Things that make you go hmmmmm...

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by FrankHtown

Why do we go through this every year? Do people really, after reading the rule book a small amount of time, get less than a 90 on the test?? It's true/false...you can get 50% just by guessing. If you have ANY knowledge of rules and have at least opened the book, there is no reason this should be such a source of angst.

I totally agree. If you have been doing this more than 3 or 4 seasons your accumulated reading, knowledge, and common sense should carry you to at least an 80 without actually "studying".

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I totally agree. If you have been doing this more than 3 or 4 seasons your accumulated reading, knowledge, and common sense should carry you to at least an 80 without actually "studying".

I disagree with that statement. Not everyone is skilled at taking tests even those that involve true or false answers. Also many of the questions are not everyday, common sense questions. Most officials do not know the exact measurements of the lines, basketball or what the numbers are on the shirt are supposed to be. If the NF wanted to test real knowledge, they would stop asking true and false questions and trying to trick people with one word.

Also, all you have to do is study old tests and you will see the same questions asked over and over again. This is why the ARS program is so good.

Peace

[Mwanr1]

True and False questions are BS - it doesn't require one to have that much knowledge. I agree with JRut - if this test is a placement test, then why not make it harder??? Then, we'll know who are actually qualify to referee at a higher level. Any fluke can pass a T/F test. I bet if the format of the test is multiple choice with 4-5 possible answers, half of you will not be able to get over a 80%. If the test is fill-in-the-blank, probably more than half of you will fail! HAHA! =)

BTW, did someone mentioned this test can be taking online at home?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Mwanr1

I bet if the format of the test is multiple choice with 4-5 possible answers, half of you veterans would not be able to get over a 80%.

And I'd bet that half of you newbies would be lucky to get over 40% on the same test.

How many years have you been refereeing, anyway? Not that it matters...just wondering.

[Mwanr1]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

And I'd bet that half of you newbies would be lucky to get over 40% on the same test.

How many years have you been refereeing, anyway? Not that it matters...just wondering.

1st season baby!!!! Woohooooooo! Hence, that's why I need all of you to teach me everything I need to know about officiating! =) It isn't that easy to take a multiple choice test, especially when you have to read 200 questions and over 1,000 possible answers. By the 50th questions of A1 pushing B1 and simultaneously B2 ran into A3, and both coaches moving out of the coaching box, someone is bound to misread a question or two and answer it incorrectly. Not to include your eyes and mind will probably be out of it after reading such boring materials.

Hey Jurassic, when was the last time you took a course at a University? Not that it matters, just wondering…

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Mwanr1

1st season baby!!!! Woohooooooo! Hence, that's why I need all of you to teach me everything I need to know about officiating! =) It isn't that easy to take a multiple choice test, especially when you have to read 200 questions and over 1,000 possible answers. By the 50th questions of A1 pushing B1 and simultaneously B2 ran into A3, and both coaches moving out of the coaching box, someone is bound to misread a question or two and answer it incorrectly. Not to include your eyes and mind will probably be out of it after reading such boring materials.

Hey Jurassic, when was the last time you took a course at a University? Not that it matters, just wondering…

Iirc, I took various University and other professional courses to upgrade, stay current and just because I was interested until just before I turned 50. The last courses that I took were computer-related.

Btw, I always found multiple choice tests easy, as long as I did the proper studying first to learn the subject. Iow, they're no different than the current NFHS tests. Cheating works just as well, but I always thought that the cheater was just cheating himself. That's just me though.

The rules might be boring, but they're kinda necessary to know if you really want to be a good official imo.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Mwanr1

1st season baby!!!! Woohooooooo! Hence, that's why I need all of you to teach me everything I need to know about officiating! =) It isn't that easy to take a multiple choice test, especially when you have to read 200 questions and over 1,000 possible answers. By the 50th questions of A1 pushing B1 and simultaneously B2 ran into A3, and both coaches moving out of the coaching box, someone is bound to misread a question or two and answer it incorrectly. Not to include your eyes and mind will probably be out of it after reading such boring materials.

Hey Jurassic, when was the last time you took a course at a University? Not that it matters, just wondering…

You want to learn everything possible about being a basketball referee but you find the rules test boring?

Isn't that like saying you want to be a chemist but find chemistry boring?

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Mwanr1

1st season baby!!!! Woohooooooo! Hence, that's why I need all of you to teach me everything I need to know about officiating! =) It isn't that easy to take a multiple choice test, especially when you have to read 200 questions and over 1,000 possible answers. By the 50th questions of A1 pushing B1 and simultaneously B2 ran into A3, and both coaches moving out of the coaching box, someone is bound to misread a question or two and answer it incorrectly. Not to include your eyes and mind will probably be out of it after reading such boring materials.

The NFHS test isn't multiple choice, it's T/F, and there are only 100 or fewer questions, not 200. There aren't 1,000 possible answers. There's just one sentence for each item, and then you state whether that sentence is true or false. Most of the questions aren't "A1 pushing B1 and simultaneously B2 ran into A3" complicated. There are a few like that, but not many.

The test gives you a chance to feel that you know what you are doing when you're out on the floor. Knowing the rules is very, very important, and you'd be amazed how much you don't know that you thought you knew. Studying for the test, and then carefully looking up everything you got wrong afterward, is a great way to develop a solid grounding in the rules.

If you enjoy basketball, and want to move up in reffing, it's not boring or tedious at all. If you really can't be bothered, then don't bother stepping out onto the floor in stripes.

It's easy to study for the test, if you just find some tests from last year, and the year before. Answer about 10 questions, then check to see if they're correct. If they're not, look up the correct answers -- the official answer sheet gives references to the rules books that you can use to find their thinking. If you go through 2 or 3 past tests in this fashion, you'll do fine on the current test when you take it.

And if you really want to impress people, find the one wrong answer in the test. It seems like every year the powers-that-be get at least one of their asnwers wrong, and the administrating people have to tell you that such-and-such asnwer should be F, not T. If you are the person who can find that without being told, and show the references that prove your point, you'll get plenty of brownie points!!

[euby]

The problem I have with the tests are their feeble attempt to trick you with one word. ie: "recommended" instead of "must be" and that kind of crap.

I would be much happier with the questions being straight forward and then they could use whatever format of answers they want.