Youth Fighting
Youth Combat is an exciting program for SCA youth ages 6 through 17 to participate in a kid-friendly and safe version of adult combat. The program emphasizes courtesy, honor and service as well as safety. Boys and girls participate in combat together, separated only by age, not gender.
Youth fighters compete with other youth in three age brackets:
- Division 1: ages 6–9
- Division 2: ages 10–13
- Division 3: ages 14–17
Youth armor and weapons standards vary by division, but generally parents can armor their youth fighters with standard athletic gear like elbow and knee pads, hockey helmets and hockey gloves. Weapons are made of plastic golf tubes covered in foam padding and duct tape for Division 1, and ¾" PVC pipe covered in foam padding and duct tape for Divisions 2 and 3. Instruction in building armor and weapons is available from the youth marshalls, or check out the links below for more information on armor and weapons construction.
Visit the Æthelmearc Youth Fighting page for specific rules, as well as the waiver that must be completed for children to participate.
At SCA events, youth fighters participate in tournaments and melees with other youth, just as their adult counterparts compete with adults. Tournaments range from double-elimination and round robin to "Warlord" tourneys, where youth fighters captain teams of other fighters in melee battles. There are even tournaments to determine Baronial and Kingdom Youth Combat Champions, who serve as honor guards for their Baron and Baroness or King and Queen. At the Pennsic War, youth fighters compete in practices, tournaments, and a castle battle with dozens of fighters in each division.
Youth combat practices are held on Sunday afternoons at the same site as adult fighter practice. In good weather practice is held from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at Washington Blvd. Park near the corner of Washington Blvd. and Allegheny River Blvd. in the East End of Pittsburgh. In the winter, practices are held from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at the Pittsburgh Chinese Church, 8711 Old Perry Highway, in the North Hills.
For more information about the youth combat program in the Debatable Lands, contact Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope.
Links:
- Æthelmearc Youth Combat web page
- Instructions for creating a PVC weapon (Divisions 2 and 3 ONLY)
- Instructions for Building "Jack Armor"
Videos of Baronial Youth Fighters:
A Division 2 Bout:
Two Division 2 youth fighters face off: a 12-year-old with sword and shield, and an 11-year-old with a polearm.
The shield man blocks a blow from the polearm with his shield.
The sword and shield fighter has taken a blow to a leg, so he must fight from his knees. The polearm fighter took a blow to his right arm, so he must fight using only his left arm. Who will win?
The shield man has taken a blow to the head and "died." Don't worry, he's just pretending to be dead — he's actually fine, and will get up and fight again. Here he demonstrates the correct position to "die defensively." It's important to use this position, especially in a melee, to ensure that you don't get hurt if other fighters trip or fall over you.