Safety

Safety here is structural, not procedural. The conduct policy and the rank hierarchy do most of the work; the instructor does not have to manage escalations after the fact because the culture prevents them.

Supervision

• Background check on file with the school.
• Two adults present at all sessions.
• Parents are not just welcome to watch; they are welcome to participate. A father fighting alongside his son is formation for both of them. Parent participation also provides additional adult presence on the field naturally.
• Boffer weapons used exclusively, with negligible injury risk.

Conduct Policy

Stated clearly on the first day: a boy who cannot control himself is asked to step away. If the behavior continues, he does not return until he is ready. This is not punishment. It is a statement of fact. This is a sport of honor and participation requires honorable conduct. The door is open when he is ready.

Boys know the standard and they know the cost. That is the whole policy.

Distributed Authority

Older students (especially Bachelor Knights and Knights) model and enforce the standard on the floor. An older boy who sees a Page losing his temper steps in before the instructor has to. The rank structure exists for this purpose, not just for advancement. The boys themselves carry most of the enforcement.

This is prevention over intervention. The instructor should not be in the position of physically breaking up fights.

Accessibility

This program is not for the athletic. It is for the willing. Every boy starts as Percival, the fool who begins in ignorance and learns through persistence. The boy who has never been good at sports is welcome here. Showing up honestly is the first qualification.