2017-18 NFHS Basketball Part I Test

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Wtf man, it’s a freaking open-book test. How exactly is that cheating??

Maybe in your location.....

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by justacoach

Maybe in your location.....

Well unless we know where he/she (the OPer) is located, we cannot quite call it cheating, can we?

Also, I took the test for another state and this was the dumbest test ever. I am so glad my home state got rid of this test some time ago. How many questions do we need to have asked about how many inches a line is on the court? Or better yet, I really need to know the exact diameter size of the basket ring? Chances are if we do not have the right line size on a court that is listed in the rulebook, we have bigger fish to fry.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Well unless we know where he/she is located, we cannot quite call it cheating, can we?

For many years here in my little corner of Connecticut, we would take the annual IAABO Refresher Exam as an individual, at home, open book test, and send in the answers to be graded to count toward our rating and ranking.

There was just too much cheating going on. A few guys would somehow get access to the answer sheet, often from friends in other states, and share it with their local friends, often discussing the correct answers as a small group, in someone's living room, or at someone's dining room table (often with refreshments served, I knew of one group where everyone would chip in five bucks for pizza and beer). In some cases guys would simply copy the correct answers to their own exam, not even reading the questions. Guys with no access to the answer sheet, or to friends holding group discussions (in other words, the way the Exam was supposed to be taken), were at a major disadvantage (the annual IAABO Refresher Exam can be very tricky. Not as tricky a JRutledge's inside, and/or outside, diameter of the rim, but still pretty tricky).

The Refresher Exam, as a rating tool, became ineffective. Eventually the powers to be just through up their hands and gave up, basically legalizing what was going on illegally.

We still use the IAABO Refresher Exam. We still take it as an individual, at home, open book test. The next step is to bring our answered exam to one of about a dozen and a half Refresher Exam meetings held at various times at various locations. You must have an answered exam to get into one of these meetings (even if all the questions are answered incorrectly, nobody checks for incorrect answers, just for an answered, completed exam). Attendance is strictly taken at these meetings. At these meetings a leader has the correct answers, and we discuss each question, eventually get the correct answer, and get to ask followup questions. Some leaders even provide copies of the answer sheet with answer citations.

We no longer use the Refresher Exam for our ratings process. However, the penalty for not showing up at one of these board-sponsored Refresher Exam meeting is quite severe, no game assignments for the season, so it behooves us to show up.

(Note: Do not confuse this with the initial exam to join IAABO. That's still given as an individual, closed book exam, at one location, in a proctored setting.)

[JRutledge]

But someone needs to tell me how is an open book test that is given without specific time limit (like 2 hours for example) is cheating? We have an open book test and it is common for people to go over the test together. If they want a test to be secret or like you would take an exam when you were in school, then require everyone to take the exam.

How about this one. Stop putting so much emphasis on a test?

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

But someone needs to tell me how is an open book test that is given without specific time limit (like 2 hours for example) is cheating? We have an open book test and it is common for people to go over the test together. If they want a test to be secret or like you would take an exam when you were in school, then require everyone to take the exam.

How about this one. Stop putting so much emphasis on a test?

Peace

Not everyone lives in your little corner of the world and there is more than one way that people do things. Just because it is an open book test in your area doesn't mean it is everywhere. In fact, it isn't.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Not everyone lives in your little corner of the world and there is more than one way that people do things. Just because it is an open book test in your area doesn't mean it is everywhere. In fact, it isn't.

But then do not get on people as if they are doing something wrong when they might be doing what is expected or accepted. If you live a state that worries about these things, then worry about the people from your state. Not everyone in the country even takes the NF test at all. Glad my main state does not. But if someone needs to get a question like:

What is the basket ring:

a. 20 inches in diameter and 10 feet above the floor.
b. 18 inches in diameter and 9 feet above the floor.
c. 18 inches in diameter and 10 feet above the floor.
d. 20 inches in diameter and 9 feet above the floor.
e. 19 inches in diameter and 10 feet above the floor.

I am sorry, this is one of the dumbest questions that are on the test. It is not only a silly question, are we going to measure to find out on each court? Are we going to not play if it is not the right answer? We have all seen a basketball court and been around the court at some point in our lives. Great to know what these measurements are, but if we cannot get a backcourt violation rule right or we do not know when LGP takes place or is established, that is a bigger issue than knowing the rim is 19 inches or 20 inches.

Peace

[bucky]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

But then do not get on people as if they are doing something wrong when they might be doing what is expected or accepted. If you live a state that worries about these things, then worry about the people from your state. Not everyone in the country even takes the NF test at all. Glad my main state does not. But if someone needs to get a question like:



I am sorry, this is one of the dumbest questions that are on the test. It is not only a silly question, are we going to measure to find out on each court? Are we going to not play if it is not the right answer? We have all seen a basketball court and been around the court at some point in our lives. Great to know what these measurements are, but if we cannot get a backcourt violation rule right or we do not know when LGP takes place or is established, that is a bigger issue than knowing the rim is 19 inches or 20 inches.

Peace

I understand what you are saying and agree mostly but....

Having people take tests is not always about the questions. It might be about some but certainly not all. In my experience in the education/training fields, in situations like these it is more about people just getting into the material. In looking up an answer to say, a silly question such as yours, people will see/read other, more pertinent information. They will get browsing/reading and covering so much more material than just what the question needed. This is the main point of many, not all, associations/etc. that have officials take open book tests. It often times, gets people together, which spurs rules/cases conversation, build camaraderie, etc. Indeed, many questions are silly, but the end result is that many get somewhat better.

Just my two cents, not looking for a debate/argument.

[SD Referee]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

But someone needs to tell me how is an open book test that is given without specific time limit (like 2 hours for example) is cheating? We have an open book test and it is common for people to go over the test together. If they want a test to be secret or like you would take an exam when you were in school, then require everyone to take the exam.

How about this one. Stop putting so much emphasis on a test?

Peace

Same with refs in my area. We get together and do the open book test. It's a great way to get discussion going on various topics. Even though our test is open book, it's not easy. Great way to get ready for the season.

I agree with JRut about questions about lines and the size of the ring. Who cares? I just assume all of that is fine when I walk into the gym. I'm there to do my job and not measure anything.