New Testing Process

[JRutledge]

To make a long story short, my state just went to a new testing process. Because of not being a full member of the NF, our state produced their own test.

The football version of this testing came out yesterday. We have to answer only 25 questions, but instead of testing on whether you understand what a word means in an obscure rule, we actually answer plays and decide what the process is after a play is over. Also the test is multiple choice instead of true/false.

What do you think and what do states do that create their own test separate from the NF.

Peace

[AUgrad2006]

In Georgia they give us the NFHS part 1 test. The state creates their own Mechanics test and Part 2 test (the Part 2 test is closed-book and proctered), each of which is 50 questions and T/F.

[umpirebob71]

Wow, in Ohio, once we get our Class1 license, we never have to take another test.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by umpirebob71

Wow, in Ohio, once we get our Class1 license, we never have to take another test.

In my experience, our officiating reflects this fact.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by mbyron

In my experience, our officiating reflects this fact.

I have never been convinced that testing enhances rules knowledge. Most of my rules knowledge comes from discussions or association meetings (outside of my personal study of course) than any rules test has ever done. And the one reason I love our current testing at this time is the fact that they are not asking us things like the diameter of the football, but rather when you have a penalty what is the down and distance. I would think that officials in your area are not holding individuals accountable for knowing the rules like the crews I have been on do. We constantly talk rules and situations throughout the season or off season.

Peace

[jemiller]

In South Dakota they had an early multiple choice test that did nothing to advance training in my opinion. After the uproar ended, and the testing outfit that was used went belly up, we went back to the regular paper and pencil 100 T F open book and closed book test.

Now we do the same test, but on-line. Same for mechanics. We get the test down loaded so that we can review as a group, and this we had always done. Last year was our first year under that system, and despite a couple of glitches with the mechanics test, and instructions over how to do things the first time, I think it was great.

We have reduced the costs to the association and members. Not sure why our annual fees went up given all of these cost savings measures, but they were probably due to increase regardless. Now if we could only get a central assigning software solution to fly so that officiating crews don't have to pass each other going to do games in each others backyard we would be set.

30+ years of handling FB contracts is wearing thin...Jim

[hutsunuwu84]

Speak for yourself. I happen to think that the officiating in my association is spot on.

[MD Longhorn]

I think 25 questions is too little... but other than that I agree that a homemade test is going to be better than questions regarding what words can be on the football, what equipment can be carried by a non-player who is authorized to be on the sideline, what materials a chain should be made of, and trying to decipher a triple negative with missing commas and figure out what they meant.

[ODJ]

Originally Posted by mbyron

In my experience, our officiating reflects this fact.

I thought you guys had standards.

Regards, LBJ

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

To make a long story short, my state just went to a new testing process. Because of not being a full member of the NF, our state produced their own test.

The football version of this testing came out yesterday. We have to answer only 25 questions, but instead of testing on whether you understand what a word means in an obscure rule, we actually answer plays and decide what the process is after a play is over. Also the test is multiple choice instead of true/false.

What do you think and what do states do that create their own test separate from the NF.

Peace

I like it.