Tournament Rules

The guidelines for tournament rules are as follows. It is not required to run every event in the same tournament. The tournament coordinator can modify these rules for their specific tournament. Modifications should be done in writing and produced when the tournament is announced so that people can prepare. Add any changes to the Tournament Modifications section so the differences in rules are clear. A hard copy of the rules should be available the day of the event for anyone to read.

Fighting Rules

Normal fighting rules apply. Judges will watch the fights and make calls as needed, however you still need to take shots how you normally would. If a judge misses a call you should still take your shots.

As per the normal fighting rules, losing two limbs is not a death. Losing both arms at the same time as killing someone results in the armless person advancing.

Note: There is no difference between a three-limb kill and a body shot kill. If both happen in a mutual, it is just like any other mutual.

Tournament Modifications

Special rules or processes can change these rules for a singular event and should be written and explained in advance.

Helmets

If helmets are available and both combatants agree, helmets may be used making the head and neck a valid target.

Judging

Before the tournament starts, judges will be assigned. A judge’s ruling is final. Everyone misses calls and makes mistakes.

In the event that a judge does not clearly see who died first, judges may call a redo.

In the event of a mutual, combatants are set whole and the fight is reset. Faults remain.

In the event of a freeze, wounds remain and combatants are to be reset to far corners. Any dropped equipment may be picked up, and unused equipment should be removed.

Faults

During the course of a single round, a combatant can accumulate two faults. Once a third fault is issued, the combatant is disqualified. It is not up to the other combatant if they want to win by disqualification, only the judges.

Faults are earned by stepping out of bounds or wild swings to illegal hit locations. Stepping on the boundary rope is considered stepping out of bounds. Combatants who step out of bounds are given one warning. Each time they step out of bounds after the warning, it will be considered a fault. In the event that an illegal shot is caused by the one receiving the blow, a judge is not required to issue a fault. Only judges may issue faults, so if a fault is not issued and the judge says you blocked the blow into your head, the judge’s ruling is final. With any fault, fighters should be reset to the corners and fighting resumes, keeping all wounds.

Example: If Nate and Peter are fighting and Nate steps out of bounds Nate would be given a warning. In the same fight if Nate hits Peter in the head, neck, or groin, Nate would be issued a fault. If Nate steps out of bounds or hits Peter in the head it would count as Nate’s second fault. Once a third fault is reached the fighter is disqualified from that round and it is counted as a loss.

Events Rules

All swords must be 50” or less.

Single Sword: Individuals fight with a single sword.

Double Swords: Individuals fight with two swords.

Sword and Shield: Individuals fight with a single sword and shield. Shield may be any of the variety available. Shields that are padded to be weapons do not count as weapons.

Long Weapons: Individuals fight with a single long weapon. Long weapons must be over 5’ long.

Free Style: Individuals fight with any non-projectile weapons of their choice.

Short Weapons: Individuals fight with a single short sword. Short swords must be 30” or less.

Teams: Teams are formed during sign ups. Typical weapon sets are a single sword or swords and shield.

Tournament Finals

The first and second place of each event qualify for the tournament finals bracket. If teams is an event, only the winning team qualifies. Tournament finals are fought with the same rules as per single sword. If an individual win’s multiple events in a tournament, the only advantage they receive is priority of bye rounds. If there are not enough people in the finals to fall into an even bracket, assign byes based on most wins, and then most second places. In the event that there are exactly three finalists, the two with the most wins fight first. The winner must then defeat the other finalist. In this case matches are single rounds and not two out of three. Should the third individual win, they must beat the first defeated person. The cycle continues until one of the fighters beats both consecutively. After the winner is determined, the other two should fight to determine who finishes in second place.