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 complete an authorisation test which shows that they can:
   1. Demonstrate familiarity with, and the ability to apply, the following:
      1. Rules of the Lists
      2. Lochac's conventions of combat
      3. The use of weapons and shields
      4. 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

         allows the participant to engage in heavy combat with melee weapons and to take the field as Plumed Combatant or Plumed Auxiliary.

      2. Plumed Participant

         allows the participant to take the field as an unarmed Plumed Auxiliary, or as a Plumed Combatant when combined with a weapon authorisation such as thrown weapon, combat archery or siege engine.

   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 Participant authorisation:
      1. Fibreglass spear
      2. Thrown weapon
      3. Combat Archery
      4. Siege Engine
4. The following marshal authorisations also apply.
   1. Auxiliary Marshal
   2. Marshal
   3. Siege Marshal
   4. Senior Marshal
5. Only a Senior 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 Senior 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.
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 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 Senior Marshal. They may be issued for a period of up to four years for adults and one year for minors.
10. Authorisations shall not be issued to persons residing in other kingdoms.
11. Valid authorisation cards from other kingdoms shall be accepted as proof of authorisation. To renew in Lochac, the candidate must complete a Lochac authorisation.
12. 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. ***Banner bearing is part of armoured combat according to Society Rules - 14-16 as plumed auxilliaries is no longer allowed by Society rules***
   4. No person below the age of 14 may be authorised for any form of SCA combat-related activity.***NOt relevant for this rule set***
   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:
   1. The parents or guardians of the minor (not a Nominated Caregiver) must witness SCA combat, discuss with a witnessing marshal how it relates to the participation of their child.
   2. 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.
   3. Two Senior 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.
2. At any event in which the minor is involved in SCA Combat-Related Activities, the minor must have either a parent or guardian, or Nominated Caregiver present at the event.
3. Authorisation cards issued to minors will have "MINOR" clearly printed or stamped across the face of the card.