Fencing Draft:Types Of Marshalling

Types of marshalling

Table 3.1 Summary of roles

	Authorised combatant	Fencing Marshal	Authorising Fencing Marshal	Group Fencing Marshal	Kingdom Fencing Marshal
Subscribing membership required	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Authorisation required	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Inspect equipment	No	Yes	Yes	if Fencing Marshal	Yes
Supervise combat	Yes	Yes	Yes	if Fencing Marshal	Yes
Be Marshal-in-Charge	No	Yes	Yes	if Fencing Marshal	Yes
Authorise fighters	No	No	Yes	if Authorising Fencing Marshal	Yes
Authorise Marshals	No	No	Yes	if Authorising Fencing Marshal	Yes

1. There are five kinds of activities that come under marshalling:
   • supervising combat
   • being the Marshal-in-Charge of the field or event
   • inspecting equipment
   • authorising participants
   • holding an office for a group or the Kingdom.
2. There are three types of people who can do some or all of these activities:
   • authorised fencing combatants
   • Fencing Marshals
   • Authorising Fencing Marshals
3. The requirements are set out in table 3.1.

Officers

Fencing Marshal-in-Charge

1. Every fencing combat event or practice must have a designated Marshal-in-Charge.
2. The Marshal-in-Charge is responsible for making sure the rules are followed and that fencing combat takes place according to SCA policies, including the Code of Conduct. That can include:
   • carrying out inspections or delegating other marshals
   • making sure all bouts are properly supervised
   • dealing with any disputes or incidents, including escalating them when needed to the Group Fencing Marshal.
3. When you run a fencing combat event, you must send a report to the Group Fencing Marshal within 30 days of the event.

Group Fencing Marshal

1. The Kingdom Fencing Marshal appoints a Group Fencing Marshal, in consultation with the group Seneschal, to administer fencing combat within each group.
2. The Group Fencing Marshal is an administrative position. A person does not have to hold a fencing marshal authorisation to be the Group Fencing Marshal.
3. The Group Fencing Marshal is not required to provide training.
4. The Group Fencing Marshal is responsible for making sure the rules are followed for all events and practice. That can include:
   • appointing a Marshal-in-Charge
   • receiving reports on events
   • investigating any incidents, including matters brought to their attention by marshals or fencers
   • reporting each quarter to the Kingdom Fencing Marshal on fencing combat activities and any incidents.
   • escalating issues when needed to the Kingdom Fencing Marshal.
5. Group Fencing Marshals are appointed for two years. If necessary, the group Seneschal can request the Kingdom Fencing Marshal extend your warrant, for example if no-one else is available.

Kingdom Fencing Marshal

1. The Kingdom Earl Marshal, in consultation with the Crown, appoints a Deputy to serve as the Kingdom Fencing Marshal.
2. The Kingdom Fencing Marshal must hold and maintain a current fencing marshal authorisation and SCA membership.
3. The Kingdom Fencing Marshal is responsible for making sure fencing combat in the Kingdom is carried out according to these rules. This can include:
   • making sure each group has a Group Fencing Marshal
   • reviewing the reports from Group Fencing Marshals
   • investigating any incidents, including matters brought to their attention by marshals and fencers
   • taking disciplinary action where required
   • reporting to the Kingdom Earl Marshal and the Society Fencing Marshal on fencing combat activities and any incidents
   • administering and promoting these rules including, where necessary, updating the rules in consultation with the fencing community, the Kingdom and the SCA in Australia and New Zealand.
4. You can also use your discretion to authorise a Fencing Marshal or Authorising Fencing Marshal without undertaking the normal processes, should you believe it is required to benefit the Kingdom and the Society. This might include appointing experienced fighters as marshals in order to promote that type of fencing within a group. This should only be done when the normal process cannot be appiled, and does not overrule any other requirements. For example, Authorising Fencing Marshals must still be authorised in a form of combat to authorise fencers in that form. You must make those appointments in writing, send a copy to the Kingdom Lists Officer as a record, and include the details of the appointment in your quarterly report.
5. The Kingdom Fencing Marshal is appointed for two years. If necessary, the Kingdom Earl Marshal can recommend that your warrant be extended.