Laurels & Leaders offers alternative sports for kids and youth who do not enjoy or thrive in a traditional sport environment. We have worked to create a community that emphasizes cooperation and inclusion over competition. This game is (at its core) an elaborate game of tag that uses foam swords (or “sword boffers”) and more instead of hands. Games are often variations of schoolyard games, such as Capture the Flag, Freeze Tag, and more that have been adapted for to incorporate boffers.

All games are coordinated and monitored by “coaches” known as Marshals. These adult volunteers are present in games in a teaching and role-modeling capacity to ensure rules are followed as well as to respond to accidents or incidents that may happen in the field. By being present in games, they are also able to observe how well participants are learning and implementing the rules. 

One of the key aims of Laurels & Leaders is to support children and youth in becoming ethical, empathetic, and capable adults. To do this, we have created a system called the Ranking System that uses both game theory and childhood developmental theory (more below). Many of our games are geared towards developing these values in participants. They may challenge or provide opportunities to practice a participants’ leadership skills, courage, sportsmanship, and more.

Our Ranking System

This Ranking System hinges on peer mentorship. Activities are not separated by age, allowing for a diverse system that enables younger players to learn these values and skills from older participants, who get the opportunity to practice these same values and skills.

When a participant starts Laurels and Leaders, they begin as a Squire (level 1). After meeting the knowledge and attendance criteria (knows the rules and has attended at least 3 times), their peers in the next rank, the Knights, will evaluate their progress on demonstrating a set of values: respect and self-control. If the Circle decides that the participant had shown the values, then the player is ranked up. If they are not yet ready, the player is supported while they work on the missing skill.

There are seven ranks in all. After Squire, they are:

1. Knight, shows respect and self-control
2. Delta-Knight, shows sportsmanship and cooperation
3. Cavalier, shows integrity and tenacity
4. Dragoon, shows courage and mentorship
5. Lancer, shows patience and leadership
6. Sentinel, shows respect and self-control

As a participant progresses through the ranks, they can not only use larger and more types of boffers, but they also take on a leadership role in the Laurels & Leaders community. For some ranks, participants must complete challenges to demonstrate their mastery of a value, such as the Shield Challenge. For 3 game days, the player can use only a shield to demonstrate that they have mastered the ability to lead those around them.

Gear & Safety

The equipment we use, known as “boffers,” have been in development for over 20 years. At this point, we are fortunate enough to have an dedicated person designing and testing all of the boffers that we use. Each design is strictly codified and rigorously tested before being allowed on the field of play. At the time when participants check-in, all boffers are tested for continued integrity and compliance, especially boffers designed by participants. Any boffer deemed unsafe or “sketchy” is immediately pulled from play until such a time as it is made safe and compliant.

In our 20 year history, there has been only one instance of hospitalization, and this was due to an incident involving park equipment (the teenager tripped on concrete and gave himself a concussion). Additionally, we have never had a complaint about one of our volunteers. We are preventative in our approach to participant safety, such as requiring a minimum of 4 volunteers per event. Any incident (behavioral, medical, or otherwise) is required to have a reporting volunteer and a witnessing volunteer.