NFHS Baseball Test Part 1

[SE Minnestoa Re]

Our high school association went through the test last night. In my 30 years of high school officiating, I have never seen such a poorly written exam. After years of true/false question, ambiguous multiple choice questions were the norm.

I think they should just try to see if you know the rules, not spend the whole time seeing if they can trick you by word play.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by SE Minnestoa Re

Our high school association went through the test last night. In my 30 years of high school officiating, I have never seen such a poorly written exam. After years of true/false question, ambiguous multiple choice questions were the norm.

I think they should just try to see if you know the rules, not spend the whole time seeing if they can trick you by word play.

OTOH, if they can trick you maybe you don't know all the little ins and outs as well as one should.

[Rich]

My state threw 5 of the questions out. 1 of the questions was, quite simply, a train wreck, but the other four tested what I consider to be important concepts, such as:

-- F1 can legally throw to F6 in position on a pickoff play to second
-- The proper award for obstruction on a pickoff play at first where F3 obstructs is second base
-- A pitcher can legally turn his shoulders in the set position prior to coming set
-- I can't think of the fourth one

We've dumbed down the process of teaching and requiring people to know things so much that the process of taking the test is relatively worthless for experienced umpires, IMO.

[ozzy6900]

I found it asinine that you have to answer a question wrong in order to get it right! The answer key was such a mess that we made up an answer sheet to guide people through the wrong answers correctly. The FED really blew this year's test right out the window!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I found it asinine that you have to answer a question wrong in order to get it right! The answer key was such a mess that we made up an answer sheet to guide people through the wrong answers correctly. The FED really blew this year's test right out the window!

Which ones? Send me a PM if you'd like. I'm curious -- I have the test here and really didn't see a whole lot wrong with it, with the exception of the FED screwing up its own definition of runner (versus "retired runner") in one of the answers.

[johnnyg08]

In my opinion, I really like this test. It forces you to look up the rules, especially on the multiple choice ones. I saw several officials think they could just take the test and do well, and that's simply not the case...the test is supposed to get you to open the book which is probably a good thing. If you looked up each question in the book, the test wasn't that hard. Time consuming...yes. Worth the time, every second.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Which ones? Send me a PM if you'd like. I'm curious -- I have the test here and really didn't see a whole lot wrong with it, with the exception of the FED screwing up its own definition of runner (versus "retired runner") in one of the answers.

I like the general format of the test.

Two questions that had the wrong answers, IMO:

Who can agree to shorten a game that's 22-1 in the third inning?

What does BU use to determine a checked swing?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I like the general format of the test.

Two questions that had the wrong answers, IMO:

Who can agree to shorten a game that's 22-1 in the third inning?

What does BU use to determine a checked swing?

I can't find these two on the NFHS test. Can anyone help me with numbers?

[johnnyg08]

I don't remember those two either.

[UmpJM]

I'm getting the impression that different states had different "formats" for this years's test.

In Illinois, there was a "pool" of 54 (multiple choice, single answer) questions that you could download as a PDF prior to officially taking the test.

Then, when you took the test online, you were presented with a random subset of 25 of those questions for your "official" test.

On the Illinois test, the 2 questions Bob J. referenced were #22 and #52.

22. After 2 innings, the visitors are leading 20-1.
The home team coach asks the umpire if the
game can be terminated so that the second
game of the double header can be started.

* A. This is permissible if the visiting coach agrees
* B. This is permissible even if the visiting coach does not
agree
* C. The game cannot be terminated until the home team
has completed its fifth time at bat
* D. If the request comes from the Athletic Director of the
home school, it can be granted

and

52. When the plate umpire asks for help from his
partner when there is a question as to whether
a batter’s checked swing was an attempt, the
field umpire should:

* A. Base his decision as to whether the swing carried the
barrel of the bat past the body of the batter
* B. Make an honest call as soon as the catcher points to
him requesting an appeal
* C. Base his decision as to whether the batter actually
struck at the ball
* D. Both A and C are correct

JM

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

I'm getting the impression that different states had different "formats" for this years's test.

That's correct. IL is not a FED state anymore (at least for testing purposes), so we don't use the FED test. I got confused over which test the questions were on (I saw them both).

I agree with Rich on the FED test.

Sorry for the confusion.

[Welpe]

Let me guess, for 52 the "correct" answer was D?

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Let me guess, for 52 the "correct" answer was D?

Welpe,

Give that man a cigar!

That was, in fact, the "test correct" answer.

On the field, of course, one would go with "C".

JM

[Welpe]

Figures. Where did they get that from? So perpetuates the myth.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Figures. Where did they get that from? So perpetuates the myth.

The rule book, actually.

10-1-4a "As an aid in deciding, the umpire may note whether the swing carried the barrel of the bat past the body of the batter, but [the] final decision is based on whether the batter actually struck at the ball."

For Fed, D is definitely the right answer.