Etiquette, Safety and Respect
Like all forms of martial arts, there are observable behaviors of etiquette that indicate the various stages of Boffer matches. In Karate, opponents often bow towards one another as a sign of respect, indicating the start of a match or the end of a match. In Boffer sports, competitors often tap their opponent’s Boffer sword to indicate readiness for a match. When a Boffer match is finished, it is common to see opponents give each other a hug, a fist bump, or a high five. We find that these practices help to keep competitors in a healthy mind state before, during, and after a match.
In the middle of a match, sometimes a Boffer sword or shield is accidentally dropped. While there are no strict rules of etiquette that enforces an opponent from taking advantage of the moment, we strive to maintain the culture of play. Oftentimes, this shows up as an opponent taking a few steps back and dropping from their battle stance. Again, this isn’t a required action but it expresses the depth of character that a player possesses. Most importantly, showing that the players remember that this is a game. At the end of a match, players will acknowledge each other to show that any frustrations of the game are left behind on the field.
Players, if seeing another player may have been hurt will loudly call “Hold”. “Hold” is a carefully guarded term in the community, and used in the case of an emergency. This “Hold” may be called at any point and is echoed by all other players when they hear it. Calling “Hold” and dropping to a knee until every player has done the same. This allows for coaches and referees to enter the field and assess if emergency care is required. Players will respectfully stay in position and minimize chatter, until coaches and referees call “Lay On” for the match to resume.
In the middle of a field game, when a player is considered “out of play” the common etiquette is to sit or lay down with a hand on top of the head. This indicates to other players that they are “out of play”. Often, referees will call for those who are “out of play” to exit the field, this allows for a safer play environment until the match is over.
While there are many small intricacies of behavior in this sport, our intention is to teach them so every player will be safe and employ respectful behavior. When the community, as a whole, adheres to these behaviors of etiquette - we create an environment of safety and respect for that safety.
