The Level 0 (Apprentice) test has been updated! (Update: 2026/04/01)
Please carefully read the "Force of Will Judge Program" below and take the test at the URL provided.
The test questions are provided via Google Forms, and the pass/fail result email will be sent immediately using Google Forms' functionality. (Because it uses Google Forms' functionality, the sender email address will be "fow.promotion@gmail.com".)
https://forms.gle/WPemvH1jj4bWASNu7
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
