Test question

[just another ref]

We got our test results. I just saw mine. The following was one of the questions, obviously because of the "rule change" this year. What say you?


A1, in front court near the division line, has their pass blocked by B1, the ball flying in the air towards backcourt. A1 then touches the ball before stepping on the division line, grabbing the ball while stepping into backcourt. Officials allow play to continue.

True or False

[Camron Rust]

Four questions? All true, violation, answer is true. Any false, no violation, answer is false.

1. Team control inbounds?
2. Ball had frontcourt status?
3. Team A last to touch the ball BEFORE the ball returned to the backcourt?
4. Team A first to touch the ball AFTER the ball returned to the backcourt?

[SC Official]

If he first touched the ball with frontcourt status, it’s a violation. The “rule change” only applies to players who have backcourt status and give the ball backcourt status by touching it.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by just another ref

We got our test results. I just saw mine. The following was one of the questions, obviously because of the "rule change" this year. What say you?


A1, in front court near the division line, has their pass blocked by B1, the ball flying in the air towards backcourt. A1 then touches the ball before stepping on the division line, grabbing the ball while stepping into backcourt. Officials allow play to continue.

True or False

What a poor question. First, "their" should be "his," or "her," or even "his/her."

Second, there's nothing in the question that indicates whether it's true or false that "officials allow play to continue."

If the officials did allow play to continue, the officials were incorrect.

[just another ref]

Yeah, I just needed verification, in case I misread it, even after reading it multiple times. For whatever reason, they screwed up. This is usually the case on one or more questions.

[ODog]

Who wrote this test? I'm guessing just guys from your local association?

Basketball aspect aside (and that is poor too), the whole presentation seems very juvenile.

[JamesBCrazy]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

What a poor question. First, "their" should be "his," or "her," or even "his/her."

Second, there's nothing in the question that indicates whether it's true or false that "officials allow play to continue."

If the officials did allow play to continue, the officials were incorrect.

Singular "they" has been acceptable for a very long time. Also, there is an implicit "were the officials correct" in the question.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by just another ref

We got our test results. I just saw mine. The following was one of the questions, obviously because of the "rule change" this year. What say you?


A1, in front court near the division line, has their pass blocked by B1, the ball flying in the air towards backcourt. A1 then touches the ball before stepping on the division line, grabbing the ball while stepping into backcourt. Officials allow play to continue.

True or False

Since the question says that A1 touched the ball BEFORE stepping on the division line and only grabs the ball while stepping on the line, I have to rule that this is a backcourt violation and that the officials should have stopped play. So I’m answering false.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by JamesBCrazy

Singular "they" has been acceptable for a very long time. Also, there is an implicit "were the officials correct" in the question.

It's becoming more-so, I agree. And, I only point it out when there are other points to be made.

"True or False: Were the officials correct?" also doesn't make much sense, at least to me.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

"True or False: Were the officials correct?" also doesn't make much sense, at least to me.

As someone with both a B.S. and M.S. (with an additional thirty college credits beyond my M.S.) in education and over thirty years of experience in the classroom, my middle school students would be all over this like white on rice complaining about a poorly worded, confusing, unfair question, and they would be right.