Meet the real-life Pokémon professors, the unsung heroes of competitive monster-battling
They offer advice, referee card games and manage players’ tantrums – we caught up with some of the volunteer profs who keep the competitive game going at this year’s world championships
TL;DR
- Real-world Pokémon professors are volunteers who help organize global competitive Pokémon communities.
- They wear "staff" shirts and assist at official Pokémon events, acting as referees, teachers, and event managers.
- The Pokémon Professor Program is a global network of passionate fans who volunteer their time.
- Professors' responsibilities vary by game and role, ranging from technical support to judging trading card games.
- Gemma Byard, a head judge, emphasizes ensuring correct results, venue safety, and overall integrity.
- Compensation for professors varies, with some receiving merchandise, others wages, and assistance with travel and accommodation.
- Evelyne de Groot highlights the importance of balancing rule enforcement with ensuring players enjoy the game, comparing the role to customer service.
- Professors sometimes face difficult calls and deal with upset competitors, acting to resolve issues.
- Byard notes that professors are often seen as adversaries but aim to fix broken situations by enforcing rules based on the full story, not just a snapshot.