The Level 0 (Apprentice) test has been released!
Please, read carefully the "Force of Will Judge Program" below, then take the exam at the URL below.
(*The exam questions are provided via Google Forms.)https://forms.gle/ZXBVuwZdxHadEWrbA
Force
of Will Judge Program
Last Update: Feb 11th, 2026
1. Introduction........................................................................................................................... 2
-
What does it mean to
become a Force of Will Judge?.........................................................
-
Why should I become a
Force of Will Judge?......................................................................
2. Structure and Hierarchy of the Judge Program......................................................................... 3
-
Apprentice (Level 0)..........................................................................................................
-
Floor Judge (Level 1).........................................................................................................
-
Head Judge (Level 2).........................................................................................................
-
Expert Judge (Level
3).......................................................................................................
3. Certification System................................................................................................................ 5
-
Becoming an
Apprentice (Level 0)......................................................................................
-
Becoming a Floor
Judge (Level 1).......................................................................................
-
Becoming a Head Judge
(Level 2).......................................................................................
-
Becoming an Expert
Judge (Level 3)...................................................................................
4. Revaluation and Renewal of Judge Certification...................................................................... 7
-
Maintaining
Certification..................................................................................................
5. Responsibilities Within a Competitive-Level Tournament........................................................ 9
-
Common
Responsibilities for all players.............................................................................
-
Responsibilities of
Floor Judges (Level 1)............................................................................
-
Responsibilities of Head
Judges (Level 2)............................................................................
-
Responsibilities of Expert
Judges (Level 3)..........................................................................
-
Responsibilities of Tournament
Organizers........................................................................
6. Ethical and Professional Code................................................................................................ 11
7. Recognition and Rewards...................................................................................................... 12
8. Channels of Official Communication...................................................................................... 13
9. List of Active Judges.............................................................................................................. 14
10. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 15
1 – Introduction
This document explains the purpose, structure,
responsibilities, and all essential information required to understand and
apply the principles of being a Force of Will Judge. It also defines the
overall framework of the Judge Program, including its levels, guiding
principles, certification mechanisms, and the philosophy behind its operation.
The Force of Will Judge Program exists to
ensure that every Force of Will tournament is conducted in a fair,
consistent, and professional manner, maintaining the integrity of the game and
providing players with a positive and enjoyable experience.
The goal of this program is to promote excellence in
judging through continuous education and mutual collaboration, to guarantee
consistency in the application of rules and policies across all levels of play,
and to foster a respectful and active community of judges, organizers, and
players.
What does it mean to become a Force of Will Judge?
A certified Force of Will Judge is an
individual dedicated to upholding the integrity of tournaments and ensuring a
positive play experience through their knowledge of the rules, professionalism,
and commitment to the community. Judges voluntarily support the growth of the
game by assisting in professionally organized events.
Judges represent neutrality. They are guardians of the
competitive spirit, educators within the community, and the ones players turn
to for rules clarification during tournaments. They help correct mistakes,
resolve disputes, and maintain fairness throughout events
The role of a judge includes:
·
Advising
players and tournament organizers.
·
Maintaining a
positive and orderly event environment.
·
Resolving
disputes impartially.
·
Serving as
role models for proper conduct.
Why should I become a Force of Will Judge?
There is no single answer to this question, and almost
all of them are good ones. Whatever your personal motivation may be for
becoming a Force of Will Judge, this document will provide you with all the information
you need to achieve it.
There are three basic requirements to become a level 1
Force of Will Judge:
·
Be an active
member of a local Force of Will player community.
·
Receive a
recommendation from a certified judge to apply for the Judge Program.
·
Possess
adequate knowledge of the Comprehensive Rules (CR), Penalty
Guidelines, and Floor Rules, and pass a written exam.
By meeting these three requirements, you can advance
from Apprentice (Level 0) to Floor Judge (Level 1). However, if
you are passionate about Force of Will and enjoy officiating
tournaments, becoming a Floor Judge is only the first step, not the last.
2 – Structure and
Hierarchy of the Judge Program
The Force of Will Judge Program classifies
candidates and certified judges using a progressive level system: Apprentice
(Level 0), Floor Judge (Level 1), Head Judge (Level 2), and Expert
Judge (Level 3).
This classification applies equally to candidates and
judges, certifying their knowledge and experience, while also providing Tournament
Organizers with all the necessary information regarding each judge’s
qualifications and status.
Each of the four levels has its own set of criteria
and requirements, both for advancement and for maintaining
certification within that level.
Apprentice (Level 0)
·
An Apprentice
(Level 0) is someone who has a basic understanding of Force of Will
rules and assists in casual events. Apprentices are not qualified to lead
Level 2 or higher events, and if they participate as part of a judge team
in such events, they must always do so under the supervision of a certified
judge.
·
An Apprentice
is not yet considered a judge, and therefore their rulings may not
always be accurate; however, they demonstrate a genuine interest in developing
their judging skills and becoming certified in the future. Any ruling given by
an Apprentice must be corroborated by a certified judge.
Floor Judge (Level 1)
·
A Floor
Judge (Level 1) has demonstrated sufficient knowledge of the Comprehensive
Rules (CR) and Floor Rules to earn official certification as a
judge. As such, they are qualified to officiate events up to Level 3 alone. However,
officiating Level 4 or higher events requires the supervision of a
higher-level judge.
·
Some Floor
Judges may possess the experience and capability to officiate Level 4 or higher
events without supervision; however, this is not generally expected of
Level 1 judges. Such cases are exceptional and must be approved in
advance by the company in charge of Force of Will. These
judges are strongly encouraged to pursue higher-level certification.
Head Judge (Level 2)
·
A Head
Judge (Level 2) is a judge capable of leading a team of Floor Judges
during events up to Level 4 or to
officiate events up to Level 4 alone. They possess a deep understanding of the Comprehensive
Rules (CR), Penalty Guidelines and Floor Rules, along with extensive
experience in large-scale events. They also demonstrate the social and
communication skills necessary to collaborate effectively with multiple Tournament
Organizers, potentially in multilingual environments.
·
These judges
actively share their knowledge with others and are qualified to
officiate events without supervision. They are responsible to officiate events up to Level 4 and are encouraged to act as mentors to Apprentices
(Level 0) and Floor Judges (Level 1), helping them advance through
the program.
·
A Head Judge
(Level 2) may serve as a supervisor for a Level 4 event where a Floor
Judge (Level 1) has been authorized to act as Head Judge, provided they grant
prior approval for such participation.
·
Head Judges
(Level 2) may also be appointed by an Expert Judge (Level 3) to serve as
part of the judge team for Level 5 events. To maintain a fair
balance, Head Judges who have not been selected to be part of the Level 5 event
judge team in one WGP will be given priority for selection in the following
WGP.
Expert Judge (Level 3)
·
An Expert
Judge (Level 3) possesses exceptional mastery of the Comprehensive
Rules, Penalty Guidelines and Floor Rules, often regarded as the superior
role of Rules Expert within the Force of Will community. Their
extensive experience with large-scale tournaments also allows them to take on special
leadership or advisory roles within the Judge Program.
·
These judges
frequently share their expertise not only with other judges but also directly
with the company in charge of Force of Will. They are fully
qualified to lead events of any level and are encouraged to serve as mentors
to apprentices or judges of a lower level, guiding them in refining
their leadership and judging skills.
·
Expert Judges
(Level 3) are the only
judges authorized to lead the judge team for Level 5 events.
Additionally, at least two Expert Judges must always be present at every
Level 5 event.
3 – Certification
System
From time to time, individuals from around the world
may attempt to become certified as an Apprentice or Judge of Force
of Will. These certification opportunities are always held during Level
4 or higher events, allowing players and judges to demonstrate their
knowledge of Force of Will and to take on challenges beyond their
current level.
Although certifications are open to anyone, certain
levels may have specific prerequisites that aspirants must met before
participating (such as holding the appropriate level, having judged a minimum
number of events, etc.).
Becoming an Apprentice (Level 0)
To become an Apprentice (Level 0), anyone may
take an online exam: there are no prerequisites to attempt it.
Anyone interested in organizing a Level 1 event
is strongly encouraged to take the Apprentice (Level 0) exam to ensure
that the tournament can be conducted smoothly and without issues.
·
Passing the Apprentice
(Level 0) exam does not grant official Judge certification. An
Apprentice is not yet considered a certified Force of Will Judge.
Becoming a Floor Judge (Level 1)
Any Apprentice (Level 0) may attempt to advance
to Floor Judge (Level 1), provided they meet the following prerequisite:
·
The candidate
must have assisted the judge team in at least two Level 4 events during
the current competitive season (that is, starting from the day after the
most recent World Grand Prix). If the Apprentice is part of the
judge team at the same event where the certification takes place, that event
counts toward the required total.
Once the prerequisites have been met, any Apprentice
(Level 0) may attempt to advance by completing a written exam and
participating in an interview with a Head Judge (Level 2) or Expert
Judge (Level 3).
If the candidate achieves a score of 70% or higher on the written exam and immediately after receives a recommendation
for promotion during the interview, their certification level will be
upgraded to Floor Judge (Level 1).
Becoming a Head Judge (Level 2)
Any Floor Judge (Level 1) may attempt to
advance to Head Judge (Level 2), provided they meet the following
prerequisites:
·
Have served
as part of the judge team in at least three Level 4 events during the
current competitive season (that is, starting from the day after the most
recent World Grand Prix). If the Floor Judge participates in the
event where the certification takes place, that event also counts toward the
annual total.
·
Receive a recommendation
for promotion from a Head Judge (Level 2) with whom they have worked
during one of the three required events that season.
·
Actively
contribute to the official Force
of Will Judge communication channel (as of November 9, 2025, the Judge
Discord Server) during the same competitive season.
Once these prerequisites are met, the candidate may
take a written exam and participate in an interview with a Head
Judge (Level 2) or Expert Judge (Level 3).
If the written exam score is 70% or higher, and immediately after the candidate receives a second
recommendation for promotion during the interview (from a judge
different from the first recommender), their certification level will be
upgraded to Head Judge (Level 2).
·
When
evaluating promotion recommendations, emphasis will be placed on the
candidate’s professionalism, service to the community, and the educational
quality of the candidate’s contributions.
Becoming an Expert Judge (Level 3)
Selected Head Judges (Level 2) may attempt to
advance to Expert Judge (Level 3) during a level 5 event, provided they
meet the following prerequisites:
·
Have served
as part of the judge team in at least three Level 5 events during their
entire tenure as a certified judge. If the candidate participates in the event
where the certification takes place, that event also counts toward the total.
·
Obtain promotion
recommendations from one Expert Judges (Level
3) and one representative from the company
in charge of Force of Will.
·
Actively
contribute to the official Force
of Will Judge communication channel (as of November 9, 2025, the Judge
Discord Server).
·
Have mentored
two Apprentices (Level 0) or one Floor Judge (Level 1) throughout
their journey to promotion, with those individuals having successfully achieved
the next level.
Once all prerequisites are fulfilled, the Head
Judge (Level 2) may attend an interview with a representative of
the company in charge of Force of Will.
If the candidate receives a recommendation for
promotion during this interview, their certification level will be upgraded
to Expert Judge (Level 3).
·
When
evaluating promotion recommendations, emphasis will again be placed on professionalism,
service to the community, and the educational quality of the
candidate’s contributions.
4 – Revaluation and
Renewal of Judge Certification
If an Apprentice or Judge fails to pass a level-up
examination, they may attempt to retake the written exam after a designated
waiting period:
·
A person who
fails the Apprentice (Level 0) exam must wait at least twenty-four
hours before attempting it again.
·
An Apprentice
(Level 0) who fails the Floor Judge (Level 1) exam must wait at
least three months before attempting it again.
·
A Floor
Judge (Level 1) who fails the Head Judge (Level 2) exam must wait at
least six months before attempting it again. However, if a Floor Judge
fails two consecutive Level 2 exams, they must obtain a new promotion
recommendation from a different Head Judge (Level 2) before
retesting.
Maintaining Certification
Depending on their level and the responsibilities
associated with it, judges of all levels must meet specific requirements to maintain
their Force of Will Judge certification at the end of each competitive
season (beginning the day after the most recent World Grand Prix).
Apprentice (Level 0)
·
There are no
ongoing requirements to maintain Apprentice (Level 0) status once
the initial exam has been passed.
Floor Judge (Level 1)
To maintain certification, a Floor Judge (Level 1)
must meet two or more of the following requirements:
·
Have served as
part of the judge team in at least one Level 4 event during the
competitive season.
·
Have passed a Level
1 written exam with a score of 70% or higher during the competitive
season.
·
Have actively
participated in the official Force of Will Judge communication channel (as
of November 9, 2025, the Judge Discord Server) throughout the
competitive season.
Head Judge (Level 2)
To maintain certification, a Head Judge (Level 2)
must meet three or more of the following requirements:
·
Have served as
Head Judge in at least one Level 4 event during the competitive
season.
·
Have served on
the judge team in at least one Level 4 event during the competitive
season, either as Head Judge or as a supervising judge overseeing
a Floor Judge acting as Head Judge.
·
Have served as
part of the judge team in a Level 5 event during the competitive season.
·
Have passed a Level
2 written exam with a score of 70% or higher during the
competitive season.
·
Have actively
participated in the official Force of Will Judge communication channel (as
of November 9, 2025, the Judge Discord Server) throughout the
competitive season.
Expert Judge (Level 3)
To maintain certification, an Expert Judge (Level
3) must meet three or more of the following requirements:
·
Have served as
part of the judge team in at least one Level 4 event during the
competitive season.
·
Have served as
part of the judge team in a Level 5 event during the competitive season.
·
Have actively
participated in the official Force of Will Judge communication channel (as
of November 9, 2025, the Judge Discord Server) throughout the
competitive season.
·
Have actively
collaborated with the company in charge of Force of Will through
official private communication channels during the competitive season.
·
Having actively
collaborated with the company in charge of Force of Will in a
special role during the competitive season.
The company in charge of Force of Will may grant to any Expert Judge (Level 3)
a special role, such as Regional Coordinator or Judge
Certifier. Information and responsibilities related to these special roles
are accessible exclusively to Expert Judges (Level 3) through the
official private communication channels.
5 – Responsibilities
Within a Competitive-Level Tournament
During a competitive-level tournament (Level 2 or
higher), an internal hierarchy must be respected to ensure the proper
functioning and orderly development of the event. Each tier within this
hierarchy carries specific responsibilities and duties that must be fulfilled
to maintain fairness and efficiency throughout the tournament.
Common Responsibilities of all players
All participants in an event share the following
common responsibilities:
·
Be familiar
with and follow all tournament policies applicable to Force of Will and
the specific format being played during the event.
·
Conduct
themselves respectfully at all times. This includes avoiding the use of
profanity and refraining from making offensive remarks or gestures.
·
Avoid wearing
offensive or inappropriate clothing.
·
Refrain from
interfering with ongoing matches. Only judges are authorized to answer rules
questions or intervene in matches when necessary.
·
Avoid making
comments about an ongoing match if such comments could be overheard by the
players playing the game.
·
Notify the
Tournament Organizer or a certified judge, within a reasonable time and in good
faith, if a player fails to follow a game or tournament rule, or fails to
record game results, or records life totals incorrectly, regardless of who may
benefit from the error.
·
Follow the
instructions of any member of the tournament staff.
Responsibilities of Floor Judges (Level 1)
All Floor Judges (Level 1) assist the Head Judge
(Level 2) or Expert Judge (Level 3) in maintaining a fair and impartial
tournament environment. In addition, Floor Judges are responsible for the
following:
·
Being
physically present for the duration of the tournament.
·
Maintaining a
level of expertise in game and tournament rules that exceeds that of the
players.
·
Arriving at
the tournament at least 30 minutes before the start of the first round, or
earlier if required.
·
Monitoring the
tournament area and players at all times.
·
Performing
deck checks quickly and accurately when required.
·
Wearing an
outfit approved by the organization that clearly distinguishes them from
players and spectators.
·
Avoiding favouritism
toward any player or team.
·
Resolving any observed
rules infractions promptly and efficiently, providing clear explanations of the
ruling.
·
Educating
players. Every intervention during a match should serve to improve players’
understanding of Force of Will.
·
Ensuring that
all tournament penalties are reported to the Head Judge (Level 2) or Expert
Judge (Level 3).
·
Ensuring that
match results are verified by both players and promptly reported to the Head
Judge (Level 2) or Expert Judge (Level 3)..
·
All
responsibilities required of players also apply to Floor Judges (Level 1).
Responsibilities of Head Judges (Level 2) and Expert
Judges (Level 3)
The Head Judge (Level 2) or Expert Judge (Level 3) is
the final authority on all disputes that arise during a tournament. Their
decisions cannot be appealed. The Head Judge or Expert Judge issues rulings,
manages tournament staff, and ensures the smooth progression of the event. In
addition, they are responsible for the following:
·
Ensuring that
the results for the current round are entered correctly into the tournament
software.
·
Ensuring that
pairings for the next round are prepared promptly.
·
Ensuring that
the start and end of each round are communicated clearly and efficiently to all
players and judges.
·
Being
available to moderate rules disputes when players appeal a decision.
In a Level 5 event, to avoid conflicts of
interest or doubts of favouritism, the final ruling must be issued by an Expert
Judge (Level 3) who does not share a mother language with either player
involved in the appeal. If this is not possible, the final ruling will be
determined in private between the two Expert Judges present at the event, after
listening an in-depth explanation of the situation granted by the appealed
judge.
·
Ensuring that
Floor Judges (Level 1) and other Head Judges (Level 2) are aware of their
duties and responsibilities.
·
Ensuring that all judges
are properly listed at the start and conclusion of the tournament and
communicate said list to the Expert Judges (Level 3) via the official
Force of Will Judge Communication Channel.
·
Ensuring to communicate the list of players and which player(s)
receive the invites and/or sponsored invites of the tournament to the Expert Judges (Level 3) via the official
Force of Will Judge Communication Channel at the end of the tournament.
·
All
responsibilities required of Floor Judges (Level 1) also apply to Head Judges
(Level 2) and Expert Judges (Level 3).
Responsibilities of Tournament Organizers
Tournament Organizers are responsible for running
events and ensuring their smooth and successful operation before, during, and
after the tournament. A Tournament Organizer may not participate as a player in
a tournament they are organizing, except in Level 1 events. In addition,
Tournament Organizers are responsible for the following:
·
Making all
necessary arrangements for the venue, staff, and materials required to
successfully run the event. This includes securing the location, recruiting
volunteer judges, and ensuring the venue is equipped with tables, chairs,
playmats, table numbers, a printer and paper, a computer with tournament
software, a timer, and any other necessary materials.
·
Ensuring that
the tournament is officially sanctioned and reported no later than fourteen days
after the event.
·
Communicating
dress code requirements for the staff of the event.
·
Appropriately
compensating judges and tournament staff for exceptional service.
·
Ensuring that
prizes, entry fees, start times, and tournament rules are clearly announced
before the beginning of the event.
6 – Ethical and
Professional Code
The judge team represents the Force of Will
community and, by extension, during Level 2 or higher events, represents the
company in charge of Force of Will. Therefore, judges are expected to
adhere to a strict code of ethics, conduct, and professionalism, ensuring a
safe environment for players and a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere throughout
all tournaments.
Judges, regardless of their certification level, must
at all times, both inside and outside of tournaments, abide by the following
ethic and professional code:
·
Respect
players, Tournament Organizers, and fellow judges.
·
Be honest and
impartial when issuing rulings.
·
Maintain a
professional attitude whenever using their Force of Will judge
certification to resolve questions or rule-related conflicts.
·
Avoid favouritism
and, whenever possible, delegate any decision that may present a conflict of
interest to another judge of equal or higher level.
·
Communicate
appropriately and respectfully with the Force of Will community.
·
Uphold these
same standards of conduct outside of events (including on social media, forums,
and other public spaces).
·
Initiate an
investigation into lower-level judges or report irregularities involving judges
of the same level to higher-level judges.
7 – Recognition and Rewards
The judge team, although composed of volunteers,
serves as the cornerstone that enables the proper execution of Force of Will
competitive-level tournaments. As part of their recognition and compensation,
judges are granted access to exclusive promotional materials. Additionally,
Tournament Organizers must collaborate to motivate and retain active judges by
acknowledging their effort and dedication through the following rewards:
·
Promotional
Material. Certified judges (excluding
Apprentices) who have been part of the event’s judge team will receive the
same official material as the player finishing in ninth place at the
end of the tournament (with the exception of any exclusive prizes awarded
specifically to the ninth-place player).
- This includes all official materials distributed as part of the basic entry
package and all ranking-based promotional items (Top 64, Top 32, Top 16).
- Prizes awarded to
players in the Top 8 or higher do not count toward this distribution of
promotional materials.
- In addition, each certified judge (excluding
Apprentices) must receive one copy of the corresponding JUDGEXX
promotional card for the ongoing competitive season per judge level, up to
a maximum of two promotional cards.
Tournament Organizers are encouraged to provide Level
1-2-3 judges with event-specific materials distributed as prizes other than the
official materials, as far as possible, in accordance of the written above.
Apprentices (Level 0) who have been part of the event’s judge team must be compensated at the
end of the tournament exclusively with: 1 RL promotional card from the
current month. 1 WL promotional card from the current month. 1 random Worlds202X
promotional card from those distributed as part of the tournament’s basic entry
package.
Important: All information related to the promotional cards that Apprentices (level
0) and Judges of all levels will receive for being part of the Judge team in
any event will be published along with the event information in the tournament
announcements on the official website.
8 – Channels of Official
Communication
Members of the judge team from all nationalities will
remain in contact through the official Force of Will Judge Communication
Channel (as of November 9th, 2025, the Judge Discord Server).
Access to this Discord server is restricted to officially certified Level 1,
Level 2, or Level 3 judges.
The judge team is not obligated to resolve rule
questions or player disputes outside of the official time frames of sanctioned
tournaments. Therefore, any ruling issued outside of a tournament must be
reported to the Expert Judges (Level 3) via the official Force of
Will Judge Communication Channel, in order to maintain consistency and
consensus across the community of judges from all over the world.
No judge, regardless of certification level, is
permitted to issue rulings to players outside of a tournament without also
communicating that ruling to the rest of the judge team through the official Force
of Will Judge Communication Channel. Failure to comply with this
requirement may result in an internal investigation by the company in charge of
Force of Will and may lead to the revocation of the judge’s
certification.
9 – List of Active
Judges
This is the complete
list of official Force of Will Judges, sorted by country, and
alphabetical order. This list will be updated periodically (last update: Nov 9th,
2025)
Level 1 – Floor Judges
Germany – Tobias Schäfer
USA
– Patrick Ogrentz
USA
– Phil Mosca
Level 2 – Head Judges
France – Luna Delsarte
Germany – Christian Härtl
Italy – Michele Scarfò
Spain
– Álvaro González
USA
– Caleb Tuma
USA – Charlie DeMeulle
Level 3 – Expert Judges
Germany – Torsten John
Singapore – Eric Chia
Spain – Alejandro Velasco
10 – Conclusion
The Force of Will Judge Program has been built
upon the dedication and passion of the Force of Will community members.
Every certified member of the Judge Program serves as a cornerstone supporting
the integrity of the game and the enjoyment of its players. The ultimate goal
is to ensure that every event, ranging from the smallest local tournament to the
World Grand Prix, embodies the core values that define Force of Will.
The Development Team
