Physical tests...

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

My point is all these "tests" are silly at their core. A one time physical test does not prove your ability any more than a one time rules test, which is why almost every level outside of HS uses camps and extensive evaluations to hire their officials not a test. They might test you, but they are not going to give games based on that test.

Peace

The test don't prove how good an official is....but they can prove how little a person knows. They're meant to exclude those that just don't even know the rules. Passing one with high scores dosn't mean a person is a great official but failing one miserably says a lot in the opposite direction.

Outside of HS, they may not give you games based on a test, but they may give them to someone else based on your test.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

The test don't prove how good an official is....but they can prove how little a person knows. They're meant to exclude those that just don't even know the rules. Passing one with high scores dosn't mean a person is a great official but failing one miserably says a lot in the opposite direction.

Well that depends on the type of test we are discussing. If we are talking about the NF model where they ask questions to see if you know what "must" and "shall" means, then I totally disagree with what that would show at all.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Outside of HS, they may not give you games based on a test, but they may give them to someone else based on your test.

And those tests at other levels also are open book, not timed and they ask things like, "Where do we put the ball in next" as a part of many of the questions. The NF test never asks that or in many cases does not ask anything about case play situations with real time results

I will say this and be done with it. I had a friend in another sport go to another state and had to take that state's test to work games. Well he passed with flying colors and was based only on this test to be able to work a position he was not normally qualified to work, but had little experience at that other position. He even laughed about how he was eligible to work deep in the playoffs because he tested with a certain score. Not that he had much experience at that level even working varsity games from his previous state, but now he was one of the top guys in the state at an unfamiliar position. That is the position that drives me crazy. The test does mean something, but it does not mean that much to vault someone from not being known to the best person over a test score. Silly, and more silly if you ask me. And I am glad I live in an area that you will not get a single game based on a silly test.

And as someone that has been tested multiple times outside of school or officiating, I always find it funny that if someone posts a question on the test, that is OK, but if we even discuss the answers that is somehow over the top. Both in all my other activities would be considered cheating, but we turn the other cheek if we want to discuss the exact question on the test, but let us not discuss the answers. More silliness!!!

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I will say this and be done with it. I had a friend in another sport go to another state and had to take that state's test to work games. Well he passed with flying colors and was based only on this test to be able to work a position he was not normally qualified to work, but had little experience at that other position. He even laughed about how he was eligible to work deep in the playoffs because he tested with a certain score. Not that he had much experience at that level even working varsity games from his previous state, but now he was one of the top guys in the state at an unfamiliar position. That is the position that drives me crazy. The test does mean something, but it does not mean that much to vault someone from not being known to the best person over a test score. Silly, and more silly if you ask me. And I am glad I live in an area that you will not get a single game based on a silly test.
Peace

I agree with your conclusion here...that is a silly application of a test result.

I only maintain that someone that scores poorly should be excluded from top assignments, not that someone who scores well should be given top assignments. The top assignments should be given to those that score sufficiently well, are sufficiently fit, AND have demonstrated that they have all of the other elements necessary to be a quality officials. The test (rules or fitness) is just ONE piece of the puzzle, not the entire puzzle.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I agree with your conclusion here...that is a silly application of a test result.

I only maintain that someone that scores poorly should be excluded from top assignments, not that someone who scores well should be given top assignments. The top assignments should be given to those that score sufficiently well, are sufficiently fit, AND have demonstrated that they have all of the other elements necessary to be a quality officials. The test (rules or fitness) is just ONE piece of the puzzle, not the entire puzzle.

Scores poorly is subjective. We have to get 80% (with 25 questions now) to pass the test. And if you do not like your score you can retake the test for a fee ($15). Let me make this clear, I am not against taking a test. I am just against how it is used. It is a good way to get an official familiar with the rulebook if they do not do so otherwise, but a terrible way to evaluate someone's ability to know the rules IMO.

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

but a terrible way to evaluate someone's ability to know the rules IMO.

Peace

It may not be able to tell who knows them, but it is a good way to weed out those who don't.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

It may not be able to tell who knows them, but it is a good way to weed out those who don't.

Again that is what camp is for and evaluations during the season. There are other ways to better eliminate people from working, which is why I am glad I live in an era where camps are used to hire people or move them up. None of this testing nonsense to see if someone gets a single varsity game or not and certainly not a post season game based solely on some test question that makes no sense.

Peace