Did we talk about this NFHS question yet?
 

I'm not sure if this came up, and my attempt to search didn't uncover it, but I wanted to ask something about a particular NFHS test question. In Virginia, we take the test online, and they mix them up, so the number is irrelevant.

Maybe I missed a few words in the question - and I didn't cut and paste it like I should have when I reviewed it - but it was essentially a question on 8-3-3a, where runners are awarded four bases when a ball is prevented from going over the fence by being by a spectator.

Answer Key: False.

What the he11? Someone in my association also asked about it, and from my recollection, it was worded exactly like the rulebook (I refuse to call it a "rules book") for 8-3-3a.

My question is: a) did the test question not mention the words "in flight," thus making the question false, since you can't apply four bases to a ball that bounds over, or b) did the test writer $%^&# it up? I hope it's the latter, of course, for the obvious reasons, but also because I hate nit-noid questions like that. I know, we're supposed to know our rules, and know subtle details and blah blah blah, but it seems to me that could be done a little better than by just omitting two words from some long description. I'd like to think that, on the field, I'll know the d@mn ball was bouncing before the spectator kept it from going over the fence.

I still kicked butt on the test, but I remember looking at the question during my review, and thinking, "I looked at the question, and compared it to page 51, so what did I miss?"

Thanks.

It's (a). The question (#87) says "a FAIR ball is prevented from going over a fence..." If the ball's fair/foul status has been determined, it can't still be in flight. It must have touched the ground or a fielder (or gone over the fence) while on or over fair territory. It would be a 2 base award.

(Before someone else says it) "But what if F9 leaps for one at the wall and deflects it off a fan who reaches over the fence and knocks the ball back onto the field?" Wouldn't that a 4-base award?

Maybe it is (b) HokieUmp.

the question is missing the word "in flight" so I put false on that one

that figures...
 

Well, like I said, that was one thing I couldn't remember - if the question mentioned 'in flight.' So I accept it was me, and not the test writer. I still argue that it's a crappy way to 'get' people.

no worries...at the time of this reply, I had literally just finished the FED test so it was pretty fresh in my mind

There were a few of those in there this year...lots of little tricky ones...but the large majority of the questions are word-for-word out of the rule book

The official FED answer for #87 is True.

The OP by HokieUmp said the FED answer key was FALSE.

No it didn't. It said that the VA answer key had the answer as False.

Certainly if the questions get "randomized", the answers have to follow. Either someone messed up in the translation or VA changed the answer.

the question, as it's worded, doesn't even say "fair batted ball" the answer has to be false...it simply says fair ball. The answer key says True though huh??

The official answer is true. However since the question does not say "in flight" the question as written should be false.

okay...I'll put true on my answer sheet...I'd hate to get a dumb one wrong

I give up -- what kind of a "fair ball" isn't also a batted ball?

The comments about "in flight" are relevant (imo), although the question is a direct quote from the FED rules book.

any fair ball that's not in the air off of the bat could be a fair ball...what about a ball that's going over the fence on one hop and a fan swipes for the ball and it prevents it from going over the fence....are you going to call a ground rule double there? or a 4 base award?