Quote:
Originally posted by chuck chopper
Mike, I see your Feb 11th memo on this shortened test. Do you know what the thinking was behind the reduction, and your opinions ?
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This was covered in a short fashion at a clinic last week. The test is to be used as an educational tool, not a measuring stick. It is meant to force thought and discussion involving rules which get questioned more often than others. My opinion is that this is one of the reasons the questions were somewhat vague. We've seen the direct affect of that on this and other officiating boards.
Also, IMO, the shorter test allows the umpire to embrace it by allowing them to slow down so there is not a mad dash to finish. If you remember, some of the old tests would ocassionally have the same question on a rule presented in a different format. By going to a shorter test, the staff, and in turn, the umpire, can focus on certain scenarios and interpretations provided in the book and not have to worry about filling out a test with inane questions and/or matching the answer key.