting your oppenent hard enough, and not too hard
      2. taking hits that hit you hard enough
      3. following the rules.
   5. They will also look to see if you run away or duck too much because you are scared of your opponent trying to hit you.
6. You don't have to be very good at fighting to pass the test. The marshal just wants to make sure that you will be safe for yourself and other people.
7. If you are big enough and good enough, you might be able to authorise for the next division, even if you are younger, if your parent and the authorising marshal agree that you are ready.

Youth armoured combat sparring partner

1. If you are now too old for youth armoured combat, or have graduated to adult armoured combat, you can authorise as a youth armoured combat sparring partner.
2. You will need to demonstrate that you can:
   1. understand the differences between the divisions with regard to calibration and allowed shots
   2. spar safely and chivalrously with youth from all divisions
   3. promote safe practices and enforce the rules.

What to expect at an authorisation

1. Every marshal will conduct authorisations differently, and as long as the requirements set out in these rules are met, that is fine.
2. Typically an authorisation will run something like this:
   1. You will put on your armour and grab any weapons or shields you want to use
   2. The marshal checks your armour and weapons to make sure they follow the rules
   3. The marshal will ask you some questions about the rules,
   4. more the rules about fighting and taking blows.
      1. these are 'The Rules of the Lists' and 'The Conventions of Combat'
   5. higher divisions and older youth can expect some questions about making armour and weapons and what things you are allowed to use and do
3. To show they know how and when to die, lose a limb, call hold etc., the youth spars with an authorised youth for a few minutes.

1. 1. 1. First you have a fight where you are not allowed to attack the other fighter, only block their strikes. This is so you can show the marshal that you can block safely, and know what to do if you get hit.
      2. Then you will have a fight where you are allowed to try to strike the other fighter, and they will try to block your strikes. This is so you can show the marshal that you can strike safely.
   2. Often this will be a round only defending, then a round of only attacking.
      1. The marshal focuses on how the youth is striking, if they are calling shots when hit (both 'light' and 'good' shots), are they hitting in a safe manner, and how they respond marshal's calls and any 'holds'.
2. The authorised youth combatant and the marshal will talk about what they saw in the sparring. They will often give some advice before the youth fights a proper bout
3. The youth then fights a formal bout with an authorised youth combatant.
4. The marshal is watching for the same things. The main thing is safety.
5. The authorised youth combatant and the marshal will talk again.
6. The marshal will tell the youth the result of their authorisation.
   1. If it is decided not to authorise the youth at that point, it should be made clear to the youth why, and what things they can do to succeed next time they try.
   2. This should be done in the presence of a parent/guardian so that they know too.