Poorly written / trick questions on umpire tests
 

My occasional rant about about poorly written questions, apparently trick questions, and just plain confusing or nonsense questions on umpire tests.

As usual, the biggest offender (IMO) is the NFHS. Here are some “winning” examples from this year’s test, the “2014 NFHS SOFTBALL EXAM PART 1”, which is a T/F test. After the question is my comment & answer, but use at your own risk since I'm mostly guessing what they want the answer to be rather than answering what is technically correct.

This is a pretty minor complaint, but it does require a bit of word parsing since there can be a difference between what the rule says "a runner is able to advance" v. the question wording of “allows a runner to advance”. My answer: T
I can find no rule support for either answer to this question, so the fall back is common sense and if it is not illegal, it must be legal. My answer: T (Maybe someone here can point out where I overlooked this in the rules book.)
The technically correct answer is false, since there are too many exceptions not noted in the question. What if the fielder is the pitcher? What if the runner could have obviously avoided being hit? Anyway, my answer is T. Very poor question, though.
This question is egregiously bad. As the umpire taking the test, you are left to try to decide if the question author is trying to trick you or is just sloppy. Since this is the NFHS, either could be the explanation, given their history of intentionally (IMO) putting trick questions in the test to limit the number of perfect scores (again, JMO). In the situation described, B1 runs the risk be having a strike called for “failure to be ready” … “while out of position”. There is no penalty for merely BEING out of position. My answer, T, going with clueless/sloppy rather than devious on the part of the question writer.
Like question 41, technically false since being on or over fair territory does not fully describe the conditions for when the batter would be out. So, “batter IS out”? No, not always. Could be out? Yes. My answer: T (Going with the answer I assume the test key would have in it.)
This is NOT the way the rule is written. This is a very sloppy question, especially considering the number of people who already have trouble with this rule. In the “Hints” for Umpires in 12-3-1, the NFHS rule book does say, This statement clearly makes a distinction between the FLEX being substituted for and the DP playing defense for the FLEX (note: “In either case…”). This very well may be an intentional trick question, given the emphasis on DP/FLEX understanding by the NFHS, but, taking a risk, I still went with a sloppy/clueless rule author and answered T.
Is there a difference between “visible” and “exposed”? Do dark undergarments completely beneath a white uniform (and hence not “exposed”, but still “visible”) fall under the rule, which states only “exposed”? Another possible intentional trick question, especially given the brouhaha a decade or so ago at an Illinois HS State Track & Field championship where the winner was DQed after the loser filed a protest because the girl's black bra was visible beneath her white jersey and did not match the rest of the team’s uniforms. But, I did answer T, again assuming sloppy question writing.
What? Are we now flat-out copying questions from the baseball test??? I answered T anyway, assuming they really meant plate umpire.Technically false, since the correct wording would be “unless the offending team is behind AND the game is official” (i.e. met the requirements for an official game in terms of innings played, etc.) Continuing with my assumption of sloppy question writing, though, I answered T.

Washington State has its own test now.

I'm so glad. I hated the NFHS tests for the reasons you state.

Besides, having taken a course on test writing, True/False tests are the worst for testing actual understanding of the material.

Rita

Well, technically, the rule itself is problematic. A runner may be "able to advance" when the pitch gets by the catcher. But if she ends up not doing so for whatever reason (she didn't see the ball get away, she slips, she is told to stay because the game is a blowout, etc.), then it shouldn't be ruled a passed ball. If the question were asked as the rule is actually written, you could justify a False answer.

The definition of on-deck batter under 2-5-3 says she may leave the circle to "avoid interfering with a defensive player's opportunity to make an out." Since the catcher is a defensive player...

Agree. I would answer False (and probably be wrong) only from the perspective that it doesn't mention anything about her inability to avoid the ball. As to your other question about the pitcher, a "fielder" includes the pitcher when it comes to deflected batted balls.

I honestly don't see a problem with the question. It is almost verbatim with what is written in rule 7-3-1 PENALTY: "If a pitcher has brought the hands together, the batter leaves the box at risk of having a strike called while being out of position." My contention is the wording of the rule itself is egregiously bad. It would be better, IMHO, if it was written exactly like the test question.

I would have answered True as well, since that's what the rule states. The Exception listed after the rule is a case where the ball actually hits the bat (as described in the case book play). I can't think of a situation where the bat hits the fair ball (versus the fair ball hits the bat) a second time and an out wouldn't be ruled.

Well, technically, when the FLEX comes in to bat for the DP, it is a substitution, by rule, since it has to be reported and it removes the DP from the lineup. So while I agree that the question is a little loose with its wording, I think the intent is clear, and I would answer True.

Well, FED 3-2-3 does list "visible undergarments" as part of the school's official uniform. And FED 3-2-7 says "exposed undergarments" are also part of the school uniform. So whether or not there is a distinction is immaterial. Both are considered part of the uniform.

BTW, the only restriction on "visible undergarments" by 3-2-3 is the size of the logo. So if a girl wears a red tee shirt with a huge black Nike Swoosh under her white jersey, she is noncompliant. But if that red tee shirt didn't have a Swoosh, and her school colors didn't have red, then I don't think she violates 3-2-7 if the shirt isn't exposed. IOW, I feel there is a distinction between "visible" and "exposed".

FED would not be alone. I took the NCAA Softball test, and there's a question in there about the catcher leaving her position behind the plate without requesting time to go to the mound to talk to the pitcher. Geez...

And I would have answered False for the exact reason you mentioned. :)

Most of your examples are what I usually complain about, the half question.
Or, in the multiple choice test, multiple correct answers or the correct being "none of the above" without that being provided.

Most of all, NFHS represents EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. :eek: :eek: :(

I just noticed the numbers on Tom's questions. The NFHS test here in VA consists of only 50 questions. If memory serves, it used to be 100. Thank goodness we don't have to sit through that many questions any more.

We get a random 50 so that it is more difficult for us to "cooperate" :D

As an official, why am I even asked what the definition is (for example) for a passed ball? UGH.

My thoughts exactly. To me it doesn't matter if it's a passed ball or wild pitch. I should be looking at what results because of the passed ball or wild pitch.

Just another way they force you to read the rule book, I suppose.

Come to think of it, maybe they want the officials to know what they're talking about when explaining a rule to a coach.

Coach: "Why wasn't that interference on the first baseman, Blue? She set up on the orange bag and prevented my runner from running through!"

Plate Umpire: "Well, first off, it wouldn't be interference; it would be obstruction."

Coach: "Yeah, whatever."

Plate Umpire: "But on a wild pitch on the third strike, the first baseman and the batter-runner are allowed to use either bag."

Coach: "Well, that wasn't a wild pitch; that was a passed ball."

Plate Umpire: "Yeah, whatever."

I think it goes to knowing (about) the game.

As a player and coach, I used to track our team's stats. (This was a bit more time consuming pre-computer spreadsheet tools.)

And I'd always cringe when people made grand awards of hits, RBI, etc during youth games. Granted, if a 10-year old hit the ball and got on base, it was ruled a hit regardless of how many bobbles, boots, and overthrows occurred on the play.

But when the boys got on to the 90' foot diamond, things changed. During 1 game w/ 2 outs and the bases loaded, a favorite-son player hit a routine fly ball to right field. The fielder misplayed the ball into a 3-base error. After the game, I heard the batter being congratulated on his game winning triple w/ 3 RBI. But I was official scorer that day. No hit, no RBI.

You guys should see the test we take for Volleyball here in New York (Like softball, NYS volleyball does NOT subscribe to NFHS, but uses NCAA rules with modifications.) - holy moly is it a bunch of confusion. Its open book, but volleyball rules are such a quagmire of protocol and technicalities, it takes a group of four or five of us to go through the ting - and we still miss stuff, and it gets corrected to 100 at our meeting....

I hope he shows up for this, but poster EsqUmp is the person who writes the NYS softball test, and he does a fine job. There are very few questions that you need to really try and decipher, and they are - shockingly - all related to things you might actually encounter in a game. If you know your stuff, even with being careful, it takes you about 25-30 minutes to take a 100 question test.

As a side note, EsqUmp also does the NYS Manual. Since we use modified ASA rules, our state group thought it would be a good idea to actually publish a manual of our own, for local groups to print and distribute if they want. Our group makes it up as a spiral notebook, and it is quite handy to have. It has really nice graphics which do a 1000% better job of showing everything than does the old fashioned version we see in the ASA manual.

I agree, it is a nice book, but it's a modified baseball mechanics manual.

And they are ok mechanics, just different. I'm at a loss as to why the whole world uses one set of mechanics, and NYS uses another!

Although , I was told as long as both umpires agree, you can do whatever you want.

"ONE" set???

NCAA, ASA, NFHS, USSSA, PONY...

We use the mechanics we find best for high school softball. We aren't bound by what a bunch of old timers want to do. We don't force umpires from using old mechanics that have been proven are out of date (except by the old timers). We don't subscribe to clonism like so many other associations.

Fair enough!

But they are for the most part VERY similar.

Modified "C"

Peeking to the OF instead of chasing

Split foul ball coverage

Yeah. We have a few other nuances but those are the bigger differences. Modified "C" is good for those games where you'll never see a play at 3rd base. We split fair/foul and catch/no catch without wasting umpires who can only take two steps "going out" anyway. It does surprise me how many umpire from other associations are shocked that we stress watching the ball and utilizing both umpire to their maximum potential.

For obvious reasons, these mechanics are similar to PONY's.

What a putz. "Proven", by whom, you and Jay? Check with Corky on that?

You been chasing parked cars without a helmet again?

Don't knock anything until you have seen it or tried it! Like these:

1. Our set up at 1B with none on- instead of setting up 18 deep or whatever, here they/we teach to set up at [B]12[B] ft (if you are a setter, and 16 if you are a pacer). And then on ordinary infield grounders, instead going WAY out to 45 degrees, we literally take two, maybe 2 1/2 steps in from the line, and BAM - we can see EVERYthing on that play. You NEVER get blocked out with that angle. Yes, its a baseball mechanic - so what?? It WORKS. If you doubt this - TRY it - even just as a drill. Might open your eyes a little!

2. This is the one that just KILLS ASA old timers - On routine base hits to the outfield, with no one on - the roller the goes just under the SS's glove, the one or two bouncer to CF, etc - instead of having to bust our butts inside on a button hook, WE rim along the outside of the diamond 20-25 ft, while watchng the B/R. It is our opinion that you can actually follow the B/R naturally with your eyes, you are avoiding any kind of trafic that might be happening with the fielders, and quite frankly we think that button hooking in that situation is so much false hustle. By the time you get into the infield, 90% of the time that B/R has already turned back, and is talking to her coach. In our case, we are already just about at B, and we are ready to keep playing. Is it lazy? I will tell you right now, our local clinician comes right out and says that it is...BUT....he also points out that if you are button hooking ALL the time on plays like that, you are using a lot of unnecessary energy that you might need in the 6th/7th inning. I also know for a fact our local guy has been asked to show it to several ASA guys, who have expressed interest.

Again, don't knock it until you've tried it....ASA changes the playing rules ALL the time, and IMHO, they have NOT changed our mechanics to keep up with the changes in the game - especially at the JO/HS level.

More like 2000 high school umpires, plus thousands of additional umpires who don't just step on an ASA field.

By the way, how are things going for ASA down there in Delaware?

I took the new umpire class. They were not teaching this. They were teaching traditional 18-21 if you walk the line, or 16-18 if you come set. But they were also discouraging walking the line.


NYSSO didn't invent working the rim, (don't use "rim" as a verb, google it and see what comes up!) I've beem working the rim for over 5 yrs.

ASA has trained most, if not all, of the softball umpires I know. Their mechanics work. If it ain't broke, don'/t fix it!

You are assuming that I haven't used other mechanics. You would be incorrect. Been there, done that, even at an ASA Major NC at the direction of the UIC.

From your post, it seems you haven't been kept up to date or just haven't read the umpire manual lately. Then again, I'm less than impressed with how it has been homogenized. But that is why there are schools and clinics, to take the training the next step, from text to practice. ASA doesn't tell you to go to 45 degrees. And the 18-21 set up is just as much to keep umpires from going too deep. I have often had to get umpires to get closer. I don't care if they get closer as long as the umpire is not in a position which may deter F3 from making a play on a batter ball. Remember, ASA gives you starting points. If you walk the line, that 18-21 should be closer to 13-15 on the step into the field.

AFA as rimming the infield, it is "easier", doesn't mean it is better. It is also situational that is very successful with non-aggressive play. But if you have an aggressive team, U1 is going to spend a good portion of his/her game sprinting across the infield to catch up with a play. I've rarely have had a problem getting inside. Those who do are often the umpire who sets up way too deep or has never stopped being a spectator. If I had my druthers, I'd rather be inside and relax to see the plays and easily adjust to any subsequent play. IMO, the false hustle happens between the plays. That is when I will take my breather, yet still be in position to start the next play. And if you are talking FP, it is even easier. That is a small field, real small field that any umpire should easily be able to navigate. Try working Men's Major on an 80' field. Do that and you will feel like you are walking when you get back to covering the little field.

Are there times when runners or fielders change direction and cut you off? Sure, and that is going to happen no matter which mechanic set you prefer or are working. But a good umpire does what they do every other time the players don't cooperate, adjust. And if that adjustment means I stay outside, and that is rarer than my wife's steak preference, I adjust to get the best look I can from where I am just as any umpire would do no matter what system was being used.

And, BTW, I also teach that people should not confuse running with hustle. I can get where I need to be quite often with an easy lope, if that. BTW, if you are only 12' from 1B, how can it take you so long to get inside, its only 3-4 steps? I button hook all the time and do not miss the runner touching the base and am in a good position to see a throwback. And my knees are terrible, so a healthy individual should be able to perform this easily.

I will admit, it is just as much about timing and ability to read the play, and that comes from experience

Curious....how do you know that you will have one of these games?

What is the "modified C" position anyway?

Same as U3 rotated, but in a 2man system.
Similar to baseball going back to B with two outs.
I'll never use it.

I agree 99%

The 1 % is that my ex wife ate her steak well done so everything else would be considered rare

They should be teaching 18-21 feet, so that's good. They should not be discouraging walking the line, so that's bad.

I'm glad to hear you work with rim, as that has been a PONY mechanic going on its 8th season.

Carburetors weren't broken, but I prefer fuel injections.

This thread finally gave me insight to the thought process of EsqUmp.......

Experience is your first clue. The next clue is when they walk the bases loaded to start the game. Another might be that the catcher hasn't even attempted to throw a runner out trying to steal. Some teams are poor enough that the coaches agree not to steal so that they can keep the force on in hopes of getting an out - that tends to eliminate the pick off at 3rd base.

In these types of games, virtually all of the outs come at 1st base and a few may come at 3rd base. So we allow the umpire to move just to the 1st base side of 2nd base. It's basically a philosophy of going where the action is, rather than standing 90 feet away from it the whole game.

If things change, umpires should adjust, the same way players adjust to the situation at hand (or at least ought to).