THE REFEREES
REF SQUAD
Aos Worlds 2025:
Tom Megens (Head Ref)
Madigan Mason
Carolus Citra
Gareth Thomas
Michael Caffart
Previous members:
Clement
Michael van Eeckhoute
What makes refereeing at Worlds unique?
Refereeing at Worlds is such a cool experience because you get to meet people from all over the world, and they often bring snacks from their home countries! It’s not just about the game; it’s a big cultural exchange, with everyone bonding over a shared love for the sport. But it can be a bit challenging too, especially with different regional rules that sometimes throw people off. Plus, since teams are repping their countries, every point counts, and the competition gets intense—way more than in regular tournaments. Being part of something like this, where everyone’s coming together to make it happen, feels like a real honor.The ref team’s favorite part of the AoS community
The people! As someone in several hobby spaces, the AoS community has been the most welcoming and friendly. Even in competitive environments, everyone is here to have a great time and it shows. I think to a degree it softens us as referees - there's often no punishment for a honest mistake, unlike some more cutthroat tournament scenes.From a referee’s perspective, what advice would you give to players to ensure smooth and enjoyable games at Worlds?
Our main advice for players is to communicate! Before the game starts, talk with your opponent to make sure you're on the same page about things like terrain, what counts as a cocked die, and any other details. Discuss the type of game you both want to play—timing, moves, and whether you'll give each other a chance to adjust if something shifts on the table. Since it’s a physical game, things can get nudged, so talking through intentions can really help. Remember to be civil and focus on having fun; at the end of the day, you’re here to enjoy the experience, build good memories, and represent your country with a positive attitude. Winning’s great, but bonding with your team and having a good time matters even more!Have you witnessed a moment of great sportsmanship that stood out to your team during a game?
A coach approached a ref to ask if he could remove his own player's models since they had been accidentally left in a state of incoherence
Toughest calls as a team: What’s the most challenging situation your team has faced, and how did you work together to resolve it?
The toughest calls are always ones where players believe the refs are omniscient. Often a ref is called over to judge on a prior state of the table. This is obviously impossible, and there is no way for the ref to know what happened. A case of he said/she said. There is no correct way to rule those instances, and usually one player will always be left angry/disappointed.