NFHS question #33

[shipwreck]

True or False
The ball becomes dead immediately when a batted ball, while on or over foul ground, first touches the catcher's glove or hand.
I know how I answered and it was graded as wrong, but I would defend my answer all day long. How would you answer and why? Dave

[Dakota]

False, because the batted ball could be either a potential foul tip or a fly ball, neither of which are dead until they are not caught.

But, given the way the NFHS writes tests, the "correct" answer is probably True.

[MNBlue]

False

Softball Rules Book 2007
Rule 5: Dead Ball and Suspension of Play
Section 1: Dead Ball
Article 1


Art. 1... Ball becomes dead immediately when:

d. any batted ball, while on or over foul ground,
1. touches any object other than the ground or any person other than a fielder;
2. goes directly from the bat to the catcher’s protector, mask or person without first touching the catcher’s glove or hand; or
3. becomes an uncaught foul.

[shipwreck]

I answered true and that was graded wrong. My contention is the question said ON or over foul ground. If the ball is ON foul ground it cannot be a foul tip or caught. Dave

[Andy]

Originally Posted by shipwreck

I answered true and that was graded wrong. My contention is the question said ON or over foul ground. If the ball is ON foul ground it cannot be a foul tip or caught. Dave

You are correct for that part of the question. However, the question had two parts, only one of which was true. Here is the question broken into its two parts:

1. The ball becomes dead immediately when a batted ball, while on foul ground, first touches the catcher's glove or hand.

2. The ball becomes dead immediately when a batted ball, while over foul ground, first touches the catcher's glove or hand.

Part 1 is True, Part 2 is False. Therfore, the entire question must be false.

This concludes today's lesson.......

(didn't we just have a similar discussion earlier this week?)

[Dakota]

I'm relieved that NFHS actually followed logic this time. They don't always.

[shipwreck]

It just seems that with all the information the rule book has to offer, they could come up with some straightforward questions instead of a question that can trip you up by stating a half truth. But I guess the rule book states the same thing that the question is asking. I think the rule book could somehow restate that part of the rule. Dave

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Andy

1. The ball becomes dead immediately when a batted ball, while on foul ground, first touches the catcher's glove or hand.

Not if it is ruled a fair ball.

Batted ball hits a base or lands beyond a base and back-spin brings it back toward the catcher in foul territory.

[CecilOne]

For True/False tests, not always True means false, even if not always false.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

For True/False tests, not always True means false, even if not always false.

I agree, but I could show you examples of NFHS tests in the past that did not follow this rule. NFHS tests tend to be taken directly from the wording in a particular rule, where "True" means it agrees with a sentence somewhere in the rule book.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Not if it is ruled a fair ball.

Batted ball hits a base or lands beyond a base and back-spin brings it back toward the catcher in foul territory.

I agree....and I thought of this as one of the possibilities after I posted.

One thing I have learned in 20 years of taking NFHS tests in three different sports: You can usually throw a "what if" into a test question and change the "correct" answer.

I have found that if you take the question at face value without adding anything to it, you are better off.....

The NFHS tests are not so much rules tests as they are reading tests......