I actually get asked quite often (either at events, or via email or IM) about how one gets started in judging. I’d rather say something once than over and over, so today I’m going to pass that information along for any and all who are interested. While working on this article, I found that there’s actually a lot of confusion about the early-level judge testing. Hopefully we’ll get that cleared up so you can move ahead.
Why would players want to move over to judging? Some just want access to the rulings, while others want to take a break from playing until a format they like better comes along. Some just want to oust a really bad store “judge,” and others are serious about making the change. Perhaps there is a lack of higher-level OP in their area due to a lack of support staff, or maybe they admire the work of some of our more longstanding judges. Whatever the reason, they often feel lost trying to figure out how to make the step from player to judge, because it hasn’t received a lot of focus from the majority of players. Netdecking, lucksacking, who is or is not a “pro” player, what people think of the latest set . . . lots of discussion is available for those topics. But moving from player to judge? Not so much.
Let’s begin at the beginning.
Why do you want to judge?
Think about your motivations. Are you only willing to do the occasional “easy shift” at a Sneak Preview in order to get a box of the new set right away, while being unwilling to give up playing at Regionals, even after you’ve got your invite? It’s very hard to be a highly competitive player and a first-rate judge, because the skills you need for each are different, and they both need constant practicing. If you just want to do the occasional Sneak Preview to get a box and a shirt, you’re not going to be much of a judge.
Tournament organizers and the rest of the judge team in your area need reliability. They don’t need a judge who drops out at the last minute to play in the event instead, favors his or her friends or teammates, or isn’t able to be professional. If you like to be really casual and last-minute, and can’t stay away from your friends at an event, then judging is probably not for you.
Can you handle the job physically, mentally, and emotionally? Proper judging is not easy. It demands mental and physical stamina that can hold up for fourteen hours or more, and enough emotional maturity to deal with an absolutely astonishing assortment of parents, players, and situations. If you tire quickly, have trouble standing and walking around all day, if you can’t keep your mind focused on a long-term task or you lose control of your emotions easily, you’re not going to be a very good judge.
Still reading? Good! I knew at least a few of you would make it through all of that. If you think you’ve got something to offer, here’s what you can do.
Most people believe that the very first step is to take and pass the level 1 judge test. Yes and no . . . it is the introductory level test, true, and you can’t move along in the program until you take it, but it’s not necessarily the first step.
First, you need to study. Read the rulebook that comes with the Structure deck—don’t assume you know it all. Read the FAQ’s on Upper Deck Entertainment’s site for advanced gameplay, errata, and single card rulings. Study the policy documents, including the penalty guidelines. Read Metagame.com, too. There’s a lot of game expertise being shared there, from all of the columnists.
Once you’ve got that under your belt, you need to find a place to judge. Your local shop is fine, but if you’re looking for higher-level play, you need to get in touch with your local Premier Tournament Organizer, and let him or her know that you’re eager to help out. How do you find your PTO? Go to this website and click on tournament details for your local Regional tournament. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the person running it is the PTO in your area. The page will offer his or her email address or customer service email address. Write up a professional-sounding email introducing yourself, and your foot is in the door!
If you can, find a more advanced judge to mentor you. This will save you the trouble of having to make all your own mistakes! If you pick a judge with a well-developed set of skills, you’ll learn the practical parts of judging very quickly. There’s a lot more to it than memorizing rulings and penalty guidelines. A judge who’s been there and done that can teach you things like fast deck-checking techniques, and demonstrate the kind of professionalism you should practice. He or she will also be there to help you handle player situations that you, as a starting judge, might not yet have the scope to deal with on your own. Having a respected, working judge who’s fostered your efforts and who can speak on your behalf can help you move ahead, even (and especially) when you’re waiting on certification tests. Judges with practical experience and the support of previously established judges are worth more than judges who have done nothing but pass a test.
Next, it’s time to get that practical experience! It’s probably easiest to begin at your store level, or with casual duels. Lots of would-be judges don’t live anywhere with access to these entry-level play environments, so do the best you can. Many fall back on the Tournament Organizer certification test and find a space to run their own events. Look for local stuff—preferably where an experienced judge can help get you started—and devote some time to judging.
Not to wave my own little flag*, but reading the Agents of Judgment column can also give you some pointers and other insights. Experienced judges contribute to the articles posted here, saving you the trouble of figuring out things on your own. And “virtual” mentors can help speed you along, especially if you don’t have access to higher-level, well-trained judges in your area.
When you go to a larger event—either to play or to judge—observe the judging staff. Compare them to other judges you’ve seen or worked with. What do they do that is effective? What do you like about a particular judge or judging staff? What do you think doesn’t work as well? Everyone who does something differently gives you the chance to learn something new, whether it’s what to do or what to avoid.
If you haven’t taken the level 1 certification test, it’s offered as a paper test at conventions where Upper Deck is running events. You need to be sixteen to take the test, so bring some form of ID with you, just to avoid any hassles. You may be able to take it at a Shonen Jump or other event as well. Contact the PTO ahead of time and see if that will be possible. I wrote an article about the certification tests quite some time ago. It applies more towards the higher-level tests but there’s some information that will be useful for the first one as well. You can find it here if you’d like to read it over.
Passing this test will give you access to the judge mailing list, and an Upper Deck Tournament ID card with your level marked on it. These cards go out in mass mailings, so you may have to wait a bit to get yours.
You don’t want to stop there! Having a level certification will open up further opportunities for you, leading to bigger events and a wider opportunity to learn from those farther along in the program than yourself. Stick to your mentors, because you aren’t finished yet. Let the TOs in your area know that you’ve been certified, and volunteer for as wide a range of events as possible. You want to show people what you can do, so make sure you’re keeping up on the latest rulings and policies. Stay as professional as possible on site, and give tournament staff every reason to want you back.
Once you’ve judged some more events, kept up on the rulings, asked some questions on the judge list, and gotten to know the other judges in your area, its time to think about passing your level 2 certification test. You’ll find this offered at some Regionals and most Shonen Jump Championships and conventions. It’s a good idea to check with the PTO to find out when and if it will be offered, and see what the requirements will be to take it. Generally speaking, you need to have judged at that event, or several others for the PTO in question, before you will be allowed to take the test. It’s not intended to boost your ego: the judge program wants working judges.
In the end, your level isn’t as important as your work ethic and knowledge base. Personally, I know level 1 judges whom I’d choose to work with over some level 3 judges, but it will get you more exposure, provide recognition for your hard work and increase your chances of getting sponsorship opportunities. Just remember to focus on what’s real: what you know, what you can do, and how to make sure the people working with you see you at your best. Don’t spend too much time or energy stressing over your certification level.
Work your way up from there by continuing to seek out opportunities to judge, and find other judges to learn from. When you feel you are ready to take the plunge and test for level 3, keep in mind that it’s really hard, and you might not be approved to take it if you don’t have a solid, well-rounded foundation to your judging career. Focus on getting the experience and expertise you need that will make passing the test feasible.
It’s a lot harder to judge than many players think. It’s not just a matter of, “Well, I know how to play this game, so I obviously know the rules and it will be easy to go and judge.” Lots of very good players have tried their hand at judging an event, but very few have made a really notable showing on their first attempt. You need to take it seriously. In order to be the best possible judge, your skills as a player may get a bit rusty. It’s hard to do both, especially in areas where you’ll be in high demand as a judge.
Judging can be a very rewarding way to interact with the game, and I don’t mean from a compensation point of view. I’ve been a player, and enjoyed it, but all in all I enjoy judging more. It’s a different environment from the play side, and I’ll admit that sometimes I miss playing competitively . . . but for me, it was the right choice to make.
If you think you’ve got what it takes, my fellow judges and I look forward to seeing what you’ve got! There’s always room for more dedicated people, and some areas are sorely in need of strong judges. If you’re ready to step up and help provide that, best of luck! Perhaps we’ll have the pleasure of working together at an event someday.
* Look for little “Agents of Judgment” flags at a card shop near you, coming soon! (I’m totally kidding, don’t really look for them. The card shop guy won’t know what you’re talking about and he might think you’re crazy. We don’t want that.)