Southern California Judge Conference

Judge Conferences are a good opportunity to meet new people and see old friends from all around the world, to learn and teach, to share your tips and spread knowledge. They are one of the best opportunities to get good practices and updated information passed amongst the judge community.

The Judge Conference is open to everyone, regardless of Judge Level, or whether you are judging at the Invitational. If you are interested in attending, please apply so we will have an accurate headcount.

FOILS

We will offer a packet of special judge foils to each certified judge who registers through this site by Thursday, November 22. Judges who attempt to register after that date or who attend without registering beforehand should not expect to receive foils for participating.

Each series is a half-day, and each judge participating will receive foils for the portion of the conference he or she participates in. If you attend the full conference, you will receive the full packet. We've done our best to minimize the tension between attending the conference and working the event, but some conflict is inevitable.

TIME

The Southern California Judge Conference will be held from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm on Thursday night with additional seminars on Friday from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Schedule and content are below. Some presentations are repeated in both, but judges attending both halves should be able to attend 8 unique, relevant seminars.

VENUE

The Thursday portion of the conference will take place at Hi De Ho Comics:

Hi De Ho Comics
1431 Lincoln Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401

The Friday portion of the conference will take place at the same venue as the Invitational:

Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

SCHEDULE OF SEMINARS

Thursday, December 13

Opening (5:00 pm - 5:15 pm)

Welcome and Introductions

Sean Catanese - L3 - Berkeley, CA

We have almost 100 participants registered for this conference! That’s definitely too many for individual introductions, but we’ll introduce another fun way to get to know your fellow judges: Conference Achievement Cards (updated from the West Coast Judge Conference a couple months ago)!

Session One (5:20 pm - 6:00 pm)

Leveling Up: Getting to Level 2

Leo Maros and Kevin Long - L2 - Los Angeles, CA

Leo and Kevin’s journeys to achieve L2 are instructive. They’ll cover the prerequisites for testing, test preparation, expectations, mentorship, and what you'll need to do if you're looking to get to L2. This session is intended for L1 judges who are interested in advancing to L2, but all are welcome.

Missed Trigger Policy Explained

Jason Flatford - L2 - Roanoke, VA

Flatts, among SCG’s latest acquisitions for its Gleemax-esque brain trust, explains triggered abilities in depth and discusses the newest iteration of missed trigger policy.

Session Two (6:10 pm - 7:00 pm)

Head Judging Your First Competitive REL Event

Michael Swager - L2 - Riverside, CA

(assisted by Nick Rutkowski - L2 - El Cerrito, CA)

Head Judging your first Grand Prix Trial or Invitational Qualifier soon? Nervous? Never fear! Michael is here to walk you through some of the basics of Head Judging Your First Competitive Event. In this seminar Michael will cover the many things you need to know to make sure your event runs smoothly and professionally.

Accommodating Disabilities for Players and Judges

Tasha Jamison - L3 - Blacksburg, VA

Disabilities are more widespread than many judges realize. These can range from limiting an individual's mobility in a crowded venue to impeding a judge's ability to learn the rules or demonstrate that knowledge on an exam. As a judge, how can you accommodate players with disabilities? As a judge, how can you work effectively with another judge's disability?

Session Three (7:10 pm - 8:00 pm)

All I Want for Christmas is My First GP

Sean Catanese - L3 & RC - Berkeley, CA

Getting to your first GP is increasingly difficult for many judges, but it’s not impossible. Sean will cover the application and selection process, including what TOs and the Judge Program are looking for, and the distinctions between good applications and not-so-good ones. We’ll also discuss the newest part of JudgeApps for US-Southwest Judges: our own forums!

Layers, Dependencies, and Other Rules We Never Learned

The complexities of this wonderful game we all love can be maddening at times. Transcend that madness with the help of this expert presenter. We'll dive deep into why Riptide Mangler is so awesome with equipment, and why Opalescence and Humility really aren't all that intimidating together.

Session Four (8:10 pm - 9:00 pm)

Retail Roundup: Why Your Store Is (or Isn’t) Awesome

Guided Roundtable Discussion

Is your home store the keystone of the local gaming community? Is there a store in town that’s the troll that lives under the bridge that keystone is holding up? Come on out and share your treasured stories (and your horror stories too) to help build a picture of the range of the retail experiences to be found in the communities of our region.

Mentoring: Dealing with Difficult Judges

Jason Reedy - L3 - Roanoke, VA

Mentoring is a core aspect of the Judge Program that we all have had experience with, but what happens when your pupil goes off script? Join Jason Reedy for some tips and discussion on maintaining productive dialogue during difficult moments.

Friday, December 14

Opening (2:00 pm - 2:15 pm)

Welcome and Introductions

Sean Catanese - L3 - Berkeley, CA

We did this yesterday, but there will be some new faces of folks who can only attend one of the days, so some basic introductions are in order (and more achievement cards!).

Session One (2:20 pm - 3:00 pm)

Head Judging Your First Competitive REL Event

Xander Forral - L2 - San Diego, CA

(assisted by Taz White - L1 - Davis, CA)

Head Judging your first Grand Prix Trial or Invitational Qualifier soon? Nervous? Never fear! Xander and Taz are here to walk you through some of the basics of Head Judging Your First Competitive Event. In this seminar they’ll cover the many things you need to know to make sure your event runs smoothly and professionally.

Accommodating Disabilities for Players and Judges

Tasha Jamison - L3 - Blacksburg, VA

Disabilities are more widespread than many judges realize. These can range from limiting an individual's mobility in a crowded venue to impeding a judge's ability to learn the rules or demonstrate that knowledge on an exam. As a judge, how can you accommodate players with disabilities? As a judge, how can you work effectively with another judge's disability?

Session Two (3:10 pm - 4:00 pm)

Leveling Up: Getting to Level 2

Leo Maros and Kevin Long - L2 - Los Angeles, CA

Leo and Kevin’s journeys to achieve L2 are instructive. They’ll cover the prerequisites for testing, test preparation, expectations, mentorship, and what you'll need to do if you're looking to get to L2. This session is intended for L1 judges who are interested in advancing to L2, but all are welcome.

Leveling Up: Getting to Level 3

Jeff Morrow - L4 - Oakland, CA

If you're looking to get to the ranks of high-level judges, Jeff (aka J-Mo) is the man to ask! He’s in charge of the Level 3 advancement process. While he’s able to cover the prerequisites and checklist process, and discuss common challenges in becoming a Regional Magic Judge, the biggest part of this will be your opportunity to ask questions and get answers direct from the source. This session is intended for L2 judges who are considering working toward L3, but others are welcome, of course.

Customer Service At the Table

Michael Sohn - L2 - Sunnyvale, CA

Ever had to deal with difficult situations on the event floor? Join Michael Sohn for a discussion on how judges can deliver their best customer service, even when put in a tough spot. There will be roleplay!

Session Three (4:10 pm - 5:00 pm)

Layers, Dependencies, and Other Rules We Never Learned

Jess Dunks - L2 - Vacaville, CA

The complexities of this wonderful game we all love can be maddening at times. Transcend that madness with the help of this expert presenter. We'll dive deep into why Riptide Mangler is so awesome with equipment, and why Opalescence and Humility really aren't all that intimidating together.

"I Need You to Make a %!*# Play!"

Corina Grant - L2 - Santa Rosa, CA

We've all been there, counting to ten, ticking off Mississippis on our fingers, waiting for that crystal clear moment to intervene and bring down the hammer on a slow player. Identifying slow play, and knowing how to intervene are just two parts of the puzzle, and Corina is here to help fill in the rest!

Mentoring: Dealing with Difficult Judges

Jason Reedy - L3 - Roanoke, VA

Mentoring is a core aspect of the Judge Program that we all have had experience with, but what happens when your pupil goes off script? Join Jason Reedy for some tips and discussion on maintaining productive dialogue during difficult moments.

Session Four (5:10 pm - 6:00 pm)

Reviews and Feedback: The Right Tool for the Job

David Zimet and Joe Wiesenberg - L3 and L2 - San Marcos and San Diego, CA

One of the most daunting tasks associated with any event is providing solid feedback to your colleagues afterward. David’s skill and experience in writing quality reviews ranks easily among the best in the program. Here, we’ll learn and discuss choosing the right communication channel, framing your message, and providing negative feedback.

Missed Trigger Policy Explained

Jason Flatford - L2 - Roanoke, VA

Flatts, among SCG’s latest acquisitions for its Gleemax-esque brain trust, explains triggered abilities in depth and discusses the newest iteration of missed trigger policy.