Fencing Draft:Rules For Managing Incidents

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This section sets out the actions and processes for managing incidents. It is for both combatants and Fencing Marshals.

Breaking rules

1. Marshals enforce the rules and have the authority to take action if there is a safety issue or if a fencer breaks the rules. Fencers also have the right to question a decision or to appeal any action that is taken against them.
2. Fencers can be suspended from combat for breaking the rules during a bout.
3. If the person supervising the field believes a fencer is breaking the rules, they will give the fencer a warning.
4. Following that warning, the Fencing Marshal-in-Charge can suspend a fencer for any of the following reasons:
   1. They have broken the rules for a third time.
   2. They are refusing to obey the lawful commands of the person supervising the field.
   3. The person supervising the field believes the fencer's behaviour poses a risk to you or to others.
5. Once a fencer has been suspended, they cannot take part in fencing combat until the incident has been resolved. This requires a ruling by the Group Fencing Marshal, with the approval of the Kingdom Fencing Marshal.

Excessive blows

1. If a fencer believes their opponent has hit them too hard (either accidentally or deliberately), this should be discussed upon the field.
2. Fencers should discourage their opponent from taking a blow the fencer feels was excessive.
3. Blows intended to deliver force beyond what is necessary for acknowledgement are not allowed. Repeated offences will lead to disciplinary action by the marshallate.

Injuries

On the field

1. If there is a suspected injury on the field, anyone may call a hold to stop all fighting in the area and determine the proper course of action.
2. A marshal should call for assistance if they suspect that someone is experiencing more than momentary distress. It is an extremely serious matter to delay first aid when it is needed, and marshals who ignore injuries may have their ability to supervise combat suspended.
3. In the event of an emergency, everyone must cooperate with any authorised persons responding to the emergency and keep the area clear of spectators.
4. Do not enter the field to assist until given the go-ahead by a marshal, once combat has stopped.

Treatment

1. If the injured person is conscious, they must be asked if they would like assistance. You cannot force a conscious person to accept treatment without their consent.

Return to the field

1. As per Fencing Handbook rules 5.2.2, if the injury involves a suspected concussion, the injured person must leave the field and cannot participate in combat or training until assessed medically, even if symptoms resolve. The injured person should be assessed against Concussion in Sport Group's Concussion Recognition Tool, and referred to a healthcare professional as appropriate.
2. As per the Fencing Handbook rule 5.2.2, if the injury involves free flowing blood, the injured person must leave the field immediately and may not return until the flow of blood has stopped.
3. If the injury might have been because of the actions of the fencer's opponent (for example because of an excessive blow), the Fencing Marshal-in-Charge must suspend that fencer from combat while the incident is investigated.
   1. The length of the suspension will vary depending on the circumstances, but will be the decision of the Fencing Marshal-in-Charge.
   2. A fencer may appeal the length of suspension to the Kingdom Fencing Marshal within 72 hours of being informed of the decision.
   3. As injuries are a very serious matter, in this case the fencer cannot appeal to the Group Fencing Marshal.

Reporting

1. Serious injuries must be reported to the Group Fencing Marshal, Kingdom Fencing Marshal and the Earl Marshal within 24 hours of the incident and reported to the Society Fencing Marshal within 48 hours. Include all available details in the report. Serious injuries include:
   • all injuries which require hospitalisation or may require complex medical care
   • any injuries that include a period of unconsciousness.
2. Any incident involving calling emergency services to site must be reported to the Kingdom Seneschal within 24 hours.
3. Any injury that means a fencer is unable to continue fighting (beyond choosing not to continue for their own comfort) must be reported to the Group Fencing Marshal and Kingdom Fencing Marshal within 24 hours of the incident.
4. Other adverse events must be included in event reports, and reported to the Kingdom marshallate within 2 weeks and to the Society Marshal within 3 months of the incident. These include:
   • injuries which resulted in bleeding, and/or which required a combatant to retire from the field, even briefly.
   • near misses. Near misses are incidents which had the potential to cause, but did not actually cause, a serious injury, such as a fencer receiving a blow from an untipped sword.
5. Documentation including the relevant marshals' and witnesses' accounts, and images, are highly encouraged to provide the greatest detail for these records.
6. Incidents and injuries that might not otherwise be considered reportable are encouraged to be reported to the Marshal-in-Charge, and included in event and quarterly reports.
7. The Kingdom Fencing Marshal must ensure that an investigation into the incident is undertaken and a report provided to the Kingdom Earl Marshal within 10 days of the incident being reported.

Weapons failure

1. Marshals must investigate and report any serious weapons failure during a practice or combat, such as a broken blade, or blunts that a sword tip has punched through.
2. These incidents must be reported to the Group Fencing Marshal and Kingdom Fencing Marshal within 14 days and to the Society Fencing Marshal within 90 days (during their next quarterly report).
3. The Marshal-In-Charge of the event or practice is responsible for reporting the incident to the Group Fencing Marshal and the Kingdom Fencing Marshal. The Kingdom Fencing Marshal is responsible for reporting to the Society Fencing Marshal.

Suspension of authorisation and other sanctions

1. A Fencing Marshal can suspend a fencer or marshal from taking part in fencing activities for just and stated cause.
   1. Suspensions can be for any particular weapon form, marshalling, or participation entirely.
   2. A Fencing Marshal other than the Kingdom Fencing Marshal may only suspend a fencer or marshal for a maximum of 30 days. This allows for review by the Kingdom Fencing Marshal.
   3. The Kingdom Fencing Marshal may suspend a fencer or marshal for up to one year.
   4. The Kingdom Earl Marshal may suspend a fencer or marshal for longer periods, or revoke an authorisation.
2. The marshal must inform the person subject to the sanction, the Group Fencing Marshal, and the Kingdom Fencing Marshal of the suspension as soon as possible. This must include a written notice as soon as possible.
3. Any marshal suspending an authorisation without due cause may themselves be subject to sanctions including, but not limited to, loss of authorisations.
4. The Kingdom Fencing Marshal must notify the Kingdom Earl Marshal as soon as possible, who will notify the Society Marshal of any suspension of authorisations in their reports.
5. In addition to any steps taken by the marshallate, infractions involving breaches of mundane law should be referred immediately to the appropriate authorities.
6. The Kingdom Fencing Marshal may require certain actions to be performed before a suspension is lifted. These may include, but are not limited to:
   1. Requiring the person to re-train for a period of time to address the issue to led to the suspension;
   2. Requiring the person to reauthorise as if a new fencer.
7. Requirements such as re-training or reauthorisation may be contingent on the activity taking place under the supervision of a specified marshal or fencer.
8. If a person has an authorisation suspended twice, the Kingdom Fencing Marshal will recommend to the Kingdom Earl Marshal that their authorisation is permanently revoked.

Appeals

1. You have the right to appeal a decision to suspend you from combat or participation in fencing activities. You must make your appeal within 72 hours of being informed of the decision.
2. If you are subject to suspension of your authorisation or participation, you may appeal, but you must abide by the sanction until the appeal process is complete.
3. The chain of appeal is to the:
   • Fencing Marshal-in-Charge of the event
   • Group Fencing Marshal
   • Kingdom Fencing Marshal
   • Kingdom Earl Marshal
   • The Crown
   • Board or Committee of your relevant SCA organisation.
4. All appeals are covered by the grievance procedure in Kingdom Law.