Copyright 2026 Pastimes, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Introducing the Tournament Staff Educational Summit Monday after MagicCon: Chicago 2025! This will be a full day of workshops, panels, lectures, and activities. This event focuses on multiple aspects of tabletop tournament craft, such as judging, scorekeeping, customer service, and back of house logistics.
Registration is required, space is limited, and registration will close on February 21st. Applications for this event will be available to folks who applied for MagicCon Chicago first and will remain for applicants till February 14th, if there are spaces remaining after Feb 14th, the event will become open to the public.
This educational event is divided into tracks; attendees do not have to stay within one track but it is encouraged to try and take all of the given classes in a track, along with the All Zones track. Each class is roughly an hour long, with a 15-minute break between classes. Classes run from 9am till 6pm, with lunch from 1pm till 2pm (13:00-14:00). Lunch is provided for this event thanks to our sponsors! While it is not required that attendees stay for the entire event, it is strongly encouraged that folk attend the duration. Each class does have a max capacity, we will do our best to assign you the classes you wish to take.
Each track has a team of experienced mentors teaching classes as a team. Classes focus more on activities and workshops than on lecture-style presentations. Expect to be active and engaged while in class. Many of these classes may seem remedial or very basic in nature. The point of this educational event is to focus on the skills that tournament staff use and how those skills apply to every aspect of working the event, not just the team responsible or tools created for the tasks associated with those skills. “Learn to do the math, not just use the calculator.” Even highly experienced staff have value to gain from reinvigorated foundations.
The mentors team for this Summit includes Liz Richardson, Alex Hurley, Meg Baum, Jared Sylva, Carlos Ho, Alfonso Bueno, Seth Arar, Arick Dickerman, Jack Doyle, Jason Howlett, Ward Warren, Alejandro Raggio, Gerard Trpn, Nico De Bonis, John Brian McCarthy, W. Matt Williams, Philippe Monlevade, Lloyd Dodson, Francisco Iramain.
There are skills that all members of tournament staff use at events. These are often referred to as “Soft Skills” despite being the hardest to learn and internalize. Giving each other feedback and the interpersonal skills required for good customer service are often tricky for folks not naturally inclined to a high charisma score. These are skills that are not only vital to making great events, but also keeping our community healthy. As players work with one another to improve their play, we work together to improve our skills at providing excellent service to our events.
In these classes, you will learn tools to help you communicate better with your leads, your fellow staff members, and players. This course will also go over general event best practices for IRL events and how you can improve your chances of being accepted for them.
Classes for this track are:
Starting from a simple eight-player bracket and working your way up to a multi-thousand player event, scorekeeping is much more than knowing how to run Melee, Eventlink or even DCIR. Knowing the fundamentals of scorekeeping and how the process of scorekeeping actually functions will help you become a better scorekeeper by giving you the skills you need to spot problems and come up with effective solutions to those problems.
Each participant in this track should expect to bring their laptop or other scorekeeping implement with them to class. There will be a very limited number of loanable Pastimes SK laptops for use.
Classes for this track are:
“Learn to do the math, not just use the calculator.” Skills like deck checks and end of round are used throughout an event, not just when on the teams responsible for most of those tasks. Using a tool like Melee or Purple Fox, even if used well, does not mean one truly understands the tasks those tools make easier.
In these classes, you will learn tips for improving your base judge skills and applying your knowledge of those skills in all situations as appropriate. You will also learn how event team structures help support the entire event, not just the staff knowing who to report to, from being the single judge at an RCQ or FNM to being the Head Judge of a multi-team event.
Classes for this track are:
Back of House logistics are some of the most physically challenging and mentally puzzling tasks a staff member can undertake at an event. Setting up product to be efficiently and effectively passed out for events, keeping the prize wall & land stations stocked, and putting out (usually metaphorical) fires the Back of House team are the glistening oil that keeps the event running.
In these classes, you will learn how to set up the various banners and graphics used at MagicCon and other events, you will learn how to inventory and set up product efficiently, and you will learn how to pack up the show to head home.
Classes for this track are:
Lunch will be provided for this event. Lunch is served buffet style and served from 1pm till 2pm (13:00-14:00).
There will be a small “Tournament Staff Museum” set up showcasing some items from our past. Anyone is welcome to submit an item to the museum for the day, all items will be returned to go home with the staff that brought them. Pastimes and Wizards are not responsible for damage or loss of these items. There will be no point where they will be left unattended or accessible to the general public. Each item will be displayed with a small sign explaining what it is and where it came from in Our History. We may have multiple offers to bring the same type of item. (For example I am sure many of you have a set of stripes to bring!) Offer to bring any item you are comfortable with! We will let you know that we already have that artifact in play!
Bring with you printed pictures and add them to the boards! Show off your favorite memories and moments. Upload your photos to the digital gallery in the application form These will be shared along with pictures from MagicCon Chicago 2025 and the Summit itself!
If you wish to test for a level or certification for a local judging organization contact that judging organization to organize the test or panel. There will be space available to test, your local org must still generate the test or panel.
Copyright 2026 Pastimes, Inc. All Rights Reserved.