Welcome to a gooey, melted chocolate chip cookie of a scenario for this week's Knowledge Pool. This week we have a Bronze scenario, which means it is aimed judge candidates and newer L1s. If that doesn't describe you, we would like you to wait until Thursday to add your thoughts.

http://blogs.magicjudges.org/knowledgepool/?p=1050

You are the head judge of a Grand Prix Trial and entering into the final round when floor judge Justin approaches you with an appeal. Justin has issued a game loss for Tardiness to Amy. Amy admits that she was not in her seat at the start of the round, as she had gone off site with friends for breakfast. Amy protests, “but you announced the last round would end at 10:05, and I was back before that!”

What is the most appropriate way to handle this situation?

If Amy did in fact arrive before the announced end of the prior round, then she should get no infraction.

IPG 3.1 - Tardiness - Additional Remedies

Give no penalty if the round started early and a player arrived at his or her seat before the originally announced start time.

While an End Time was given, not a Start Time, it matches with philosophy that players are not punished when returning at the preappointed time. If Amy was in her seat by 10:05 you would give an extension equal to the time late that she was with no penalty.

I would check the time which the previous round ended and if it was in fact before 10:05, would withdraw the game loss administered by Justin. I would walk back to her matchup with her and make both players aware of the situation, saying that the round started sooner than previously announced so there is no penalty. Also, they would receive a time extension equal to the amount of time that has passed since the beginning of the round.

After word, I would pull Justin off to the side and explain to him the rules on tardiness in that normally he would be correct, but since the round started early that she is not penalized.

If the round did start before the announced time of 10:05 and its proven that Amy was back before that time the penalty given by Justin should be revoked. Amy and her opponent recieves a time extension so they have the same amount of time for theyr match then anyone else (which means an equal amount of time that passed since the round started).

Welcome back to Knowledge Pool! If you would like to recap the scenario it
can be found on our blog here:
http://blogs.magicjudges.org/knowledgepool/?p=1050

As several of you have noted there is (most likely) no infraction here!
According to the MTR if a player returns before the announced round start
time (or in this case the announced end time) then there is no infraction.
The head judge should explain the confusion and overturn the infraction and
allow the players to play on with an extension.

Kudos to Marc DeArmond for correctly dissecting the situation and citing
the appropriate documents. According to the Magic Tournament Rules if a
round has begun early and the player has arrived at their seat before the
schedule round time we do not wish to issue an infraction. Fantastic work!

I would also like to take a second to recognize James Butler for mentioning
fantastic customer service in having the head judge assist with the
explanation to both players and of course in withdrawing the game loss.
Players are never quite as happy as seeing the correct ruling and the head
judge can go a long way in smoothing over potentially tricky situations.

Everyone also mentioned issuing a time extension and that's absolutely what
we want to do! As Rene Oberweger noted we absolutely want all of our
matches to have the same amount of time and not be penalized for something
outside of their control.

That about wraps things up here, thanks for participating and please check
back soon for another edition of Knowledge Pool.