I'm going to respectfully disagree with this statement. There's only one or two of these questions per test but, IMO, it's important for the TASO members to understand their are TASO guidelines to be followed. Having a question in the test provides this knowledge for all members. And it's not like it's a difficult question but rather almost a give me question. If someone scores an 88 because of this question then they need to reconsider studying up on the actual rules we officiate by and worry about why they missed the rules related questions.
The only thing I get tired of from test questions are the "gotch ya" questions. But I think the committee has done a great job this year getting such questions out of the test. I'm not talking about questions where there's a distinct definition difference but rather questions where one word in the description changes the outcome of the play but that one word used is ridiculously worded. But as I sit here I cannot come up with a good example to make my point but if you've been officiating long enough and always taken tests, you know what I'm referring too.
Cosmo, I appreciate your response. But for the second one, it is false. It is a 'gotcha' question in my opinion. Why raise the bar for higher scores if we want to pick nits about an obscure rule, that I don't even know where to find it at. It's not in the rulebook (obviously), not in the TASO football procedures document, and not in the mechanics manual. I concur that it's important for officials to know and understand policies, but this one seems designed to intentionally trip people up - it's not a 'gimme'.
The only other 'gotcha question I've seen this year is this one:
In the first possession of the second overtime period with the score tied 35-35 the home team scores a touchdown. The team lines up to kick the extra point.
Select the option:
1) If the kick is good the second possession will begin with the score 42-35
2) Teams are required to run a 2 point try beginning in the second OT.
3) If the kick is good the score will not be counted and the second possession will begin with the score 41-35.
This question was also around last year, and had a
different correct answer than this year.
I work in an industry that relies somewhat on certifications as a measure of competence and ability, and having to distinguish between the words 'required' and 'must' (from the actual rule) is a level of pettiness that even we don't go to. (the old standby is 'which answer is MOST correct')
I also think at least some portion of the test should be dedicated to 6-man specific testing questions. Our chapter for sure does way more 6-man games than 11-man almost any given week, it just seems absurd to say that those rule exceptions aren't important enough to test officials on, especially when there's questions specific to 7-man mechanics on the test.