Written by CJ Shrader<\/em><\/p><\/div>At some point in most judges\u2019 careers, they will need to stand in front of a group of players and tell them how the event is going to go. Head Judge announcements are an important part of running a tournament smoothly. Without them, players wouldn\u2019t know what you expect from them throughout the day, and they won\u2019t know what to expect from you.<\/p>\n \n Giving opening announcements should be a fun, easy portion of your day as Head Judge, yet for many it can seem like a daunting task. Whether you\u2019re in front of a 12-person GPT or a 150-person PTQ, the good news is that Head Judge opening announcements all have the same basic structure and, with a little bit of preparation, can be a breeze.<\/p>\n \u201cHello players! My name is CJ Shrader and I will be your Head Judge for this event. Helping me today are fellow awesome judges Abby, Brian, and Charles!\u201d<\/p>\n If you have too many judges to announce, just make a mention that you have a bunch of lovely, talented judges helping you and have them raise their hands. If you\u2019re all alone, make sure to mention that so the players are aware that it may take longer for you to respond to their calls.<\/p>\n At this point, if the event is using decklists, it\u2019s a good idea to tell the players a few things:<\/p>\n After the welcome is a great time to pass out product, if needed, or to collect decklists. A simple \u201cJudges, please collect the decklists\u201d is all that\u2019s needed to let the players know that the judges will be coming to the tables.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we have 75 players and will be playing seven rounds. This is a competitive-level event, so make sure to be clear and concise with your play. The rounds are 50 minutes long, and the tardiness policy is X\/10, which means that if you are not in your seat within X minutes of when the clock starts, you will receive a Game Loss, and if you are not in your seat after 10 minutes. we will drop you from the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n When announcing the number of rounds, try to be sure of that number. Once a number of rounds is announced it should be stuck to, even if it\u2019s incorrect. For the proper number of rounds for your tournament, see Magic Tournament Rules Appendix F. If the number of rounds is not determined yet, feel free to tell the players you will tell them how many rounds at the start of the next round.<\/p>\n Since you\u2019re laying some facts on the players, why not lay some more? This is your chance to save your judges from answering the same questions repeatedly throughout the day. A player with an empty bladder is a happy player.<\/p>\n If this is the kind of event where you want your judges to collect match slips, be sure to announce this at this time.<\/p>\n \u201cSince double-faced cards can be weird, I\u2019m going to go over a few reminders for them. If you are using double-faced cards in your deck, make sure…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDue to a recent policy change, no electronic devices may be used during a match.\u201d<\/p>\n If you need to announce any format-specific notes, now\u2019s the time to do it. Innistrad limited particularly needed these kinds of announcements due to double-faced cards.<\/p>\n Also, if there were any recent policy changes the players need to know about, make sure to mention them. You don\u2019t have to give a blow-by-blow account of everything that changed in the IPG, but if there\u2019s something that is extremely likely to come up throughout the day and the policy is still new, feel free to mention it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have any issues while playing, questions, need a hug, or something just doesn\u2019t feel right, be sure to call a judge. It is not enough to simply ask your opponent; your opponent does not like you. To call a judge, raise your hand and call \u2018JUDGE!\u2019 really loudly. Most important, keep your hand raised the entire time. A judge will get to you as soon as possible. If you are unhappy with the floor judge\u2019s ruling, you may appeal to me. My ruling is final.\u201d<\/p>\n Explaining to the players how to call a judge can save you a lot of headache later on. Make sure to tell them to raise their hand and keep it raised to minimize how many times you hear \u201cJUDGE!\u201d look around, and can\u2019t figure out who called for you. If you are the only judge, make sure to mention this now and explain that it may take you some time to respond to the judge call.<\/p>\nWelcome<\/h2>\n
<\/p>The welcome is easy: Simply introduce yourself and the other judges so the players know who you all are. Make sure to point out your fellow judges as you name them!<\/p>\n
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Tournament Information<\/h2>\n
<\/p>After welcoming the players, it\u2019s time to dump all the basic information they may need on them. \u00a0This includes the number of players, the number of rounds, the REL of the event, the length of the rounds, and the tardiness policy. Before coming up to give your Head Judge announcements, make sure you get information like player count from the scorekeeper.<\/p>\n
Venue-Specific Information<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\u201cWhen you finish a match, bring your match slip to the scorekeeper\u2019s table at the front of the room. If you need to potty, bathrooms are located at the back of the room. A food cart will be located right outside the double doors from noon to 2 p.m.\u201d<\/p>\n
Format-Specific Information and Policy Changes<\/h2>\n
Calling a Judge<\/h2>\n
Let Them Know You\u2019re Here to Have Fun<\/h2>\n