{"id":430,"date":"2018-01-15T19:17:21","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T00:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/youthcombat.aethelmearc.org\/?page_id=430"},"modified":"2026-01-18T17:43:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T22:43:37","slug":"getting-started-as-a-youth-fighter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/youthcombat.aethelmearc.org\/index.php\/getting-started-as-a-youth-fighter\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Started as a Youth Fighter"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Welcome, new youth fighters!
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

We’re happy to have you and your parents in the youth combat program. Youth combat is a great way for kids to be involved in the SCA.<\/p>\n

Kids in youth combat not only get the fun of whacking each other with padded weapons, they also learn physical coordination, self-defense, and skills like teamwork, chivalry, and service.<\/span><\/p>\n

To begin, you need to find your local youth marshal who runs practices! A roster of warranted youth marshals and their local groups is available from the menu under\u00a0Youth Marshaling<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

If your group doesn’t have a Youth Marshal, maybe your mom or dad will consider volunteering to become a youth marshal. Information on how to do that is also located on the menu under Youth Marshaling<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also check out the list of upcoming Tournaments that you can attend. Even if your local group doesn’t have a youth combat practice, you can try out youth fighting at most events without being authorized, except for the Kingdom Youth Champions’ Tournament held twice a year, typically in the spring and fall.<\/p>\n

Do I need to be authorized?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Youth Authorizations will be performed at the beginning of an event and will provide authorization for the duration of the event.<\/p>\n

POLICIES AND HANDBOOKS<\/strong><\/p>\n