Editor’s note: This is a guest post, part of our series of end of year summaries from across our region. 2015 saw a lot of change for the Judge Program and for Organized Play, as the first full year of Preliminary Pro Tour Qualifiers. These store-level tournaments require a Level 2 Judge, which threatened to put a strain on the Judge Program and created planning challenges for judges and stores alike. is here today to talk about his work in organizing the Preliminary PTQs across our region.

What are the challenges and opportunities with the new PPTQ system?

The PPTQ system has been very successful in getting more and more local stores involved running the premier competitive events that lead to the Pro Tour. Nearly 150 events are scheduled each season, providing thousands of players a chance to participate in competitive magic right in their backyard. One of the strains for the judge program is dealing with the increased number of competitive events, and the demand that for an event to happen, it must be head judged by a Level 2.

One of the great opportunities with the new PPTQ system is that many stores that previously weren’t involved with the PTQ system, or potentially competitive events at all, now have a chance to participate. This creates some challenges as we work with our TO allies as they learn best practices for booking judges and managing competitive events. This new role has also changed the path to L2 itself, and presents a new challenge (along with some opportunities) for L1s aiming to judge competitive events.

What is your role in planning for the region’s PPTQs?

I’ve been working with Joe Hughto to build a comprehensive spreadsheet of every PPTQ in the Northeast. We use a handy webform and help from the region’s L2s to track what events are covered, and which events may have fallen through the cracks. The core mission of the PPTQ planning project is to provide a bigger-picture view of the PPTQ system working throughout the Northeast, and share that info throughout the judge program so we can bring resources to bear as efficiently as possible.

The core ‘action-item’ of the project is a series of reports to each area rep highlighting each event locally that may not have a head judge covering. This allows them to follow up with store owners and judges in their area as appropriate. The area reps then help find judges where they are needed, and update the master spreadsheet. But beyond these reports, having a central spot for PPTQ info provides some great opportunities for judges throughout the program.

I’m an L2, I judge the PPTQ at my LGS every season, why should I care about this?

Filling out the doc is quick and easy. It’s an easy way to be visible in your judging career in your local area, and also makes it easier for other judges to know who to contact about events–making staffing events you’re working easier!

By looking at the doc, you can easily find stores that may need judges in your area. This is a great opportunity to build relationships with new TOs in your own backyard. This is what being an ‘area’ judge is all about!

I’m an L1 looking to get started in competitive events. How can this help?

Knowing where and when events are happening near you is critical – if you don’t know what’s going on, it’s impossible to be a part of them! Each TO and head judge listed is someone you should network with to get involved. Judge Apps is a great resource to get in contact with judges throughout the program.

If your local PPTQ doesn’t have a head judge, consider contacting your local TO and help put them in contact with great L2s you have a relationship with. Again, Judge Apps is an awesome resource for this. It’s amazing how easy it is to get on staff for an event when you’re the one staffing it!

Where can we find this work?

The region’s PPTQs are all tracked in a Google Spreadsheet, and submissions can be entered into this Google Form. These links should remain good even in future seasons, but we’ll always keep the latest information in our own PPTQ Planning page!