2015 ASA Umpire Exam questions

[tcannizzo]

31. With one out, R1 on 3B, R2 on 1B, B4 singles to right field scoring R1. R2 rounds second, then becomes confused, retouches 2B while moving back toward 1B where they are tagged out. The Umpires rule correctly that R1’s run counts as it was scored before R2 was tagged.
a.) True
b.) False

My question is who are "they"? Sounds like multiple tag outs, which would not only be R2 but also BR. But then question only mentions that R2 was tagged.
Which still means the run would count, but this may very well be the worst-worded question ever.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Or maybe it was worded perfectly with the intention of catching the umpire looking for something that isn't there. That can be an issue as is demonstrated with this thread

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Or maybe it was worded perfectly with the intention of catching the umpire looking for something that isn't there. That can be an issue as is demonstrated with this thread

That's giving way too much credit to the author of the question.

Wait... did you submit that question for the test?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

That's giving way too much credit to the author of the question.

Wait... did you submit that question for the test?

You need to remember, it was simply a true/false question and no. I could offer the best question in the world and ASA would not use it until they could find a way to make it theirs

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

You need to remember, it was simply a true/false question and no. I could offer the best question in the world and ASA would not use it until they could find a way to make it theirs

It's either a "gotcha" question or an improperly worded one, because who the hell else would care? Get real.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

It's either a "gotcha" question or an improperly worded one, because who the hell else would care? Get real.

I have proctored these tests for a little over a decade and constantly run into umpires who want to parse every 20 word question into a 70 word situation instead of just reading what is there and giving the appropriate answer.

I've never seen a "gotcha" question on an ASA test. In my experience, the ASA test has one purpose: to make the umpire think. From the discussion, it seems that is exactly what it did.

[Tru_in_Blu]

In some cases just reading what is there may not be enough. In some cases a relevant piece of information is missing. So while they may not be intended as "gotcha" questions, there have been several corrections to the test answers over the years.

When I attended a class to become certified as an ASA umpire, the UIC giving the class had us review the previous 5 years umpires' exam. Rule changes notwithstanding, there was often a question or two that he told us to ignore because they were "bad questions".

I think things have improved in the past few years, but from my original post, there are still some nebulous areas on the test. I'm all for "thinking" and some say that I think too much at times. I usually try to envision a test question scenario to something I may have seen at some point. Often times that's easy. Sometimes I have to play it out a bit more and check the book for the answer.

And that's a good thing.

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

My question is who are "they"? Sounds like multiple tag outs, which would not only be R2 but also BR. But then question only mentions that R2 was tagged.
Which still means the run would count, but this may very well be the worst-worded question ever.

My guess is that the writers used the normally-plural pronoun "they" in an effort to be gender neutral. Both sexes play this sport under basically the same baserunning rules: I wish they (the writers) would use he and she more often to reduce confusion.

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by teebob21

My guess is that the writers used the normally-plural pronoun "they" in an effort to be gender neutral. Both sexes play this sport under basically the same baserunning rules: I wish they (the writers) would use he and she more often to reduce confusion.

My point is that any pronoun, he, she, it, we, they, etc is bad form. Add to it they got singular and plural mixed up...well.

Why not stick with standard rules nomenclature, such as "R2 was tagged" in this case.

[Crabby_Bob]

53. (Women's and JO Girls Fastpitch) Pushing off and dragging the pivot foot in contact with the ground is not required. a) true b) false


The question exhibits a serious lack of context.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Crabby_Bob

53. (Women's and JO Girls Fastpitch) Pushing off and dragging the pivot foot in contact with the ground is not required. a) true b) false


The question exhibits a serious lack of context.

It's certainly not required of the center fielder... or the batter... or the scorekeeper.

[youngump]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

It's certainly not required of the center fielder... or the batter... or the scorekeeper.

Hmmm ... but it is required of the pitcher by rule. But would anybody call this? By that I mean a really weak pitcher who just pitches slow pitch style has not pushed off or drug but I'd never thought of calling it illegal.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

It's certainly not required of the center fielder... or the batter... or the scorekeeper.

Do any of them have a "pivot foot"?

[youngump]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Do any of them have a "pivot foot"?

They do if they are pivoting.