Federation Exam

[dlangdon]

How many states require a annual federation closed book examination, besides the state of West Virginia?

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by dlangdon
How many states require a annual federation closed book examination, besides the state of West Virginia?

I give up. How many states require a annual federation closed book examination, besides the state of West Virginia?

Just kiddin' you. you have to be careful how you word your questions and answers around here!

NC does. NF Part II. Requires a score of 80 or better to work playoffs.

[stevegarbs]

In Illinois you must take the Federation Part I exam, open book, each year. I believe you need an 80 or better to "pass," which means you are eligible to work playoff games.

The Part II tests are given for promotion (Illinois has three levels- Registered, Recognized and Certified). For the first promotion you take it open book, second promotion is closed book. Both promotions also require taking the Federation Mechanics test, open book.

[Rick KY]

a. Level 1. An official will be classified as Level 1 as soon as he/she has paid the annual licensing fee, and he/she has attained a grade of at least 70 percent on the National Federation Part I Examination in that sport.

b. Level 2. An official will be classified as Level 2 if he/she has been licensed by the KHSAA for one year, has paid the annual licensing fee, and at such point in time as he/she attains a grade of at least eighty (80) percent on the National Federation Part II Examination in that sport for the year in which the Level 2 classification is requested. After having received the Level 2 classification, the official shall continue to receive the rating each year upon payment of the licensing fee, and attending the KHSAA sponsored rules clinic, and until all requirements for the Level 3 classification are met.

c. Level 3. When an official licenses for the sixth year with the Association, he/she shall be classified as Level 3 if he/she has been previously classified as Level 2, has attended the KHSAA sponsored rules clinic, has paid the annual licensing fee for that sport, and at the point in time when he/she receives a grade of at least ninety (90) percent on the National Federation Part II Examination during the year the Level 3 classification is requested. After having received the Level 3 classification, the official shall continue to receive the rating each year upon payment of the annual licensing fee and attending the KHSAA sponsored rules clinic.


I believe you must be a level 2 to work playoff games, and level 3 to work the championship games.

[camaulds]

Michigan does not...We really can't afford to turn away anyone who has an interest in working the games...You take an open book test for your first year...A rules exam comes with your Federation books when they are sent but it is not required to take it and send it in...Our area of Michigan is seeing a real shortage of applicants to Officiate...New blood is desparately needed to help as older Officials retire...I suspect that our area of Michigan as well as other areas of the country are experiencing the same shortages.

[Huskerblue]

In Iowa, you can take the open book test for your first three years. Then you MUST take the closed book test if you want to continue officiating. Once you pass the closed book test, you are never required to take the test again, unless you desire a higher ranking.

[Larry Gonski]

In California, we have our own test. It is administrated by Pac-Ten official, John Pemberton. 80% is required on the closed book exam.

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by Larry Gonski
In California, we have our own test. It is administrated by Pac-Ten official, John Pemberton. 80% is required on the closed book exam.

John administers the exam to the entire state?

[LJ_966]

In West Virginia, we are required to take both the Part I and Part II exams. The Part I is open-book, and is submitted to the local board secretary. Part II is indeed supervised. However, a passing mark must be achieved on both exams.

The Part II exam score is used further in classification of officials. In West Virginia, we have a gradation of 4 classes of officials in football. Your class is based on a variety of factors, including years of experience; meeting attendance; coaches' ratings.... and the Part II exam.

So the Part II in West Virginia can both help or hinder you as far as classifcation goes. Only Class 1 and 2 officials are eligible for playoff consideration.

[BktBallRef]

I would love to know how a system works where the coaches have input as to who the best officials are.

Do the officials in WV get to vote on who the best coaches are?

[LJ_966]

Unfortunately, we do not get to rate the coaches. We do, however, rate schools on stadardized forms with regards to facilities conditions; sportsmanship; conduct of players & coaches.

West Virginia coaches, however, get to rate our ability-- whereas we only get to rate their conduct. They receive standardized forms which ask them to categorize our ability thusly:
1-- Excellent, good enough to officiate tournament games
2-- Good, able to work at the varsity level
3-- Average, Needs Improvement
4-- Unsatisfactory
5-- Poor
Coaches may also mark "areas of improvement." These include: Promptness; appearance; Pre-game/halftime duties; relationship with teams; rules knowledge; application of rules; signals/coverage/positioning; reaction under pressure; fosters fan sportsmanship; works well with other officials; and hustle.

The rating system does provide incentive, especially to younger officials. Their generally lower ratings seem to have a lot to do with simply their young appearance, etc. It gives us something to strive to improve every year-- and these coaches' ratings are the linchpin for playoff assignments for qualified officials.
But, the system also has obvious flaws. We don't get to see what coach gave us a rating-- we just see our average. So we can't go back to that game and try to pinpoint the reason for the rating we get. (Coaches have said they fear retribution). And, obviously, some coaches give undeserved low ratings which sink your overall avg. Some coaches, on the other hand, don't take them seriously and rate give all the officials on a crew on a given night the same rating. So, at best, the ratings are a baseline for performance, but should not be taken as the sum total of your capability. (4 and 5 ratings are rare, since they require a written statement to accompany the low mark.)

Here is the classification system as spelled out in the WVSSAC Official's Handbook:

Class 1 -- 100-90 points, minimum 6 yrs. exp.
" " 2-- 89-75 points, min. 4 yrs. exp.
" " 3-- 74-40 points, min. 2 yrs. exp.
" " 4-- Less than 40 pts, or less than 2 yrs. exp., or less than 55% on Part 2 exam... not eligible for varsity level games.
Points are then set at diff. amounts based on yrs. exp., meeting attendance, number of games worked...and coaches' ratings.

[Herb Smith]

The AHSAA (Alabama) requires an open book test for yearly testing for Level 1 Officals. To move to a Level 2 you must have been a Level 1 for 3 years and the test is closed book and you must score 85 to advance and 80 to maintain. To advance to Level 3 you must have been a Level 2 for 2 years, closed book test, score 90 to advance and 85 to maintain.
To be asigned to play-off game you must be a L2/3 for 2nd and 3rd round games, and L3 for semi and finals (This includes the clock operator).

[BktBallRef]

In NC, we also have a points system. Fortunately, coaches have no input in it. I just don't see most coaches being objective or knowledgeable enough about officiating, to participate in a rating system for officials. They're similiar to fans, passionate about their team and therefore, always biased to some extent. Many would base their input on whether they liked you or not, a call you might have made, or some other qwerky reason to score you poorly. I just don't see the advantages of it.

We receive 0-20 points based on our exam score, closed book NF Part 2. To be eligible for playoffs, you must make at least 80 and have a total point rating of at least 80.

We receive up to 18 points for attending local clinics, 15 points for attending the All Officials local meeting, and 15 points for attending the state rules clinic. The state clininc must also be attended to work playoffs.

We receive up to 17 points for working scrimmages. Seniority counts very little as we receive 1 point for each year of varsity experience, maximum of 5 points. 5 points for 1 to 6 varsity games worked the previous season, 10 points for 6 games or more.

[mick]

Originally posted by BktBallRef
I would love to know how a system works where the coaches have input as to who the best officials are.

Do the officials in WV get to vote on who the best coaches are?

Well in Michigan it works just fine ...if you're a coach.

[BktBallRef]

mick, this is the football board. Go back home.