Organized Play Glossary
Age Divisions
Pokémon Organized Play splits its players into tournament groups based on the year
they were born. These groups are the Junior, Senior, and Masters Divisions. Whenever possible,
players are paired with other players in their same age group. Prizes are typically awarded to the
best player in each age group.
Age Modified Swiss Pairing
As an adjustment to the Swiss Pairing method, players are paired both by record and
age division. Players may be matched with players from other age groups in certain
circumstances.
Age Separated Swiss
When there are at least 8 players in each age division, a tournament is typically
split into "pods." Each pod consists of players from a single age division only. Each pod is run as
a separate tournament, though the results all three pods are reported as a single tournament.
Badge
One of the award items that may be given to League players. These lapel pins are
representative of a player’s completion of certain goals during a League season. Badges are
typically tied to the Pokémon video games.
Battle Road
A small Premier Event series, designed specifically to allow players to increase
their Premier Rating.
Booster Draft
A Limited Tournament Format where players are grouped in smaller "pods.", usually of 8
players. Players open booster packs and secretly select and remove single cards from them, passing
the remainder of the pack to the next player in their pod to make their selection. Players open and
select from several packs this way, building their decks for the event from these cards. Further
details on Booster Drafts can be found in the Official Formats documents, on the Tournament Rules
and Resources page.
Bye
When the number of players in a tournament is odd, a random player in the poorest match
record bracket in a round is given an automatic win. This win is called a bye.
City Championship
A Title Event series where players compete with others from their city for the City Champion
Title.
Constructed Deck
A 60-card deck constructed by a player and used for a Constructed Deck format
tournament.
Conventions
Large gatherings for the hobby game industry and/or consumers who enjoy hobby games. You can
typically find the
Pokémon TCG and other games to play at these conventions.
Deactivation
The suspension of POP privileges, including use of the POP ID Card and participation in
tournaments, leagues, and POP ratings and rankings. POP is, above all, designed to be fun, safe,
and fair for everyone involved. Accordingly, we reserve the right to suspend any POP player from
participating in POP if we determine that any of these values may be compromised or that suspension
is in the best interests of POP or other POP participants.
ELO
The rating system that POP uses to calculate a POP player's rankings. It is based on the
formula developed by Professor Arpad Elo. POP's ELO rating system is similar to the system
originally used in most competitive chess events. A detailed explanation of POP's ELO can be found
in the Ratings and Rankings Explained document, on the Tournament Rules and Resources page.
Event Locator
A web-based utility that helps players find Pokémon Organized Play events happening near
them. Leagues, Tournaments , and Premier Events, like City Championships, can all be found on our
site.
Judge
A person who is well versed in the rules and strategies of the
Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and who is responsible for administering the rules
(including Tournament Rules) of a Tournament or League event.
League
A casual event, often held in local trading card game retail stores or community centers,
where the
Pokémon TCG is played. Results for playing in these events do not count toward a
player’s rating or ranking in the Pokémon Organized Play system. Most League events are organized
and operated by third parties independent from Pokémon USA, Inc.
League Leader
A person who organizes and administers a League. This person is usually a fan of the
Pokémon TCG who wishes to conduct local events. League Leaders are third parties
independent from Pokémon USA, Inc. They are not employees, agents, or independent contractors of
Pokémon USA, Inc.
League Owner
The League Owner is ultimately responsible for everything that takes place during his or her
League sessions. Third parties independent from Pokémon USA, Inc., such as a local trading card
game retail store, who are not employees, agents or independent contractors of Pokémon USA, Inc.,
and who allow Leagues to be held at their location.
Limited
Any tournament format in which all players receive the cards they will use in the tournament
at the event. Players do not use cards from their collections for these events but do get to keep
the cards they use in the tournament.
Match
A number of games played in a single round of a tournament. Matches played during Swiss
Pairings rounds are usually one game, while matches played during Single Elimination rounds are
sometimes best two out of three.
Modified
A tournament format that allows use of specific card sets for deck construction. See the
Tournament Formats document for a list of current legal card sets. This document can be found on
the Tournament Rules and Resources page.
My Pokémon
A registered account on this web site established by a visitor to elect preferences. The user
can decide whether or not to have their name and Pokémon Organized Play ranking listed on our
website.
Before registering for a My Pokémon account, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of
Use.
National Championship
A Title Event held annually where players compete in different age categories to become the
National Champion in their age category. These events typically offer invitations to the
Pokémon TCG World Championships to top players.
Pokémon Organized Play ("POP")
Events such as Leagues, Tournaments, and Championship events listed on this website where
fans of the
Pokémon TCG gather to play, trade, and discuss the
Pokémon trading card game. Most League events are organized and operated by third
parties independent from Pokémon USA, Inc. POP also includes the system of ratings and rankings of
players administered by Pokémon USA, Inc., and the content of this website.
POP ID
Each Player is assigned a Pokémon Organized Play Identification Number (POP ID) that we use
to track that player's tournament play, league participation, and identify him or her in our
system. Players must have this number with them whenever they attend a Pokémon Organized Play
Tournament event. Players who have never played in a POP event, like a tournament or League, will
be given one by the organizer of the event that they attend.
Pre-constructed Deck (or, Theme Deck)
60 fixed Pokémon trading cards that have been selected by Pokémon USA, Inc. and packaged as a
ready-to-play deck.
Premier Event or Premier Tournament
A high-profile Pokémon Organized Play Tournament, such as Battle Road, or Championship series
event. Results for playing in these events count toward a player’s Rating and Ranking in the
Pokémon Organized Play system and offer exciting prizes.
Premier Rating
Matches played in any premier event count toward a player’s Premier Rating. At the end of the
tournament season, players have the opportunity to earn an invitation to the Pokémon TCG World
Championships, based on their Premier Rating.
Premier Tournament Organizer ("PTO")
An independent third party that organizes and operates a Premier Tournament and who is not an
employee, agent, or independent contractor of Pokémon USA, Inc.
Prerelease
A tournament where players have access to cards from an upcoming
Pokémon TCG release, usually a week or two before that release is available for
retail sale. Prereleases always use the Limited tournament format.
Professor
A person well versed in the rules and strategies of the
Pokémon TCG and has passed a required exam. Professors are fans of the
Pokémon TCG who want to contribute their time at League sessions and tournaments
to teach new players the
Pokémon TCG. They also may judge at these events. Professors are third parties
independent from Pokémon USA, Inc. who are not employees, agents, or independent contractors of
Pokémon USA, Inc.
Rankings
The position an eligible player's rating puts them when compared to the ratings of other
eligible players. This way we can determine how many eligible players in a group are rated higher
or lower than a particular player. The rankings page posts your state, country, or worldwide
ranking.
Ratings
The classification of an eligible participant in Pokémon Organized Play based upon the number
of points the participant earns by playing in sanctioned tournaments. A player's rating fluctuates
as he or she wins and loses matches in sanctioned tournaments. Only matches played at Premier
Tournaments count toward a player's rating.
Regional Championship
A Title Event open to all eligible players where players compete in different age categories
to win the Regional Champion Title for that age division.
Round
All of the matches being played at one time during a tournament. Each player participates in
one match during each round of a tournament. A tournament consists of a number of rounds based on
the number of players in that tournament.
Sanctioned Event
An event that the Tournament Organizer determines run according to the Tournament Rules,
which can be found on the Tournament Rules and Resources page. Pokémon Organized Play offers free
prize support to all tournaments that are sanctioned at least two weeks prior to the event's
date.
Sealed Deck
A Limited tournament format in which players receive and open several booster packs and build
their decks from these cards. Further details on Sealed Deck can be found in the Tournament Formats
document, found on the Tournament Rules and Resources page.
Side Events
Any tournament held on the same day as a larger event—o ften picking up players after the “
main event” has concluded or as players drop.
Single Elimination
A pairing method where players are eliminated when they lose. Swiss events may shift to
Single Elimination finals after a number of rounds. The last remaining undefeated player is the
winner of the tournament.
State Championship
A Title Event open to all eligible players where players compete in different age categories
to win the State Champion Title for that age group.
Swiss Pairings
Matches for tournaments are set up using the Swiss Pairing Method. In this method, all
players in a tournament play in each round against an opponent with a similar win/loss record.
Players are not paired against opponents they have previously played.
Theme Deck Challenge
A Theme Deck Challenge is a non-sanctioned tournament where less experienced players are
offered the opportunity to play with new Preconstructed Theme Decks rather than boosters in the
event. By playing in a Theme Deck Challenge, players are afforded a more simple play format where
they don't have to build a deck from cards they have never seen before, making this an ideal format
for younger or less experienced players.
Title Event
A Premier Event, such as the City Championships, National Championships, or World
Championships, generally attended by more players than other Tournaments, where players from
different age categories compete for a title for their age group. Results for playing in these
events count toward a player's rating and ranking in the
Pokémon Organized Play system.
Tournament
A generic term for competitive POP events.
Tournament Format
The rules and restrictions on card selection and deck construction, as specified by the
tournament's format.
Tournament Operations Manager
The official POP-sponsored computer program used by Tournament Organizers to
administer sanctioned tournaments.
Tournament Organizer
An independent third party that organizes and operates a tournament and who is not an
employee, agent or independent contractor of Pokémon USA, Inc.
Tournament Rules
The rules established by Pokémon Organized Play. These rules must be followed at tournaments
by POP players, Tournament Organizers, Judges, and others in order for the event to be a
POP-sanctioned event. The Tournament Rules are found on the Tournament Rules and Resources
page.
Unlimited
A tournament format allowing the use of all authentic
Pokémon TCG cards ever printed. Unlimited is classified as a Fun format.
World Championships
The ultimate Pokémon Organized Play Title Event of the year. Players earn invites to this
tournament via qualifying events held earlier in the year. Players compete in different age
categories to become the sole World Champion in their age division.
