Level Two

This page will be kept up to date with the official definition of a Level Two Judge. To read about the philosophy of Level Two as of Judge Foundry’s launch, check out this blog post.

Description

Level Two Judges are more commonly found at large and competitive events. A Level Two Judge knows the basics of competitive tournament policy and runs small in-store competitive tournaments on their own. L2s certify judge candidates for L1 in their home store or local area to ensure that the local judge community continues to flourish. At a large event, many L2s will be answering judge calls on the floor of competitive events. 

An L2 should start looking towards L3 when they are comfortable with Competitive REL. For some, this will mean when they are regularly head judging in-store competitive events with two or more floor judges. For others, it will mean they have attended several large events and are familiar with the tasks expected of a floor judge of an event with teams.

Advancement

To be promoted to Level Two, a candidate must complete the following requirements. Requirements 1-3 may be completed in any order. This is followed by the interview (requirement 4), which is followed by the tests (requirement 5).

  1. Write a review of another judge from an event where both judges worked. The review must contain detailed and actionable feedback.
  2. Under the supervision of an L2+, work at least two Competitive REL events
  3. Receive a recommendation review from an L2+, evaluating at minimum the following qualities and affirming that the candidate is ready for Level Two:
    • Technical performance at an event
    • Confidence in giving a ruling
    • Details of one policy related discussion from the event
    • Player engagement
    • Ability to perform a deck check
  4. Pass an interview with an Level Three+ Judge including at a minimum the following evaluated items:
    • Choose one —
      • Understanding of the teams that may be used at a large competitive REL event
      • Understanding of the responsibilities of a head judge at a local competitive REL Event
    • Understanding of the philosophy differences between penalties (Warning, Game Loss, etc)
    • Understanding of how to turn over a round
    • Ability to distinguish between Unsporting Conduct situations (USC-Major vs USC-Minor vs no penalty)
    • Results of reflections from their recommendation review
    • Understanding of how to certify a judge for L1
  5. Pass both the Level Two Rules exam and the Level Two Policy exam with scores of 80 or better, within a 75-day period.

Maintenance

To maintain the Level Two certification, a judge must complete the following items each year

  1. Choose one —
    • Pass the annual L2/L3 rules refresh exam
    • Pass three set update quizzes since the last maintenance period
  2. Pass the annual L2/L3 policy refresh exam
  3. Choose one —
    • Work at least two competitive events
    • Work at least six events
    • Write or receive a short review about their involvement in events or the judging community
  4. Maintain membership in Judge Foundry by being up-to-date on their membership dues

Skills

As a certified Level Two Judge, a judge demonstrates the following proficiencies, in addition to the proficiencies of a Level One Judge:

  1. Knowledge
    1. Passed the Level Two rules exam, extensively covering comprehensive rules topics
    2. Passed the Level Two policy exam, covering the IPG and MTR
    3. Demonstrated the ability to discuss tournament policy
    4. Demonstrated understanding of the philosophical differences between penalties (Warning, Game Loss, etc)
    5. Demonstrated the ability to distinguish between negative situations with players that result in no penalty, USC-Minor, and USC-Major.
  2. Event Skills
    1. Possessed experience judging competitive REL events
    2. Demonstrated ability to perform a deck check
    3. Demonstrated understanding of the teams at a large Competitive event, and/or head judging in-store competitive events.
    4. Demonstrated ability to explain the steps needed to turn over a round
    5. Demonstrated understanding of handling unsporting conduct situations
  3. Leadership Skills
    1. Provided written feedback to a peer to improve their performance at future events
    2. Demonstrated ability to explain the steps of judge certification and to conduct a certification interview
  4. Personal Skills
    1. Positively engaged with players and create a welcoming environment, even in a competitive setting
    2. Assessed penalties with confidence and without major stress or distress
    3. Recognized and handled minor Unsporting Conduct situations.
    4. Recognized and reflected on their own strengths and areas for improvement

Benefits

Certified Level Two Judges receive the following privileges as members of Judge Foundry

  1. Use of title Level Two Judge or Judge Foundry Level Two
  2. Access to private Judge Foundry resources, forums, and chats
  3. Ability to participate in Judge Foundry projects restricted to L2+
  4. Right to vote in Judge Foundry leadership elections (like all JF-certified judges)
  5. Access to Update Quizzes
  6. Ability to certify Level One Judges

Changelog

3/24: Updated update quiz requirement from “three out of four” to “three”
3/24: Updated time to take both exams to seventy-five days from sixty