road to l2 paul baranay
TRANSCRIPT
• Uncertified
• Level 1 – Local Judge
• Level 2 – Area Judge
• Level 3 – Regional Judge
• Level 4 – International Judge
• Level 5 – Professional Judge
The Judge Levels
• Uncertified
• Level 1 – Local Judge
• Level 2 – Area Judge
• Level 3 – Regional Judge
• Level 4 – International Judge
• Level 5 – Professional Judge
• Why do we even
have judge levels,
anyway?
The Judge Levels
• Judge levels reflect
your scope in the
judge program
• Different levels are
just that, different—
not “better”
• Levels are not roles
A Level By Any Other Name
The Numbers Are In, And…
290
(77%)77
(20%)
9
(2%)0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
1. Certify more L1’s and
expand the Judge
Program even further.
2. Deeper understanding of
the rules, policy, and
philosophy.
3. Head Judge Preliminary
PTQs!
Why Do We Need More L2’s?
• Keeping current with
Magic rules and
Competitive REL
tournament policy
• Knowledge of and
ability to teach
Competitive REL
tournament practices
(pairings, deck checks,
disqualifications,
reviews, etc.)
L2 Expectations
• Demonstrated diplomacy
with players, judges and
TOs
• Willingness to mentor and
certify other judges
• Working with multiple
stores
• Regional community
involvement
L2 Expectations
• One review
• Judge at least one Competitive
REL event with a second judge
• Head Judge at least one event
with a second judge
• These can be the same event
Pre-Certification Requirements
• Three reviews of other judges
• Head judge 2 Competitive
REL events with another judge
• Judge 6 reported events
• Judge for at least 2 stores or
organizers
• Working relationship with at
least 2 organizers or stores
• Recommendation from an L2+
• Tournament report
• Passing score on L2 Practice
Pre-Certification Requirements
• Judge at least 6 reported events
• Judge at least 3 “high-level
events” with multiple judges
• PPTQ, PTQ, WMCQ, GP,
SCG Open, 5K
• Working relationship with at
least 2 organizers or stores
• 3 reviews of other judges
• Recommendation from an L2+
• Tournament report
• 70% or higher on L2 Practice
Pre-Certification Requirements
• Rules/policy exam – 80%
• Demonstrated diplomacy with
players, judges and TOs
• Willingness to mentor and
certify other judges
• Regional community
involvement
• Knowledge of…
• Deck checks
• Entering certification reviews
• Entering disqualification reports
Interview Items
• Establish yourself in
your community• Local Competitive events
• PPTQ’s
• SCG IQ’s
• GPT’s
• Get involved online!• Facebook
• JudgeApps
• IRC
Getting Involved
• Stay in touch with
your mentor(s)
• Mentor others
• Improve yourself
• Rules/policy
• IPG & MTR
• Soft skills
• Judge articles
Getting Involved
• Competitive practices
• Large event experience
• Head Judging skills
• Public speaking
• Authority and leadership
• Decision making
• Working with multiple judges
Head Judging PPTQs
• Don’t read through
the Comp Rules
• Don’t study for
judge exams
• Don’t burn through
the Judge Center
question pool
Rules Knowledge
• Do review specific material
• Do get a mentor
• Do find a friend
• Do delete what you know
• Do find actual examples
• Do take some practice tests
• Do continuously advance your
knowledge
• #mtgrules on IRC
• Read the Release Notes
• Play the game!
Rules Knowledge
• Annotated IPG
• JudgeApps
• Knowledge Pool
• Personal Tutor
• Competitive REL forum
• Tournament Reports
• Discuss with other judges
• …especially ones you disagree with
• #mtgjudge on IRC
• Judging events!
• Toby Elliot’s blog
Policy Knowledge
• Communication is critical
• Take time before you speak
• Give suggestions, not
commands
• Tone of voice, facial
expressions
• Pay attention to people’s
reactions
• Talk with people, not at them
• But maintain your authority
• Consider other points of view
Diplomacy
• Northeast Facebook group
• Networking
• Judge Conferences!
• Writing articles or tournament
reports
Regional Involvement
• [O] Blog
• blogs.magicjudges.org/o
• Home > Levels > Level 2
• Northeast Family Website
• blogs.magicjudges.org/northeast
• L2 Pre-Interview Form
• blogs.magicjudges.org/northeast
/L2
Where can I find all this?
Recap• Judge levels reflect
scope
• L2 redefinition to
accommodate new
PPTQ system
• Ways to prepare for
the interview and
the exam