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Originally posted by Jurassic Referee
Am I reading this right, Jeff? If you get 97% on your exam, that will give you 3 more power points than if you score 84% on the exam? Iow, out of a total of 30 power points available, you could have a total power rating that might actually be 10% higher than if you wrote a poorer exam? And that corresponding 10% raise in an official's power rating might be enough to move an inexperienced Registered Official into a play-off game over a Certified Official?
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That would be great if the Power Rating was the factor for playoffs. It is clearly not, when they consider the many other factors below. They do not move people all over the state for the early rounds (Regional), so you are competing against people that live in your area. My regional last year was about 30 miles one way (if that). They were not sending someone from Carbondale (south of St. Louis) to work games in Northern Illinois. It might help someone that is boarder line, but if you are too dumb to check your answers or go to association meetings to get all the answers, then same on you. I am sure there are people that like to take the test completely on their own, but I have yet to meet them. So if everyone gets a 97, then what?
Quote:
Originally posted by Jurassic Referee
Sounds to me like there IS an incentive there to do as well on the exam as you can. Of course, as I said before, the way that a system is supposed to run vs. the way that it actually runs can be quite a bit different. Hopefully, the IHSA knows their officials rather than assigning some play-off games by numbers.
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The test is an open book exam. We do not take the test on a specific day, at a specific site. There are no rules, warnings or comments from the IHSA that suggest that people cannot confirm their answers with other official. I would agree with you if there was some information from the head of the Official's Department made it clear that "cheating on the test is not to be tolerated." Instead they say absolutely nothing and then say "I have no problem with officials helping each other and going over the test." And all those people that Windy keeps referencing sat there and said nothing. As a matter of fact there were several officials that were "shocked" when he made those comments. JR, they also go out and watch officials. If you prove yourself to be a competent official and use the proper mechanics, that means just as much if not more. I also have to state that no official below the ranks of a Certified Official is going to ever work a State Final. That has not only been said, it has been given out in literature to the officials. The Power rating is used as one objective gauge to determine playoff assignments. It has been made clearly by those that assign basketball (and who assign the other sports) that is not at all the major consideration. I know people that get playoffs that they feel are great officials and I am sure the power rating is not a factor in what they decide or not decide. I know people that have turned down assignments have not been considered after they were offered and opportunity. I am sure you will not read that anywhere in the literature either, but it is a factor.
Peace