The original question is why boards give out the answers to refresher tests? My response was because knowing the answers are not going to help you out either way. If the answers to a test determine your officiating ability, correct me if I am wrong, but do NCAA officials have to take a test every year or anytime for that matter? Do those test determine whether officials even officate games in the NCAA? Is there a test different for the Women's game compared to the Men's? And does the same thing apply for the NBA and WNBA? I think the answer is a big fat NO!!!! And if that was the big factor please correct me on this. I can admit that I am wrong, but the several individuals that I know (worked with one in a varsity game last night), never had to take any test for college level games. I have gone to officials assocition meetings all over the area. I have run into several and I mean several college officials. I have never heard any of them ever having to pass a test each year. I live in the Chicago area and living here can be a benefit because we have access to two airports (which can get you hired or not in some cases) and I have never heard this. I have never said to never read the rulebook or never read the casebook and if you got that out of what I said, then you misunderstood and that could be my fault. But if you think that can quote the rulebook word for word is going to impress anyone other than yourself at the higher levels, then I need you and others to show me evidence of that. Because just the fact that I have never heard an NCAA official or NBA official say they had to take a test, speaks volumes to me!!!
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Originally posted by Jerry Baldwin
If you had not studied the rule book you would not have known that the word "intentionally" was added to slapping the backboard. I guarntee there are a lot of officials out there who do not know this change. I have been told at every camp, clinic, etc. that knowing the definitions in section 4 is essential for you to become a good official. I have gotten the impression from JRutledge posts that knowing the rules is not important, but mechanics and judgement are. I strongly disagree. I can teach mechanics, rule situations, but I cannot teach judgement. Either you have good judgement or you don't. My judgement has improved over the 20 + years of officiating basketball and I continue to teach and mentor new officials. I would hate for a team to lose a game because I miscalled a backcourt violation, because I did not know the rules. I may miss a BC call but it is not because I don't know the rule. It will be because of my judgement. Big difference. I am sorry but knowing the rules can only help an official get better. Very few officials get worse because they know the rules. I don't mean you want to be a rule book official but you need to know how to effectively apply all rules and I've already called over 30 games this year.
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