Subject: re: judge compensation Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1998 20:31:03 +1000 From: Ron FOSTER To: c_nicoloff@usa.net, fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Cathy, Hello again from the land of the Rising Sun. Just wanted to say another excellent article. (Where did you find that cartoon?) The problem of judge (non-)compensation has been with us for a long time, and it's unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. Why? No shortage of suckers. A lot has been said about the number of judges quitting the program, and there have been a few high-profile resignations (Paul Barclay's the most notable, although I can't necessarily approve the way in which he handled it), but there's no shortage in the number of applicants. While that's good perhaps from WotC's financial standpoint, it makes things even worse for players, because it increases the number of people who lack the experience and knowledge to be good judges-- never mind consistant rulings! Something I've been kicking around in my head for a while using my experience over here is submitting a proposal to restructure the Judge's Program from the ground up. Compensation is an important issue, but there's a lot more screwed up about the program than just that. In a nutshell, it feels like the Judge's Program exists in a vacuum-- while there are staff for it, once a judge is certified, they're just kind of out there all by themselves. For starters, the tests are a joke. Just about anyone who's read the 5E rulebook could and should be able to pass the Level I qualifications. However, I've seen a lot of Level 1s botch basic ruling calls, never mind handling Floor Rule infractions (at least, in the Wild West days before we had the Penalty Guidelines). I think the tests should be redesigned to test not just basic rulebook knowledge--important, yes, but a certified judge should be able to apply that knowledge as well, and the tests should be used to see how well they can. Level IIIs should be given pointers in how to conduct interviews with all applicants to determine not only their reasons for becoming judges, but to further test their knowledge of the Magic rules and tournament Floor Rules. More hypothetical situations should be used to show applicants how to handle different situations--this would help us towards having more consistant rulings. (Lessons could be given on the difference between 'marked' and 'worn' cards, for example.) I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe less emphasis should be placed on the "making judges" by applying the test part, and more on the "training judges" part. I've met people in the US who've become judges by taking the test and paying their fees. That's it. No one bothered to talk to them about why they wanted to be a judge, no one made them work the floor of a tournament, and no on bothered to even try to show them the ropes. Furthermore, all Level III and Level IV judges should be required to have an interview with a higher-level judge once a year to confirm that they are up-to-date on the latest rules and still know what is going on, as well as get their feedback. (This already appears to have been made part of the program.) A compensation system could also be introduced with the new tests and guidelines that shows that the judges are taken seriously. Obviously, anyone who judges at a non-WotC event would have to work out their own deal with the coordinator. But at a WotC event, the minimum should be offered: for all judges, either $80 a day or a box of in-stock product of the judge's choice, whichever the judge requests. In addition, food for all staff should be provided. If a judge has been requested by WotC to travel more than, say, 250 miles to participate, payment will be halved but travel expenses and lodging will be picked up by the company. Volunteers coming to apply for the test will *not* be given this compensation--no free lunch until you've earned it. Obviously, the fact that compensation will be available will "encourage" more people to volunteer to help, which means WotC should instead pick who will go. Let's say the average PT has an attendance of 180 people. We'd want at least 10 judges, right? (Actually, we'd want more like 18 or 20, but that's another thread. :) So, if WotC brings Jeff D., that leaves 9-10 slots to fill. Just find the highest- level judges in the area and ask if they can come, and if they know anyone who would like the experience and can help. If the 9-10 slots can't be filled this way, an open announcement could be made, with applicants selected at random. If there is a high population density, like in California and New York, the judges used for PTs could be rotated. If a judge not selected to help by WotC wants to come for training, he/she is welcome, but will not be eligible for the compensation package. (They'd still get lunch and dinner, of course, and WotC could throw some booster packs and T-shirts at them.) I think this is a reasonable proposal, as it wouldn't cost WotC that much: I mean, they already have to pay for food, right? And 10 judges at $80@ is a pittance compared to the prize money, and is actually not an unfair compensation for a day's work. (And if the judges choose to be paid in product, heck, it's practically free for WotC.) Besides, the investments they make in their judges will be returned a hundred- fold or more through the image provided by having a group of professional judges and the services they provide for the playing community. So, to sum things up: there should be more guidance from WotC on training judges (both for those taking the tests and those giving it), there should be some kind of peer-review process set up to make sure all high-level judges still deserve to be, and there should be some kind of compensation policy set up to encourage judges to help WotC. The fact that a test and training is required to be a judge means that judges qualify as trained professionals--in other words, they have skills to offer that cannot be gotten elsewhere. In what other profession are skilled individuals asked to work without pay? Can you imagine what would happen if the NBA or NFL treated their referees like Magic judges are? A professional cadre of trained judges that can be trusted is a necessity if Magic is to be taken seriously as an intellectual sport, which is WotC's intention. Hopefully, they'll catch on to the fact that there's only one good way to create and keep such a group. [[ These comments are my own, and in no way represent any opinions of Hobby Japan, DCI Japan, or the DCI. In other words, I'm just a loose cannon shooting off. ;) ]] Thanks, Ron Foster ron@bowneglobal.co.jp DCI Level III Judge Tokyo, Japan