Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

A quick reminder to professors playing in tournaments

M

mysterioustrainer

Active Member
Problems have appearenty been rising when professors who are playing in touranments (and not staffing) have been wearing their lab jackets and/or polo shirts to events. This is inappropriate and makes it difficult for other players to identify the offical staff of an event. It is also hindering for offical staff members of an event from trying to do their job. So it is not recommend that you wear your lab jacket and/or polo shirt to an event you are not a staff member to.

Also even though you are a professor, it is also inappropriate to attempt to give rulings to any other matches in a tournament. As a player you may attempt to find a resolution to your own problems with your own opponent's, however if a problem arises at another table, you would provide more help by contacting an offical judge to resolve the problem at hand.

Also if you have any problems with an event please remember that the judges ruling stands, feel free to consult the problem after it passes. Even then don't forget as a player you have the right to leave feedback to POP to every event you play in by using your My Pokemon account. Thanks for your time.
 
I agree Labcoats should be saved for when staffing an event. But do you really see an issue with wearing the Professor Polos? We all know just because your a professor, doesn't mean you are part of the staffing event. Besides what good would a Professor Polo be if you couldn't wear it to Pokemon events?
 
OK, there is no issue with wearing the professor Polos. Those are not "judging" shirts, those are simply items we have purchased, much like a pikachu shirt or hat.

Labcoats should be staff members only, and preferably only for the HJ in each division.

I agree that non-judges should not be officiating matches. That is the biggest area of confusion of all.

Vince
 
I see no problem with the shirt! There is nothing in the Floor Rules about this. At my events an others I have gone to I (or the person running the event) intro's the Judges by name an points them out. I have had people that know I'm a Professor ask me a question an I ask them to ask for a Judge as it is not my place to make a ruling when I'm playing in the event.
 
Yep, I feel the same way Vince does. You worked for the polo shirts, so enjoy wearing them! I encourge all profs to wear theirs at my events! Hats and pins as well. As far as the lab coats, well, save those for league and let the judges stand out. Unless POA starts giving us something else to use as judges.
( please not the Athletes Foot shirts......) :rolleyes:
Rick
 
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meganium45 said:
OK, there is no issue with wearing the professor Polos. Those are not "judging" shirts, those are simply items we have purchased, much like a pikachu shirt or hat.

Labcoats should be staff members only, and preferably only for the HJ in each division.

I agree that non-judges should not be officiating matches. That is the biggest area of confusion of all.

Vince
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So what about professors that are judging that don't have a lab coats? How about judges that are not professors?

I would need 6 extra lab coats for regionals, because I know most my judging staff won't have them by that date.
 
I agree with Craig. It can be confusing when there are 10-15 people running around in black and white shirts who are not working the tournament. When I played in the Oregon States championship, I chose to wear my professor hat and my professor pin, and my Professor stamped "Prof. Oak's Research" cards were in my deck. But I did not wear the polo shirt because I wasn't working the event.

The only time I am planning on playing in my Professor Polo is in the Professor Cup at Nationals.

It does look very professional when all your judging staff are wearing their Professor Regalia, but it does present a challenge to the TO if the judges haven't earned them yet.
 
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I'm usually a judge, so this doesn't normally apply to me. But I just can't imagine someone trying to tell me that I couldn't wear something that is mine, ..... when it does not have an offensive saying on it. Perhaps it may cause problems, but so what, you deal with it .... in the most professional manner as can be possible under the circumstances. Unless POP decides to deliberately limit the use of MY clothes by a ruling, I don't feel I or anyone else has the right to ask me or anyone else not to wear certain clothes. Even if it does cause a small amount of embarassing moments to judges, give me a break. Organizers should be smart enough to announce the lineup of judges. Other professors should not be consulted, or asked an opinion of, on a ruling during a match. They are there to play, so they should realize they should defer to the tournament judges.
 
I would have to agree with Rick and Vince and well, most everyone else on this thread. When I earn my Polo I plan on wearing it at every chance I get. Any confusion can generally be avoided by lining up your staff in front of everyone and introducing them by name. I've seen someone play in a lab coat prior to Nintendo picking up the liscence (back in the no 15+ at all days, I swear to dude looked exactly like Prof. Elm, played with toploaders instead of sleeves) and I thought it looked kinda cool, but I do agree the Coats should be limited to judging staff, probably the Head Judges. Though do you really wanna break that poor Prof.'s heart who just earned his coat by telling them they shouldn't wear it because they're not head judge? :O
 
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I know giving rulings as a playing professor isn't right. But what about if you see something 'wrong' but the players of another game don't?
 
Pidgeotto Trainer said:
I know giving rulings as a playing professor isn't right. But what about if you see something 'wrong' but the players of another game don't?
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I believe in that situation it would be wise to contact a member of the judging staff. As for the clothing... I don't know, I guess I can kinda see the argument from both sides of the table. On one hand, you've worked hard to get that gear, and your proud to wear it, show off your accomplishments and what not. But then again, you could easily be mistaken for as a member of the event staff/judges, which may not be good in the long run especially if someone sees you acting in an unprofessional manner which could in return make the real staff look bad.

I personally think both polo shirts and labcoats should be reserved for event staff. I mean, some of you have stated to save the labcoats for only event staff, mainly the head judge. So we have a bunch of floor judges running around in b/w polo shirts, along with several players? I don't know... The DCI has it written under their system that the 'zebra' polo shirts are restricted to event judges only, but that's a tight set up... maybe having some official wording from PUI would be nice. I agree about the 'your judging staff SHOULD be introduced at the start of the event, but what if it's a really large premier event and/or if someone forgets who the real staff is? I would say for playing... hats, pins, Wizards of the Coast Polo sound good... PUI Professor Polos and coats... staff. When I think of this debate, it makes me think about wearing my Blue-Polo/Khaki-Pants into work on my day off... I really don't want to deal with customer complaints on a day like that :wink:

-marril
 
Has anyone else besides me thought of wearing Lanyards with badges saying "Event Staff"? Or how about "Judge" or "Head Judge"? Let's not make this complicated, guys. Wear what you want, within local moral codes, but try to give a good impression, whether you are a professor who plays or judges, or whether or not you are event staff or not. Organizers should point out judges, before the tournament starts along with the opening announcements, and judges should try to make themselves visible during the matches. It really is as simple as that. We don't need to be told what to wear, just to be mature enough to when we are in professor garb, to actually act like it.
 
Professors may wear their polos at an event. It is up to the TO to make clear who their judges are at the start of the event.

However, if you are not a judge at an event, YOU SHOULD NOT BE ANSWERING RULINGS QUESTIONS. Only judge staff has the authority to answer rules questions. If someone asks you a rules question, inform them that you are not a judge, and refer them to a judge.

If you feel that a judge has made a bad ruling, discuss it with them in a reasonable manner. If they disagree, appeal to the head judge. If the head judge stands by the ruling, that's that. The head judge has the final say in all rulings at the event, even if they are wrong.
 
I wore my polo to a state championship a couple weeks ago and was asked to changed shirts. I didn't have another shirt with me so I had to keep my jacket on except when I was sitting down and playing in the tournament. The TOs said something about it being in the floor rules that they can regulate what the players wear, or something to that extent. I could see how players could be confused if there are multiple people wearing the saem polo shirt, some of whom are judges and other who are not. They introduced the judges and that before the start of the tournament though, so I don't see how there would be any confusion. I was always carrying my ultra pro so it was obvious I was playing and not judging.

I don't really have any complaints about that situation, just good to hear an official reply from you Michael that we can indeed wear the polos to events.

I know what I'll be wearing to the next prerelease :-D
 
It's a shame that certain people decided they could dictate what others should and should not wear in the first place, but if there were some problems, I hope now they can be ironed out.
 
myst_trainer said:
Problems have appearenty been rising when professors who are playing in touranments (and not staffing) have been wearing their lab jackets and/or polo shirts to events. This is inappropriate and makes it difficult for other players to identify the offical staff of an event.
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Interesting topic Craig, was this a HUGE issue for you guys at states? No one informed me of any problems of me wearing my polo shirt.

If my memory serves me right Craig, you came down to the Deoxys pre-release in your blue WoTC shirt and your lab coat and played at the event instead of judging. The event had about 35 players and there were 3 of us judging that day and we all knew you were playing and no one had issues about "judge confusion"... I know I remember when you tried to get me to wear the lab coat at the time and I'm glad you kept it off once the event started, but the point here is that you had your blue polo shirt on too, even though you had a vest over it (which is Ok, I guess).

Are you bringing up this issue now because of STATES?? I know I wore my polo shirt proudly at the event and saw some other people in their blue WoTC shirts that were playing too, but people were still able to figure out that I was playing at states rather than judging and I never got asked about a ruling question. I never knew this was an issue for you guys (even though I helped out at first with deck checks since you all got behind with that...)

Since I don't see anything on the floor rules about this, my only conclusion to this would be to say that it's up to the head Judge/PTO/TO of the event as to what the kind of "attire" is, unless of course it is at a huge event such as CC, State, etc, then I can see that being a different story because of the bigger tournouts....
 
Yes I did wear my lab jacket at your prerelease however only prior to the event. I just got it and wanting to really show it off in case you or ronald did get it yet. I did change to my vest afterward. Colorado States, I did have some minor confusion from some players checking to see if I was a judge at times. It wasn't much.

The lab coat is clearly obvious that it should be for staff purposes only, along with some older Pokemon T-shirts that say Staff on them (like the EX: Hidden Legends Green T-Shirt). This is primarly true at tournaments. Of course wear them proudly otherwise. However unless you want to be treated like Icchan from Angelic Layer by the general public, I would not recommend you wear your lab jacket to anywhere not Pokemon Related.

I guess in any case be observant and don't be a rules laywer when choosing your appearal. If you wear your professor shirt and the entire staff wears only the professor (but no lab jackets), then that is a problem however this is unlikely I guess. So wear with responciblity and there should be no problem.

One more thing, just because something isn't written in the floor rules doesn't mean it is still right or wrong (depending on the situation). Pokemon Organized Play events really is alot about what happens in the there and then and learning from experience. Floor Rules have our basic set down procedures however the tournament system is alot bigger than the rules. So start thinking beyond the rules. No this doesn't mean start breaking them however use them and go beyond to provide the best quality event you as a player, professor, judge, and organizer can provide. In more simple words, think outside the box.
 
mysterioustrainer said:
Yes I did wear my lab jacket at your prerelease however only prior to the event. I just got it and wanting to really show it off in case you or ronald did get it yet. I did change to my vest afterward. Colorado States, I did have some minor confusion from some players checking to see if I was a judge at times. It wasn't much.

The lab coat is clearly obvious that it should be for staff purposes only, along with some older Pokemon T-shirts that say Staff on them (like the EX: Hidden Legends Green T-Shirt). This is primarly true at tournaments. Of course wear them proudly otherwise. However unless you want to be treated like Icchan from Angelic Layer by the general public, I would not recommend you wear your lab jacket to anywhere not Pokemon Related.

I guess in any case be observant and don't be a rules laywer when choosing your appearal. If you wear your professor shirt and the entire staff wears only the professor (but no lab jackets), then that is a problem however this is unlikely I guess. So wear with responciblity and there should be no problem.

One more thing, just because something isn't written in the floor rules doesn't mean it is still right or wrong (depending on the situation). Pokemon Organized Play events really is alot about what happens in the there and then and learning from experience. Floor Rules have our basic set down procedures however the tournament system is alot bigger than the rules. So start thinking beyond the rules. No this doesn't mean start breaking them however use them and go beyond to provide the best quality event you as a player, professor, judge, and organizer can provide. In more simple words, think outside the box.
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Bottom line is that the perks we provide to professors are just that, perks. They didn't have a 'uniform' when they were earning the credits that awarded them the Shirt or Jacket, so there wasn't confusion at that point, why is there now?

You are the TO. You are in charge, and you set the policy as to what 'uniform' will be used at your event. If you believe you will have a large number of players wearing their professor gear, you best not choose to make professor apparel your staff uniform. You may not like this, but it is in fact a TO problem.

That's not to say that problems won't arise, but as the TO, you should be thinking on your feet in ways to solve these problems when they do arise.

More people will be getting this apparel, and more players will be wearing it at events. I would highly recommend that our TOs start thinking about ways to clearly designate who their staff will be at their events, without it being the Professor Spring Line.

Prof. Dav
 
Spring Line? We having a fashion show at Nationals?

I'm not modeling the mini skirt!
 
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