Editing Tanoan jousting (section)

== Rules and officiating ==
A legal strike had to land on a designated chest or shoulder plate from an approved direction. It earned one point, with two additional points when the lance broke correctly and five when the opponent was completely unhorsed. A deliberate strike against a horse caused immediate disqualification.

Unhorsing did not itself end a duel. The fallen rider had to stand without assistance and raise one arm before a ten-second count expired; failure meant defeat. A successful rider then received up to three minutes for medical and equipment checks before remounting. Minor injuries, including some fractures, did not require withdrawal if the rider could still hold a lance and control the horse. Loss of consciousness, inability to stand, loss of control, or dangerous armour failure required the chief referee to stop the duel. An injured horse was removed immediately.

Each fixture was controlled by a ''Hauptkampfrichter'' with three scoring judges, two rail judges, a timekeeper, an equipment inspector, medical and veterinary officers, and an official recorder. At least two scoring judges had to agree on an award. The chief referee had final authority over stoppages and discipline, and active members of either club could not officiate. A captain could protest a scoring record or equipment decision before certification, but not a medical stoppage made during the duel.