Combat Authorisation Requirements

General

1. All persons who wish to participate in combat-related activities in the Kingdom of Lochac must have an appropriate authorisation. Combat-related activities include, but are not limited to, armoured combat, period fencing, combat archery, marshalling, and banner-bearing in combat. There are also authorisation requirements for rapier combat and equestrian activities but these are dealt with in their respective handbooks.
2. To become authorised candidates must:
   1. Demonstrate familiarity with, and the ability to apply, the following:
      1. Rules of the List of the SCA
      2. The Armour and Weapons standards of the SCA
      3. The Conventions of Combat of the SCA
      4. Lochac Conventions of Combat
      5. The use of Weapons and Shields
      6. Target Areas and Acknowledgement of Blows
   2. Demonstrate familiarity with, and ability to reference, the Lochac Armour and Weapons standards.
   3. Demonstrate the ability to function on the field in a manner that is safe both to themselves and to other participants on the field.
3. Within the field of armoured combat in Lochac there are separate authorisations for the following activities:
   1. Participant authorisation classes:
      1. Heavy Combatant
      2. Plumed Participant
   2. Weapon-form specific authorisations. Fibreglass spear requires a prior Heavy Combatant authorisation, all others require either a prior Heavy Combatant authorisation or a prior Plumed Combatant authorisation:
      1. Fibreglass spear
      2. Thrown weapon
      3. Combat Archery
      4. Siege Engine
4. The following marshal authorisations also apply.
   1. Marshal in Training Check editing notes
   2. Marshal
   3. Siege Marshal
   4. Senior Marshal
5. Only a marshal authorised and rostered in Lochac and who holds a current membership of the SCA or one of its affiliate organisations may perform an authorisation. This marshal must witness the authorisation and must execute the appropriate paperwork to ensure the authorisation is registered with the Kingdom Lists Officer within three months of the authorisation taking place. Check editing notes
6. A copy of the authorisation paperwork may be used in lieu of an authorisation card for a period of up to three months from the date of the authorisation.
7. Authorisation paperwork will expire three months from the date of the authorisation test. Expired authorisation paperwork will not be processed by the Kingdom Lists Officer.
8. Authorisations shall be registered with, and kept on file by, the Lochac Kingdom Lists Officer. This officer, or their appointed deputy, shall be responsible for keeping properly completed indemnities and issuing combat authorisation cards. In addition to maintaining registration of authorisations, the kingdom lists officer shall provide the Earl Marshal with a list of all current authorisations upon request.
9. Authorisation cards shall include the name of the authorising marshal. They may be issued for a period of up to four years for adults and one year for minors.
10. Authorisation cards shall not be issued to persons residing in other kingdoms unless such persons are defined as subjects of Lochac by specific royalty treaty.
11. No authorisation card may be issued to Australian residents until a properly completed indemnity is filed with the Lochac Kingdom Lists Officer. In Lochac a completed authorisation form includes an indemnity. This from must be completed by both the Authorising Marshal and the candidate. New Zealand resident candidates do not need to complete the indemnity.
12. Indemnities for SCA combat-related activities shall be kept on file for seven years.
13. Visitors to Australia engaging in combat-related activities must sign an Australian indemnity before participating in combat activities.
14. Valid authorisation cards from other kingdoms shall be accepted as proof of authorisation. To renew in Lochac, the candidate must complete a Lochac authorisation.
15. A marshal from any kingdom may revoke the authorisation card of a fighter from any other kingdom for just and stated cause.

Age Restrictions

1. The following age restrictions apply to combat-related activities:
   1. No person below the age of 18 may be authorised as a marshal.
   2. No person below the age of 16 may be authorised as a combatant.
   3. Persons between the ages of 14 and 16 may be authorised as plumed auxilliaries.
   4. No person below the age of 14 may be authorised for any form of SCA combat-related activity.
   5. No person below the age of 14 may be involved or train in any form of SCA combat at official SCA events. This includes swinging a heavy combat weapon at a pell at training events, though they may use boffer weapons.

Minor Authorisation

1. Minors between the ages of 14 and 17 may authorise with these additional requirements:
2. The parents or guardians of the minor must witness SCA combat, discuss with a witnessing marshal how it relates to the participation of their child, and execute a medical authorisation form. The witnessing marshal must countersign the indemnity. The form is available at the URL http://www.sca.org.au/marshal/docs/MinorIndemnity.PDF
3. Only the Earl Marshal, or a senior marshal with specific written permission from the Earl Marshal to conduct minor authorisations, may authorise minors for SCA Combat-Related Activities.
4. Two marshals must be present at the authorising of any minor. Prior to the authorising of a minor the authorising senior marshal shall contact the Lochac Earl marshal and discuss the authorisation. Each authorisation shall be considered by the Lochac Earl Marshal on a case-by-case basis.
5. At any event in which the minor is involved in SCA Combat-Related Activities the minor must have either a parent or guardian present, or must be in possession of a properly executed "Medical Authorisation Form for Minors". Said Medical Authorisation Form must designate an adult present at the event as able to authorise medical treatment in the case of an emergency. The form is available at the URL http://www.sca.org.au/constable/treatminor.pdf
6. Authorisation cards issued to minors will have "MINOR" clearly printed or stamped across the face of the card.