Writing, vetting, and editing the TASO exam questions can be a thankless task, with guys like us picking it apart. Most of the questions are reasonably well written and straightforward, and the authors should be duly thanked for their efforts. But, there are some global changes that should be made to improve the exam. The exam should really stick to the language used in the rules. For example:
"A34 is pulled down by the face mask, beyond the LOS, at A's 40 yard line and fumbles the ball forward where it is recovered by the defense at A's 45 yard line."
We should only refer to the "line of scrimmage" if we really mean the one or other of the two scrimmages lines. This statement would have been best written: "1/10, A-30. BC A34 is pulled by the face mask, causing him to fumble at the A-40. The ball is recovered by B66 at the A-45. Ruling: A, 1/10, B-45." (The given ruling is 'True.')
"Team, A's ball 4th & 5, on Team B's 35. Team A throws a forward pass to A88 who is airborne and catches the pass at Team B's 29. A88 is driven back to B's 32. Team B's ball, 1/10 at B's 32."
We should never refer to an airborne player 'catching' or 'recovering' a ball. The ball is not caught or recovered until that player returns to the ground inbounds. This statement would have been best written: "4/15, B-35. A88 grasps and firmly holds A11's pass at the B-29. B99 then drives A88 to the ground at the B32. Ruling: B, 1/10, B-32." (Of course, the given ruling is 'False.')
"B17 is the first player to touch a free kick from the 25 yard line when he leaps from inbounds, catches the kick and subsequently lands out of bounds with the ball in his possession at the B-27."
Firstly, which 25-yard line? Sure, we can safely assume the A-25, but, we shouldn't have to make assumptions. Secondly, again, we shouldn't refer to airborne players catching (or recovering) any loose ball. Thirdly, B17 never "possessed" the ball, by definition. This question would have been best written: "Free kick, A-25. B17, airborne from inbounds, is the first to touch the kicked ball when he grasps and firmly holds the ball. The ball, in B17's grasp, crossed the sideline at the B-27 before B17 first returned to the ground out of bounds." (Correct ruling: B, 1/10, B-27. No foul for Free Kick Out of Bounds.)
"On a try down with Team A lined up to kick the extra point, B45 lines up at the B1. At the snap, B45 runs toward the line and jumps over the right guard, A65. Foul for leaping over a player on an extra point."
We should never refer to a play as an "extra point," or an "extra point attempt." By rule, this play has a real name - a "Try." An attempt to score by kick is a field goal attempt, just like any other scrimmage down - not a "kick try," or anything else like that. Curiously, and quite unnecessarily, even 9-1-11-b refers to "...block a field goal or try." (As if there is a difference between a field goal attempt and a scoring attempt by kick during a try. That rule only needs to say, "...field goal attempt.")
This statement would have been best written: "Try, B-3. Team A is aligned to attempt a field goal. At the snap, B45 runs forward from the B-1 and leaps from beyond the NZ, over lineman A65. Ruling: Foul by B45 for leaping in an obvious attempt to block a field goal attempt." (The given ruling is 'True.')
Player numbers should always be team letter plus jersey number (e.g., A11; B66).
Yard lines should always have the team letter and yard line number, separated by a dash (e.g., A-20; B-35), to distinguish them from player numbers.
For the down "setup," we know the team in possession is Team A, so no need to state that. The down and distance should always be given in the same format, i.e., "[down]/[distance]." So, the setup should always look like: "1/10, A-30." If the time remaining and period are significant, they should also be stated consistently: "1/10, A-30, 0:47 (2), running." And the play clock, too, if significant (e.g., 3/10, A-30, 0:47 (2) running, 0:20 (40); or 3/10, A-30, 0:47 (2) snap, 0:18 (25).
Fouls "offset" (and requires the down to be repeated); penalties can be "canceled" (with the down remaining as it has been established). So, we should say: "The fouls offset." Or, we should say: "The penalties cancel." But, we should never say, "The penalties offset."
We should never say, "ejected." We should always say, "disqualified."
Just my opinions.
Robert
