Inter-Kingdom Combat Archery Competition (IKCAC)

The Inter-Kingdom Combat Archery Competition (IKCAC) is a target competition shot with combat gear, a minimum of gauntlets and helm, which provides the combat archer of the SCA with an opportunity to compete with other archers from all Kingdoms of the Known World. It provides an SCA wide standard of comparison for combat archery skills. It additionally affords those who might be curious, a way to get the feel of Combat Archery.

Prizes will be given to the top three archers of the winning Kingdom in each division of: crossbow, handbow. There will also be a youth division prize for the highest individual score.
It is also hoped that each Kingdom will encourage the efforts of their archers by awarding further recognition. The IKCAC is also a good practice if your Kingdom or group runs Combat Archery Tournaments, as it gives people not practiced, an opportunity to get the 'feel' of combat archery!

GENERAL RULES:

The competition may be shot at any official Kingdom or local event (regular practice sessions which are periodically announced in the appropriate newsletter count as official events--otherwise, official events are all those announced in the appropriate Kingdom or local newsletter). Events that fall outside of the normal IKCAC season may be granted official scoring if requested to the Keeper well in advance in writing AND with approval of the Keeper.

Archers may shoot for official score at as many competitions as they can attend, and may shoot for official score up to three times each day of a multi-day event. Archers may shoot up to three times a day for score per day, but practice away after that.

• An IKCAC has to be shot as one continuous shoot. An official start to the IKCAC must be declared, and must shoot each end until the IKCAC shoot is completed, or a score will not be recorded.
• Each IKCAC score must be shot as one complete, uninterrupted shoot.
• The archer may NOT pick and choose the best ends out of multiple shoots. Each shoot is a complete end-to-end exercise, where EACH arrow counts toward the final score
• Once a round is declared as scoring, a participant cannot do another, and ask it be swapped for the scoring. Once recorded, it stands.
• Once the start of an IKCAC shoot has been declared, ALL shots are considered scoring. Ranging shots and practice shots in between ends are prohibited.
• The archer may take a reasonable amount of time to complete a shoot, but no other arrows must be shot for any purpose (including another competition), once the archer has declared the start of his/her IKCAC shoot. If that happens, that IKCAC score cannot be counted, or is counted t the current score (unless the participant declines submission).
• The Keeper of the IKCAC retains the right to clarify any score submitted. The Keeper needs to have the breakdown in score for each round. Scores that do not include this information may be rejected. Use the PDF scoresheet to assist with this breakdown
• All scores must use the online form on the scores site for submission. Any exception must be approved by the Keeper of the IKCAC, or Deputies.

In setting up and shooting the IKCAC, all necessary precautions must be taken to insure the safety of all archers and bystanders. A warranted Marshal (target or combat archery) must be present at each IKCAC shoot (an archer who is a Marshal may submit scores for himself/herself with a witness observing and certifying). All elements of the IKCAC form but me filled out in order for the scores to be counted (ie: Marshal name, bow type, etc).

The winning Kingdom will be determined by averaging the highest scores of the three top-scoring archers for each Kingdom. In the case of a tie, both Kingdoms will be awarded.

EQUIPMENT RULES:

All protective gear, bows and combat arrows must meet the minimum SCA standards. Kingdom’s requirements take precedence for IKCAC scores shot within that Kingdom. Check with your Marshallate if in doubt.

BOWS:

Any type of SCA legal combat bow or crossbow may be used. Check the SCA Combat Archery rules rules for descriptions of allowed equipment. There is a division for crossbows, and handbows.

ARROWS:

Any type of SCA legal combat arrows may be used. A minimum of 12 arrows should be carried in a quiver. Consult Society and Kingdom law regarding construction and allowable modifications.

PROTECTIVE GEAR:

All armor requirements are waived; with the exception of HELM and HAND protection which must be worn during the shoot.

SHOOTING TECHNIQUE:

Any period style of aiming from instinctive, to using marked bow limbs or crossbow sights, is allowed.

Any period technique, from the Eastern holding of several arrows in the drawing hand or shooting two arrows at one time for rapid shooting, to the bow and pike method of William Neade’s Double-Armed Man, are allowed, but documentation may be required in questionable cases.

Any archer using a technique which could be a safety hazard to their self or to others must prove to the satisfaction of the Archer-in Charge their ability to use the technique safely prior to participation in the IKCAC.

All shooting techniques must be legal for the SCA Armored Combat field to be used during the IKCAC.

TIME LIMITS:

At the end of the time limit, "Hold" is called, shooting stops, and scores are recorded. Any arrow in the air at "Hold" counts. There is no penalty for not completing an end. Times must be measured with any Society/Kingdom approved method, ie stopwatch, recording, etc.

SCORE KEEPING:

Scores must be submitted to the site using the official online form, within thirty (30) days of being shot to be counted as official.

The final scores must be received to the IKCAC site no later than December 15th. The results of each competition should be sent as soon as possible after they are shot, so they may be tabulated and posted. The Keeper may contact you to obtain clarification before entering the scores.

If the Marker is in the vicinity of the target, he or she must either wear protective gear when recording scores from the target side of the shooting line, or they need to be sufficiently out of the line of fire that they will not be hit. For the additional safety and comfort of the Marker, a pavise or other form of cover, as well as a seat, may be provided near the target.

In order to approximate actual combat conditions, no one may inform the archer where his arrows are striking, either hits or misses, for during combat there would be no one to provide this information.

Any additional arrows fired, either above the allotted number or before/after time, will be penalized by removing the highest scoring shot for the round for each arrow loosed. For Example: if two arrows extra are shot (or after time is called), the Archer's score will be reduced by their two highest scoring shots. This applies even if the extra shots completely miss.

If a stopwatch is being used, timekeeper may not also be the the marker. As the marker must be watching the target at all times. If a recording with a lead in is being used the marker may start the playback then watch the target until time is called.

There are two printable scoresheets below:

• PDF Scoresheet
• Excel Scoresheet

Score Submission Problems - If you have any problems submitting scores please contact Sir Jonathas to report the problem and hold on to all your scores. This season I are working to untangle the IKCAC from the IKAC, if a problem is not reported then I can't possibly try and fix it.

DIVISIONS:

There are two adult combat divisions. Crossbow, and Handbow. The type of bow used must be specified when the score is submitted. Additionally there will be a Youth division for both Crossbow and Handbow. This will be all participants 12 years of age and younger. Youth age will be as of the beginning of the season so they will remain in the same division throughout the season.

SCORING ON SPEED ENDS:

The speed ends are intended to test an archer`s ability to move rapidly, nock fast, and shoot quickly, while maintaining accuracy. The time limit provides some of the pressure of shooting under combat conditions. The archer must draw their own arrows, no one may hand them to the archer.

The time for both speed and regular rounds may be called in whatever manner is decided by the Archer-in Charge, see clarifications above.

SCORING

Shots to the face or heart count for four (4) points on all rounds.

Shots to the rest of the body/head count for two (2) points on all rounds.

THE ROUNDS

SEQUENCE:

In order to more closely simulate combat conditions, the rounds should be shot in order of range: longest first, with the speed ends last in each round. This is meant to represent your army advancing on an opposing army.

THE UNDERHAND ROUND:

This round simulates shooting at a distant massed force. The term "underhand" was used to indicate that the target is seen under the bow hand when the archer is at full draw. Hence: shooting at long range. In this case, the range is thirty (30) yards.

• Regular: The archer has six shots at their leisure within a maximum of ninety (90) seconds.
• Speed: The archer starts drawn and aimed and shoots as many arrows as possible within a sixty (60) second time limit.

ADVANCING ROUND:

This round allows an archer to test their mobility and skill at the 30, 20, and 10 yard ranges. The archer has 90 seconds. Starting at the thirty (30) yard mark, after loosing a minimum of two shots, they may advance to the twenty (20) yard mark. After loosing a minimum of two shots, they may advance to the ten (10) yard mark and loose and many shots as possible until the time expires. For this round an archer may still advance to the next mark even if one or both shots miss, they may also choose to stay at the longer range.

CLOSE ROUND:

The archer stands at (toe the line with front foot) the ten (10) yard mark.

• Regular: The archer has six shots at their leisure within a maximum of ninety (90) seconds.
• Speed: The archer starts drawn and aimed and shoots as many arrows as possible within a sixty (60) second time limit.

THE TARGET:

The target has been simplified to two rectangles for the body and head with two circles on them for the face and heart. The body is 24 inches wide by 61 inches tall (to the “shoulder”), centered on top of that is the head which is 13 inches wide by 14 inches tall. The face is a 7 inch diameter circle which is centered on the head. The heart is a 10 inch diameter circle placed on the body, centered left to right and with its top edge 4 inches down from the “shoulder” line (the center of the circle would be 9 inches below the shoulder). The face and heart must be of a contrasting color to the head/body. See Examples at the end.

The target may be constructed in any manner available to the marshal, so long as it is very easy to accurately tell where each arrow hit, be that; miss, body, heart, or face. Examples have been produced using PVC pipe and fabric, as well as a basic plywood cut out. It is suggested but not required that the face/heart be a second piece of material in front of the head/body such that an arrow striking it will either make a notably different sound (for example thick foam), or bounce at an odd angle when it hits the edge (for example second piece of plywood). Placing a dog squeaky toy between two pieces of plywood also works well.

TARGET EXAMPLES:

Example of PVC and Fabric, with foam Face and Heart. Breaks down at the waist with smaller pipes inside to hold it together.

Example of Plywood folding. Folds at the waist with landscaping nails through the hinge board to keep it from folding when in use. Face and Heart are secondary plywood circles.

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If you have any questions or comments, please let me know!