Deciding how to carry yourself as a judge can be difficult. Projecting an air of professionalism gives you a secure, capable appearance and sets you apart from less diligent judges. Players will know what to expect from you, since your decisions and judgments are based on a solid, easily understood set of guidelines, and they know you’ll be consistent. However, then you worry that you’ll come off as rigid, unfriendly, or uncaring towards the players you are working with. Maybe they won’t like you . . . maybe they’ll think you’re too hard-nosed . . . maybe they’ll prefer more easygoing, casual judges. It’s true that a relaxed approach can ingratiate you to players, and possibly help create a warmer and more enjoyable environment, but being too casual can backfire if players take advantage of your easygoing demeanor and test how far you’ll let them go.

So there you are, caught between the two extremes. How far should you go in either direction? There are good things and bad to be said about each, and finding a balance between staunch, starched professionalism and laid-back laxity isn’t easy. Even if you’re an experienced judge and you feel like you’ve struck your most comfortable zone, attitudes differ between player groups and Premier Tournament Organizers in different regions. Even if you reach a happy middle ground with your local tournament staff and players, judging at a Shonen Jump Championship or Sneak Preview in a different area can often come with a whole new set of precedents and expectations. So what’s a judge to do?

You need to be able to assess the situation and event, take the circumstances and people into consideration, and find the appropriate tone. That sounds very straightforward and sensible, doesn’t it? How do you go about doing it though? There are several approaches you can take to bring yourself the most success at an event, but it never hurts to remember that certain situations always demand that you lean harder in the direction of professionalism. If you’re relatively new to judging, or have only recently begun considering your role “professional”, I’d suggest focusing on the following five areas of communication. While these are certainly not the only times that demand professional behavioral, they’re five that you should never miss.

Table Judging:
Table judging for a Top 8 match or a feature match can be stressful, since the only way to learn how is to jump in and do it. Even practicing with your friends beforehand can’t simulate the amount of pressure you’ll sometimes be under (I don’t mind confessing that of all judging duties, the one I really agonize over is table judging.). Most new table judges either overcompensate by being overly stiff and stern, or find they can’t sustain that and quickly abandon professionalism altogether. The latter can be a huge mistake.

As the member of the tournament staff entrusted with an important match, you want to do all you can to maintain your neutrality and ensure it’s visible to all. You never want to seem biased for or against one of the players. Even if you aren’t, you can inadvertently create the illusion of a player preference through the way you communicate. It’s important that when both players are seated, you address them both in a similar fashion. If you know one of the two players, don’t give the one you haven’t met before a simple hello and then clap the other one on the back while exchanging laughs. It just doesn’t look right, and can give all kinds of wrong impressions.

Your job as a table judge is to regulate the match and ensure that it’s played out properly. However, it’s also a good idea to help reduce the stress levels of your players—feature matches can really be an ordeal. A light joke, friendly remark or a handshake for each player makes a good icebreaker, but make sure that if you employ a casual approach, that it doesn’t wend its way into the match itself. From the time the first hands are drawn to the point at which a winner is declared, you’re a referee before you’re a friend. After the match is finished, you can certainly give the loser friendly condolences, but you shouldn’t ever start high-fiving the winner or throwing confetti.

Speaking to the Unsettled:
When a player has a problem with his or her opponent, a ruling you’ve given, or the event itself, it is not the right time to start cracking jokes. While a relaxed manner will often help set an angry duelist at ease, anyone who’s upset about tournament proceedings will probably interact best with a level-headed tournament official projecting a calm, professional manner. It gives the player a reassuring sense that you take the matter seriously, which goes a long way to resolving the problem. One ill-timed joke or dismissive-sounding comment can set off an already upset individual, destroying your chances of resolving a complaint or dispute in an orderly fashion. If a dispute results in a major penalty (like a disqualification), professionalism is even more important. Maintaining the individual’s perception of your respect for them, as well as your neutrality in any decision you make, is important for the sake of the event’s integrity. As a general rule, if someone is in trouble, or causing trouble, take the professional high road. Don’t try to buddy-buddy your way through the mess—that usually backfires.

Speaking to Outsiders:
When dealing with parents, media representatives, venue staff, and random onlookers who stop by to watch what’s going on, stick with a professional attitude. Your appearance will help parents decide whether or not they want to bring their child to your TO’s events in the future. Your interaction with media representatives will definitely influence their perception of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG as a whole. Venue staff are there to do their job, and you should return the professional politeness they give you (or strike that tone yourself when it’s lacking in others).

This should go without saying, but should a law enforcement official appear on site and speak with you, professionalism is of the utmost importance. If you are floor judging, you should take them to the head judge or TO—if there are police at your tournament, they probably aren’t there looking for you (If they are, well . . . that’s a whole other article.). Police should always be deferred to the PTO, who can quickly give them any information they’re after. Usually, an officer is just stopping in to see what’s going on: fifty teenagers hanging around the parking lot of a community center isn’t an uncommon sight at a Regional, and that kind of gathering can raise a few eyebrows. Quick, polite interaction will serve everyone best in those circumstances.

Speaking to Your TO:
No matter how friendly you and your TO are, remember that at the end of the day, this is the person responsible for training you, compensating you for your work, evaluating your skill set, and deciding whether or not you continue to judge events in the area. While you are on the floor, whether you’re a head judge or a floor judge, the TO is essentially your boss—act like it! Casual communication can be fine, but it’s important to take the TO’s desires and instructions very seriously, and instructions he or she gives you should not be demeaned or ignored.

Many TOs encourage a fun working environment for their judges, and while you certainly don’t have to shy away from this approach, just remember who’s in charge. Don’t fall back on a stoic appearance and reserved manner of communicating—that’s likely to hinder your relations with the TO. What’s most important is a maintained understanding of your position within the ranks when it comes time for orders to be given, and carried out. In addition, should you ever feel the need to contradict your TO or raise a concern with how he or she operates, this is best done in private (or with just the concerned parties present), and in a very professional manner.

Speaking to Your Head Judge or Team Lead:
As with the TO, remember to keep your judging superiors for the event in mind. Many team leads or head judges are perfectly happy to be casual in their interactions with you, but you shouldn’t go into an event expecting him or her to be laid back.

Professional courtesy should be your default, especially when working with an unfamiliar head judge or a peer who is head judging for the first time. Head into the day with the expectation that your head judge and/or team lead will expect professionalism over casual conduct, and you won’t go wrong. From there, feel out your superiors when you communicate with them and adapt accordingly. Even if the atmosphere at your event is highly casual, it doesn’t hurt you to maintain a professional bearing during the opening judge meeting. That’s the time when it pays to be a careful listener, a clear and concise communicator, and an insightful observer.

Balancing your behavior between business and casual can be tricky, and you never want to veer too far from the professional end of the spectrum. A professional attitude smoothes the way and reinforces your authority and respectability, especially in the situations outlined above. Deciding (correctly!) whether it’s time to crack the whip or crack a joke can have as much of an impact on others’ perception of your worth as a judge as your testing level, rules knowledge, and on-floor experience.