There is a certain amount of confusion about terms for Minor Boffer Combat/ Youth Combat in Ealdormere. Traditionally, Youth Combat in Ealdormere has referred to Armoured Combat Fighters who were 16-17 and Minor Boffer Combat referred to combat with padded weapons by children aged 6-15. Recently, the Society for Creative Anachronism has unified all of the various names for youth fighting with padded weapons (Whalebone, Boffer Combat, etc.) under the name Youth Combat.
Youth Combat definition passed at the Jul. 17, 2006 meeting of the SCA board:
Youth Combat is a program designed for minors ages 6-17. These programs require armor, require certain weapon construction techniques and materials, train young fighters in proper etiquette, the concepts of Chivalry, Honor and Courtesy, teach teamwork and good sportsmanship, as well as effective fighting arts, in a definitely competitive environment that parallels Adult Armored Combat. It employs Marshals, authorizations and strict controls. The Marshallate is responsible for Youth Combat, and each Kingdom is allowed to develop and run its own program.
I will use Youth Combat as the term throughout this site, but you will see other terms, mostly "Minor Boffer Combat" on linked pages.