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I’ve touched on professionalism for judges here and there in a number of my articles, but I’ve never sat down and done a comprehensive piece on the subject. Until now! This week, I’ve decided to focus on what makes a top-of-the-line Yu-Gi-Oh! judge. I’m going to separate standards of professionalism into four different areas and look at the subcategories for each one. Sound intriguing? Let’s get started.

1. Attitude

Fairness and Impartiality

Of all the traits that I’ve found to be consistent in the best judges, fairness and impartiality rank near the top. The whole point of judging is to enforce correct play and arbitrate disagreements, and you can’t do a credible job if you’re biased for or against someone. Sometimes, even a real jerk of a player is going to end up being right, and sometimes a player you like is going to be wrong. You’ve got to be able to make those calls with dignity.

Strong Work Ethic

Judges need to be hard workers. This isn’t a job for wimps. Judging is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. All judges and event staff feel this way, so don’t think that you get to sit down, hide behind the judge station, or take twice as long a food break as anyone else just because you’re tired. If you’ve traveled some distance to an event, remember that you’re there to work, not to have a reunion with all of the buddies you might be meeting up with.

Accessible and Respectful

It’s somewhat of a running joke in customer service jobs that everything would be great if it weren’t for all the pesky customers, and there are definitely times when judges know that feeling. However, you are there to answer players’ questions and make sure that they are playing correctly. Players need to be able to find you and interact with you, and they need to know that their problems will be dealt with fairly and competently. If you’ve got an attitude that says, “Get away from me, scrub,” that is a serious breach of professionalism. Players should be treated with courtesy. You are there to evaluate and correct their gameplay, not to rate them as human beings (no matter how sorely you may be tempted to do so).

Confident in Authority

You’re there as a judge, so you’re going to need to act like one. Younger, less experienced, or lower-level judges can often come across as insecure or lacking in confidence, and players will pick up on that. If a player suspects that you don’t know what you’re doing, he or she isn’t going to listen to you. Of course, you shouldn’t be an autocratic jerk either. But you are in a position of authority, so you need to conduct yourself accordingly.

Respectful of the Event Staff

You need to be cooperative with the TO and the other event staff. Especially at larger events, the staff members need to work together to make sure that the event begins on time and runs smoothly. Learn who is responsible for what, and treat other staff members with respect. An overly arrogant judge will often find that he or she isn’t asked to return.

On Time and Reliable

If you’re supposed to be at the venue by 8:00 a.m., you should get there at 7:45. Sometimes, you might be a victim of events that are beyond your control, but do whatever is in your power to make sure that you are never late. Do not leave the venue at the end of the day until the TO excuses you. If you agree to take on a judging job, nothing short of a dire family or medical emergency should keep you from honoring your commitment. I’ve judged at many events where up to half of the expected judge pool didn’t show up, and no excuses were given. That can be devastating for the TO, and it’s very hard on a judge staff that has to stretch itself thin to pick up the slack. If you don’t think you’ll be able to make it, don’t accept the job. If an emergency arises, let the TO know as soon as possible so other arrangements can be made. Don’t just wuss out and ignore your obligation, because that speaks poorly of your worth as a judge.

Supportive of Floor Staff

Head judges need to look after their floor judges. Floor judges should be professional enough to know how to behave, but if an event has new, less experienced judges, the head judge is responsible for giving them instruction. The head judge needs to make sure that work is being distributed evenly and lazier judges aren’t taking advantage of hardworking ones. Each floor judge should get a rest and food break when possible. The head judge also has to make sure that any information the TO needs the judge staff to know is communicated accurately.

Team Players

Judges need to coordinate with each other so that the beginning- and end-of-round tasks are performed as quickly and thoroughly as possible. All floor judges need to be covering the floor—one judge should not be roaming the tables while the others sit down for a break behind the judge station. A judge should never hold his or her level over another judge’s head. Judges need to work with each other, the TO, and the event staff, and that won’t happen if egos get in the way.

2. Demeanor

Never doubt that your appearance reflects your professionalism. Casual Fridays aside, wearing jeans and a paper hat says that you’re an employee, but wearing neat business attire says that you’re a professional. Judges are no different. A sloppy, unkempt judge with frayed jeans and a dirty T-shirt doesn’t look all that authoritative or represent the level of professionalism that most TOs require.

Look Sharp

Judges should be clean and neat, so be sure to shave if you grow hair in places where hair should not be! Take a shower and wash and comb your hair. Put on deodorant! No one likes a stinky judge, and the event hall is going to get ripe enough without your assistance. Wear whatever clothing is appropriate. You can wear a UDE judge shirt if you are entitled to wear one or an event staff shirt if one is provided by the TO. If you’re unsure about what to wear, you should contact the TO ahead of time and ask about the dress code. If a shirt isn’t provided for you, wear a clean, dark-colored T-shirt (a plain one unless it has a UDE game design on it) or button-down shirt. Judges for most UDE events wear black pants, not jeans. But some TOs will allow you to wear shorts in very hot weather. Alas, you may not wear skirts or kilts. Wear sturdy, comfortable, dark-colored shoes.

3. Skills

Know Rulings and Game Mechanics

Study the official FAQ and keep up with the questions and answers sent out on the judge mailing list. The mailing list is a fantastic resource. If a question ever comes up at one of your events, write down the appropriate ruling and ask the list later to make sure you made the correct call. Whatever the question was, you’re bound to see it again, and it’s good to let other judges profit from the answer as well.

Know Tournament Policies

TOs are largely responsible for knowing them, but since they are basic guidelines for how events should be run, tournament judges should know them as well. If you haven’t studied them, you can view the general policies here. You can also find the policies that are specific to Yu-Gi-Oh! here.

Know Penalty Guidelines

The penalty guidelines establish a list of offenses and the appropriate penalty for each one. Judges shouldn’t decide what constitutes a rules violation on their own, nor should they make up punishments on the spot. All judges need to know and adhere to these guidelines! Consistency in penalties is every bit as important as consistency in rulings. The penalty guidelines are posted here.

Player Management

In addition to the traits I’ve already mentioned, first-rate judges have excellent people-management skills. The importance of player management is underrated, but it can be even more necessary than memorizing every single rule. How a judge interacts with the players, parents, and other event staff can affect the entire event. Not only does a judge need to know information, but he or she also needs to convey that information in a way that people will understand and accept.

4. Experience

Tournament Experience

It’s been said that experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want, but in this case, I have to disagree. Each judging job gives you experience and insight from your perspective and from the perspectives of the other people working with you. PTOs like to use experienced judges whenever they can get them, so any event that you judge and perform well at is going to increase your professionalism. For Yu-Gi-Oh! judges, having Yu-Gi-Oh! experience is best, but experience in other games is worth something too.

Life and Work Experience

Experience in any job, particularly if it relates to customer service or people management, can contribute to your level of professionalism. Think about it—how much time do you spend in an average event directing players to the registration table, answering the same five questions over and over again, explaining tournament ID numbers, and so on? Judging isn’t a matter of standing behind a podium to lecture on game mechanics and resolve chains. You’re out there in the trenches, talking to people, answering their questions, and giving direction. Any experience that builds your abilities in those areas can’t help but improve your performance as a judge. Older judges often have an edge over younger ones, because older judges tend to have wider life experiences to draw upon.

Organized Play has expanded significantly this past year, resulting in an increased demand for qualified, professional judges. Higher-level judges need to set the standards for new judges in all areas of professionalism. Higher-level certification testing isn’t always available for every judge, so while judges are waiting to take their tests, they should focus on improving the other factors that contribute to their overall professionalism. When it comes down to it, many TOs prefer to rely on a skilled, professional, well-rounded level-1 or level-2 judge rather than a level-3 who can offer little more than detailed rules memorization. If you’re waiting for the chance to move up a level, use this time to polish the important skills that aren’t rated by a test. A truly professional judge will shine no matter what level he or she has.