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The Road to L2 P AUL “BEARZ” BARANAY BROOKLYN, NEW YORK NORTHEAST JUDGE CONFERENCE 2014
The Road to L2PAUL “BEARZ” BARANAY
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
NORTHEAST JUDGE
CONFERENCE 2014
The Road to L2PAUL “BEARZ” BARANAY
L3 – BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
NORTHEAST JUDGE
CONFERENCE 2014
• 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?
Better, Stronger, Faster…
The Future Is Now
• 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
•Apply for
larger events
•Write good
cover letters
•Persistence
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
