MK Marshal's Handbook - Procedures for Grievances and Sanctions

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See Marshal's handbook

Procedures for Grievances and Sanctions

A. Responses to Behavioral Issues

Since our system depends heavily on personal honor and integrity, certain expectations and behaviors take on higher values than normal. Marshals may bar participation in martial activities if a participant is obviously impaired by drugs, alcohol, or a medical condition. This falls under the Rules of the Lists of the SCA, Inc #3 (Section II.B.3) which states in part that all combatants must be … “acceptable to the Sovereign or their representatives”.

Marshals are cautioned that the exhibited behavior or condition must be such that a prudent person without specialized behavioral or medical training would have concern about the safety of the participant, their opponents or spectators. In the absence of such behavior but where the marshal suspects that such a condition exists, the marshals may question the participant about the situation and offer advice on the safety and chivalry of their actions and try to persuade them to voluntarily excuse themselves. If that fails, the marshals may take it upon themselves to advise other participants of the marshal's concerns and let the participants decide for themselves whether or not they will compete with the affected party. Finally, marshals are reminded that they are not obliged to marshal any activity and may excuse themselves without penalty.

The above situations are fortunately few and uncommon. The personal safety and honor of the participants are our primary concern and the Marshals should reinforce this by example.

1. Address your concerns to the source: If a combatant has complaints about the behavior of an opponent, the first response of anyone hearing such, whether Marshal, combatant, or otherwise should be, "Have you talked to your opponent about this?" If the answer is no, the listener should insist that such a discussion take place before any other outsiders are involved.

2. Maintain objectivity and neutrality: Marshals brought into the matter when they did not witness or notice the action in question should refrain from taking sides. Instead they should get all parties face to face for a full discussion. If a tournament has been characterized by a high number of complaints, all the combatants should be brought together to bring problems into the open before they become permanent hard feelings.

3. Maintain Honor: There are many rules, conventions, and directives concerning fighting and Marshalling. No matter how much we codify, fighting will always be (and rightfully so) a matter of subjectivity we call HONOR. There are three "matters of honor" that, if adhered to by Marshals and combatants, will insure both safety and enjoyment:

a. Take care of each other on the field

b. If there is a discrepancy or problem on the field, talk right there and then and straighten it out. Do not ever be afraid to call HOLD and tactfully - "ASK THE QUESTION".

c. Give your opponent the benefit of the doubt. This means: If you are not sure of the blow that hit you -- ask. If you are not sure of the blow you threw -- let your opponent decide. These guiding principles overridingly serve both honor and prowess.

B. Grievances and Disputes

Usually the combatants are more than willing to correct any problems or breaches of the rules pointed out by a marshal. This is the desired solution: get the problem fixed. However, occasionally a marshal must take action. In the unhappy event that you find it necessary, here is how you shall proceed. In order of preference:

1. Point out the violation (missing armor, grappling during combat, etc.) and ask the fighter to correct it.

2. In the case of missing or inadequate armor, do not allow the combatant onto the field until it has been fixed.

3. In the case of violation of the rules during combat, ask the combatant to leave the field, and do not allow combat to resume until he or she has cooled off. This particularly includes removing from the field anyone who has lost his or her temper.

4. If you need support, call on (in order):

a. Any other marshals who are present (especially the marshal-in-charge).

b. A regional, deputy, or principality Earl or Knight Marshal.

c. The kingdom Earl Marshal

d. The local Seneschal

e. The principality or kingdom seneschal

f. The Crown

Note: The office of the Seneschal is not a normal part of the chain of appeals/assistance in the Middle Kingdom, save in those instances where the event is being shut down.

5. If the violation cannot be stopped, convince the marshal-in-charge and the local seneschal to end the event.

6. In any case where voluntary correction is not made after the problem has been pointed out, a detailed written report shall be made to the Earl Marshal as soon as possible after the event. In cases where the fighter has made corrections voluntarily a report should be sent to the Earl Marshal if a pattern of problems, even minor ones from the same fighter is occurring.

C. Sanctions

1. In addition to removing an unsafe combatant from the field at the time, long-term sanctions are available. These will normally be applied by the marshallate of the kingdom rather than by a local marshal. Procedures outlined in kingdom law or kingdom marshal policies shall be adhered to when sanctioning any person.

2. Possible sanctions include:

a. Revoking the authorization of the individual to fight with a particular weapon. (This sanction may be applied whether or not your kingdom does authorizations by weapon forms.)

b. Revoking the authorization of the individual to fight at all.

c. Recommendation to the Crown to banish the individual from participation in events.

d. Recommendation to the Board to banish the individual from the Society and its activities.

3. If any of these long-term sanctions are in progress, the Society Marshal shall be informed.

4. If authorization has been revoked, it is acceptable to inform the Earls Marshal of any neighboring kingdoms to which the currently unauthorized fighter might travel. Once longterm sanctions have been applied, a report shall be made to the Marshal of the Society.

5. An authorization from any Kingdom may be suspended/revoked in another Kingdom, should it prove necessary and appropriate. Such suspension/revocation means that the fighter may not fight anywhere in the Society until and unless the issue is resolved. Accordingly, the Earl Marshal of the kingdom issuing the suspension shall inform the Society Earl Marshal and the Earls Marshal of the neighboring kingdoms.

6. Furthermore, if the fighter is subsequently re-authorized, the neighboring Earls Marshal shall again be notified.