Fencing:Change Log and Notes

Updated link - 24 February 2025

The link to the Society Fencing rules in 6.1.2 was out of date. An updated link has been added. The link to the Concussion Recognition Tool has been udpated to a more recent edition.

Version 6 (1 January 2024)

The changes between Version 5.3 and Version 6 of these rules are significant. Fencers should familiarise themselves with the new version as it exists. You can view the full change log here.

Version 5.3 - 21 January 2023

2.8.4.1

Removes 'the inner thigh' from the definition of the parts of the body that must be covered by penetration-resistant material.

Version 5.2 - 18 October 2022

2.8.4.1

Revoking the previous change to remove inner thigh from the wording as this change was not approved by the Board of SCALA and Committee of SCANZ, although it was changed at Society level.

Minor changes Version 5.1 - 15 May 2021

2.6.3

Specifies that spears can be used one-handed (not only after a hand is incapacitated) consistent with the Society Fencing Marshal Handbook.

2.8.4

Removes 'the inner thigh' from the definition of the parts of the body that must be covered by penetration-resistant material, consistent with the Society Fencing Marshals Handbook.

4.4

Specifies that incidents and injuries must be reported using the Lochac Incident and Hazard Form.

7.1.1.2

Specifies that after a drop test the material fails if the probe penetrates beyond the first layer.

Specifies that a single layer garment fails if the probe penetrates that layer.

8.3

Removes a second definition of Torso. Removes 'the inner thigh' from the definition of Torso.

Additions to Change log

Notes on 2.6.5 (use of the hand to parry the wrist); 5.4.3(b) change in dimension of blunts.

Version 5.0 Effective 1 May 2021

Version 5 replaces Version 4.0.

• Change of terminology from "Rapier" to "Fencing", consistent with the Society Fencing Marshals' Handbook
• Plain English approach and restructure by topic, for example: Rules for Fencers, Rules for Marshals.

Introduction

1.1

Specifies that all fencing combat activities in Lochac must follow the policies and requirements of SCA Australia and New Zealand.

1.4.2

Specifies that fencing combat is subject to mundane laws, including Victorian weapons laws.

1.5(5)

The Society Marshal has granted minor combatants in Lochac an exemption from the requirement to wear a marking that identifies them as a minor.

Rules for Fencers

2.4.2 (2)

Specifies that there is no waiting period to authorise for Cut and Thrust Fencing or to authorise to use a spear, if you have a Standard Fencing authorisation.

2.4.2 (3)

Specifies that you can use a spear if you have a current Rapier Pike or Pole Weapon authorisation under the previous Lochac Rapier Rules.

2.5.2(7)

Allows combatants in a melee to run from one part of the field to another, subject to distance restrictions.

2.5.2(8)

Allows Cut and Thrust Combat in a melee.

2.5.3

Sets rules for the participation of Gunners as non-fencing combatants.

2.6.2.2

Sets rules for fencers to "kill" a non-fencing Gunner.

2.6.1

Specifies that Rubber-Band Guns are the only projectile weapons allowed for use in the Kingdom of Lochac.

2.6.3(3)

Allows the use of a Spear with one hand,if you have lost the use of the other hand.

2.6.3(6)

Allows the use of a Spear to "Kill from behind".

2.6.4

Allows the use of Rubber-Band Guns in single combat that is not part of a tournament.

2.6.5

Allows you to use your hand to parry your opponent's weapon or wrist. This is a change from previous practice, consistent with the Society Fencing Marshal Handbook.

2.7(7)

Allows movement on the knees when you have received a blow to the lower leg.

2.7(8)

Allows combat to continue following a leg blow in Cut and Thrust combat.

2.8.1 (1)

Makes it mandatory to wear some form of eye protection during sword or dagger drills with opponents in practice.

2.8.1 (2)

Makes it mandatory to wear full face protection during spear drills with opponents in practice.

2.8.6

Specifies that a shield or buckler alone is not sufficient hand protection for Cut and Thrust combat in Lochac. This is a more restrictive requirement than the Society rule.

2.8.7

Additional requirements for medical protection.

Rules for Marshals

3.2

Notes additional requirements for inspections in line with COVID safety requirements.

3.6(2)

Allows Authorising Marshals to authorise Fencers in any category in which the marshal holds a combat authorisation (rather than requiring separate Authorising Marshal categories).

3.6(3)

Requires Authorising Marshals to hold a current authorisation card to conduct an authorisation.

3.8.2(2)

Specifies that a person does not need to be an authorised fencing marshal to hold office as a Group Fencing Marshal.

Managing incidents

4.7.1

Sets out the process for re-training after a person's authorisation has been suspended.

Rules for equipment

5.4.2

Specifies that blunts must have a minimum surface of 10mm, consistent with the Society Fencing Marshal Handbook.

5.6.3

States that steel-headed spears will not be allowed from 31 December 2021, at the direction of the Society Marshal.

5.7.2(6)

Specifies that rubber band gun ammunition must have a draw strength no greater than 13.6 kg (30 pounds).

Inspections

6.2.2

Sets out an inspection process for rubber band guns.

6.4

Sets out a COVID-safe inspection process.

Safety tests

7.1.1.2

Specifies that puncture resistant material fails the drop test if the probe penetrates beyond the top layer of multiple layers.

Specifies that a single layer garment fails the drop test if the drop test penetrates that layer.

7.3

Sets out a safety test for rubber band gun ammunition.

Authorising procedures

Sets out guidelines for authorising fencers, gunners and marshals.

Glossary

Sets out the definition of terms used in the rules.

V 4.2 - July 2019

V4.1.0 - 26 May 2019

Imported version 4.0 into the wiki, corrected section referencing, replaced his/her etc with their etc, and removed acronyms. Removed reference to Principality. Updated broken web links. New PDF format generated.

V4.1.1 - 18 July 2019

Updated quote marks with the word inches where relevant to prevent formatting errors in pdf. Set consistent use of fractions for imperial measurements, and provided metric conversions for all uses of imperial measurements. Moved Document History from Appendices to become Change Log.

Rapier

Rapier_Administration - Appeals|5.3.3

Updated to remove reference to Quarter Courts, as the process has been replaced by grievance procedures.

Appendix - Rules of the Lists

Removed - "The section below is reproduced verbatim from section IX.B of the April 2006 revision of the https://www.sca.org/docs/pdf/govdocs.pdf Corpora of the SCA Inc. It is reproduced here for convenience. Changes to Corpora shall override the rules in this section." as it is no longer the case for Lochac. Replaced with "The Rules of the Lists are contained within the https://www.sca.org/docs/pdf/govdocs.pdf Corpora of the SCA Inc."

Due to our requirement for approval by the Board of SCA Ltd Australia and Committee of SCANZ Inc, we must remove the Sovereign's right to waive any of standards that Lochac has in addition to Society combat rules in Rule 4 of the Rules of the List.

Procedures for making changes to these rules

Updated to say that the Crown may only restrict the rules by proclamation, and includes a 30 day expiry on temporary rule restrictions.

List of required approvals for rule changes and experiments updated. This change means that the Sovereign may not waive any of Lochac's standards which are additional to those of the Society Rapier Marshal's Handbook.

V4.0 - 27 Mar 2019

Revision of melee/war rules to include increased risk management. Addition of Kingdom Rapier deputies for Spear/Pole weapons and Youth Rapier. Addition of Rubber Band Gun Only authorisation. Addition of 'blood rule'. Revision to gender neutral terms and formatting.

V3.6

Revision of rubber band gun rules to include long arms and insertion of Society Rapier Rules update regarding hand protection for Cut and Thrust.

V3.5

Introduction of Pole Weapons, updating of blade requirements to Society Rules, implementation of new Society Rules for mask/helm padding, changes to allow rapier combatants to supervise rapier combat.

V3.0

Introduction of Cut and Thrust Rapier Rule and reflected changes to the Marshallate structure. General tidy-up of the rules. Authorisations changed to Rapier, Melee, and Cut and Thrust.

V2.0

Introduced Rubber Band Guns to the weapons inventory and reflected changes to the Marshallate structure.

V1.0

Original document developed by the Lochac Rapier Marshallate, proclaimed into law on the formation of the Kingdom of Lochac, on 6 July 2002.