The match slips are generated by MANTIS, after the scorekeeper has prepared the pairings but before the round begins. Judges then cut them and bring them around to each table. The slip has some important information on it that you’ll want to verify before you even begin to play your matches.

Examine the match slip carefully when it’s brought to your table.

Double-check the table number, then ensure that you are playing the correct opponent. Both players should look at the slip to see if their names are listed for that table. Playing the wrong opponent can merit a match loss for both players, even if one of them is at the correct table. It’s part of the players’ responsibilities to make sure they are playing the correct opponent, so always make sure—and remember your opponent’s name when you check the pairings, just in case your slip isn’t at the table before the round begins.

If you don’t get a match slip at your table, notify a judge.

It can take a while for the slips to get distributed at larger events, but if you see players around you with match slips and you’re well into the round, it won’t hurt to raise your hand and call a judge over. If you finish your match before the slip gets there, then stay put! Let a judge know that you’re done with your match, and they’ll get your slip to you as quickly as possible.

Don’t sign your match slip until the match is over.

Some players make a habit of signing the match slip as soon as it comes to the table. However, signing the slip means “the information on here is correct.” Essentially, it’s a binding contract. If there is no information on the slip yet, it’s not in your best interests to sign it. Wait until the winner has checked the “win” box before you sign the match slip.

Make sure the winner and only the winner checks the “win” box.

Hey, it happens! You lose the match, sign the slip, and for some inexplicable reason you mark the “win” box next to your name before you realize what you’re doing. If the match slip is unclear because the wrong player marked that he or she won, the you need to call over a judge and explain the situation. The judge will make an official note of the actual result so the scorekeeper can enter it correctly. Both players need to be present for this, for obvious reasons, so keep both the slip and your opponent handy until a judge fixes the mistake.

Don’t check the drop box unless you want to drop from the tournament!

Checking the drop box means “I no longer wish to play in this tournament, so please remove me from all future pairings.” It doesn’t mean “I lost this match.” If the event that you’re playing is Swiss-style, then you can play in all the rounds and you don’t have to leave if you lose a match. If you do decide that you would like to stop playing in the tournament, then check the drop box and hand the match slip in to the scorekeeper. Don’t just leave the event—always notify the scorekeeper that you would like to drop from the tournament. “Phantom” players can cause delays while event officials try and sort out whether or not those players are actually there, and it disrupts the pairings as well.

Fill out the match slip immediately once the match ends.

Both players need to verify that the right person is marked as the winner before signing, and then they should promptly sign the slip so it can be handed in. You need to resist the temptation to sit around and talk, or to play another game or two, especially if the round is nearly over or has already ended. And make sure you don’t leave before signing the slip! This can happen sometimes, especially if the match didn’t go well for you, if you’re thinking about the concessions line, or if you need to run to the restroom. Always remember to verify and then sign the match slip.

If you have anything you want to bring up with a judge regarding the match, do so before you sign that match slip.

Once the slip is signed and handed in, it’s too late to do anything, even if you have a valid complaint. Always deal with any issue right when it arises.

Refusing to sign a slip can result in a penalty for unsporting conduct.

Again, if you have issues that you want to be addressed during or after a match, you need to speak to a judge when those issues arise. If after speaking with the judge, you’re still not satisfied and you refuse to sign the slip, be aware that you could incur a penalty.

The winner is responsible for taking the slip up to the scorekeeper in a timely manner.

The TO or head judge should announce at the beginning of an event if players are responsible for bringing up the match slips, but some TOs like to have a judge verify each slip at the table and then bring it to the scorekeeper. If it’s the players’ job to submit the slips, then the winner should take the slip up as soon as possible. It’s not unheard of for a losing player to carry off the slip, then scratch out the correct winner and mark the win under his or her name.

After the match is over, carry the match slip up to the scorekeeper or submit it to a judge as soon as you can. There are a lot of match slips for the scorekeeper to enter into the computer, and the sooner yours is in, the quicker the scorekeeper can deal with it. If everyone waits until the round has ended to hand in their slips, then there’s going to be a long delay while the scorekeeper enters all the match results. Tournaments are often delayed between rounds because of match slips that have gone missing.

Never leave the match slip lying on the table.

Don’t assume that someone will collect it and hand it in for you. If the slip gets lost, it can cause a huge delay between rounds while the scorekeeper and tournament officials try to track down the missing players and sort out what happened. If you lose the match and the winner starts to walk away without the slip, remind him or her to take it up to the scorekeeper right away.

Once the match slip is handed in, the results are final.

Make sure the results are correct beforehand! Even if you take your opponent to the scorekeeper afterward and you both try and explain the error, once the slips have passed into the possession of the scorekeeper, nothing about them can be changed.

Don’t tamper with a match slip.

Never make any markings at all on the slip, other than “win” if you are the winner, your signature, or “drop” if you want to drop from the tournament. Making remarks about your opponent (even jokingly to your friends), or writing down comments about the event or the judges can carry a penalty. At a large event, there are a lot of slips to enter into MANTIS, and the scorekeeper needs to be able to see the results clearly. He or she can’t do that efficiently if the slip is cluttered up with silly comments. Writing down insults about your opponent or a judge fall under the heading of unsporting conduct, and you can get a serious penalty for doing so.

Never mark down that anyone other than you wishes to drop when they intend to keep playing, not even as a “joke.” You run the risk of a severe penalty. If you have lost a match, never try to alter the slip to claim the win, because you will be disqualified from the event and likely banned from competing again for some time.

You should also never use your match slip to keep track of life points. The backs of match slips have to remain clear in case a judge needs to keep track of a penalty. Bring your own paper, or ask a judge for some if you need it.

And there you have it—all of the match slip information that you could ever need. Reducing errors and between-round delays is in everyone’s best interest, and I couldn’t help but notice that most of the delays at the last event I head judged were due to errors in decklists and incorrectly managed match slips. This makes a huge difference in the end times of large events, like Shonen Jump Championship tournaments. Why tack on an extra hour and a half due to minor things that can be avoided? Let’s focus on impeccable paperwork, everyone, and you’ll see how much time and trouble can be saved.