Author Topic: TASO test 2014 (Read 30807 times)

fencewire · « **on:** July 14, 2014, 01:24:11 PM »

Does anyone have a clue when this finely worded document to determine if we can find subtle changes in definitions in the mechanics manual or rule book will be released this year?

Also, I thought there was going to be an online option for the rules clinic this year? Is this going to happen?

TXMike · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2014, 03:47:10 PM »

If you can't get a 90 without even worrying about any of the "subtle" changes then you need to spend some more time in the books

There will be an online clinic but it is the last option. As long as there are regional clinics an state meeriñgs available nobody should need an online clinic

fencewire · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2014, 04:09:06 PM »

so no known date for the release of the test, just a snide comment, implying that we should overlook mistakes and issues with the test (that are seen every year mind you) since it should be easy to pass if you have any modicum of rules knowledge.

I am not the least bit worried in passing the test, simply interested in when it is being released so that one more thing can be checked off the list prior to the upcoming season.

As far as the online clinic goes, yet another snide remark, it was mentioned earlier in the year that it would be available, but we have heard nothing since the initial release of that as well. It was simply a question you don't have to get defensive about it, some folks have other obligations in life that might preclude them from attending one of the regional clinics and/or the state meeting and thus even paying a premium for an online clinic, when one becomes available might be preferable to them.

For instance if you were in El Paso, and a family member had an event already scheduled on the day that it was decided that their clinic would be held, it would be easier on the old pocket book to simply pay a premium to attend an online clinic, than it would be to drive or fly to another location.

Etref · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2014, 07:07:07 PM »

God forbid if I lived in El Paso

No offense Dan! I owe you a diet orange slice

TXMike · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2014, 08:41:12 PM »

Quote from: fencewire on July 14, 2014, 04:09:06 PM

so no known date for the release of the test, just a snide comment, implying that we should overlook mistakes and issues with the test (that are seen every year mind you) since it should be easy to pass if you have any modicum of rules knowledge.

I am not the least bit worried in passing the test, simply interested in when it is being released so that one more thing can be checked off the list prior to the upcoming season.

As far as the online clinic goes, yet another snide remark, it was mentioned earlier in the year that it would be available, but we have heard nothing since the initial release of that as well. It was simply a question you don't have to get defensive about it, some folks have other obligations in life that might preclude them from attending one of the regional clinics and/or the state meeting and thus even paying a premium for an online clinic, when one becomes available might be preferable to them.

For instance if you were in El Paso, and a family member had an event already scheduled on the day that it was decided that their clinic would be held, it would be easier on the old pocket book to simply pay a premium to attend an online clinic, than it would be to drive or fly to another location.

Luckily I was not the first to use snide comments.

And what in what I posted said you should overlook mistakes and issues with the test? If you can find them, send them in . What in any test given in the past 2 years could be termed a question based on a "subtle change in a book"?

And what you would have heard, if the message was passed on to you correctly, was that there would be an online clinic available near the end of the clinic season. If the objective is to get people to go to real clinics why would TASO want to make an online one available before it was absolutely essential? Chapter secretaries and presidents were told months ago that there would be an online clinic but that it would not be available until sometime near the end of the clinic offerings. We still have a State meeting to go so there is no need for an online clinic yet. Once there is a need I am sure it will be available in plenty of time for people to complete it before Week 1 games.

TexDoc · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2014, 08:40:08 AM »

Quote from: TXMike on July 14, 2014, 03:47:10 PM

If you can't get a 90 without even worrying about any of the "subtle" changes then you need to spend some more time in the books

There will be an online clinic but it is the last option. As long as there are regional clinics an state meeriñgs available nobody should need an online clinic

I have a guy on my crew that works every Saturday for the US Government delivering your ever so important postal junk who had to take a vacation day to attend a clinic. The assumption that everyone should be able to find a Saturday to attend a clinic, when we already have one at the beginning of each season (district meeting), well, you know my feelings. If these clinics were break-even activities for the chapters and not profit centers, I'd not belly ache about it. They should charge what it truly costs, and not make anything off of them. We are all not-for-profit, right?

fencewire · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2014, 09:02:04 AM »

hmm, so a snide comment about TASO testing in general equates to a snide personal comment. Unless you are the test writer or you are the ambiguous TASO, that is hardly quid pro quo. Let it now be known that TXMike is the defender of TASO from any criticism, the TASO champion of the internet, since TASO is the greatest organization in the history of mankind.. and thus not worthy of any criticism whatsoever.

IF the message was passed on to you correctly. Nevermind, it is better to keep people in the dark and only pass out information to chapter presidents and secretaries to be lost in translation or forgotten than it would be to simply post the information on the web site. Since that is the way it has been done forever, don't want to use any technological advances to get the message out to membership more effectively. Personal comment coming shortly because I dare question TASO and their policies.

TXMike · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2014, 09:14:40 AM »

How about an example of the "subtle change" related question?

TXMike · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2014, 09:19:50 AM »

Quote from: TexDoc on July 15, 2014, 08:40:08 AM

I have a guy on my crew that works every Saturday for the US Government delivering your ever so important postal junk who had to take a vacation day to attend a clinic. The assumption that everyone should be able to find a Saturday to attend a clinic, when we already have one at the beginning of each season (district meeting), well, you know my feelings. If these clinics were break-even activities for the chapters and not profit centers, I'd not belly ache about it. They should charge what it truly costs, and not make anything off of them. We are all not-for-profit, right?

. Lots of guys make personal sacrifices to get the training as well as to work the games. And you know perfectly well that what goes on at the district directors meeting is not even close to the equivalent of a well-done clinic. Your deal is that you look at this from your own personal point of view instead of looking at it from the point of view of many if not the majority of our members. You, personally, may not need as much training as others. But there are others who need it and want it. This season they would get even another option with the online clinic. Your guy did not have to take a day off to go to the clinic, he chose to do so because, I suspect, he knew he would get more for the dollar there than at the online clinic. Kudos to him for recognizing that and making the personal sacrifice to go to the clinic.

TexDoc · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2014, 01:42:17 PM »

Yeah, kudos to him for bringing the adult beverages!

Joe Stack · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2014, 10:38:32 PM »

Don't mean to sound snotty, but would the cremate have any issues taking a vacation day for, say, a playoff game? I know one pays and the clinic comes out of his pocket, but I'm not sure too many are going to see having to take one day off a year as being too draconian. Just for some perspective: A good friend of mine used to take a week of vacation to be a church youth camp sponsor, leading a cabin of 30-40 9th and 10th grade guys (me included at one point a LONG time ago!). This continued when he got married and when he had 3 kids. Oh, and besides putting up with a bunch of hoods (again, me included), he handled loading and unloading the luggage for 300+ youth. I'm not going to belittle your friend's commitment and sacrifice but I'm also not going to be too impressed by it.

TexDoc · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2014, 08:14:58 AM »

This guy is a mailman, and he gets one Saturday off a month. It so happens that our clinic fell on his day off so it worked out fine.

I just feel that making everyone attend a clinic is wrong. If the chapters were truly focused on education, which should be the focus, then make these clinics break-even. Most chapters use these clinics as a profit center, which is simply wrong. The UIL allowed us to start charging for scrimmages, $100 each going directly to the chapters, so we could have more money for recruiting and education. Instead of charging $50 to $70 for a clinic, they should be using the monies from scrimmages to make these clinics inexpensive and accessible as possible.

From my personal point of view, I really don't like having to give up a Saturday to go to a clinic, it's that simple. I'd like to see an option to take care of this in an evening during the week. Our clinic didn't even make it past lunch time, so you could definitely get in a three hour session during an evening.

Etref · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2014, 08:33:01 AM »

Definitely sounds like you did not get your monies worth! It may be a drive for you but ours is all day with breakouts for $35.

fencewire · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2014, 09:43:04 AM »

after looking over last years test, I can't find one instance of what I alleged happening, last year. I don't have access to any other years tests to look through. So, it would seem that practice has stopped. If it has, good for the mysterious test writer.

Here is the thing about the "rules clinic", it is safe to say having been to numerous clinics, that for the most part it boils down to a power point presentation given by different folks. Then what you get from any clinic is almost 100% determined by who the clinician is that presents the material. Some, simply read through the power point offer little in the way of discussion and you are in and out before lunch. Some clinicians offer more insight, experience, spark more discussion and you get more "out of it". That is the nature of the beast.

To me it is a lot like defensive driving. You can take a Saturday and go sit in a comedy club or any other various themes and get the dd out of the way, or now, theoretically, you will be able to do it online, both satisfy the court. The attendee can not pay attention sitting in a classroom as easily as sitting at home.

DallasLJ · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2014, 11:41:14 AM »

Quote from: fencewire on July 16, 2014, 09:43:04 AM

after looking over last years test, I can't find one instance of what I alleged happening, last year. I don't have access to any other years tests to look through. So, it would seem that practice has stopped. If it has, good for the mysterious test writer.

Here is the thing about the "rules clinic", it is safe to say having been to numerous clinics, that for the most part it boils down to a power point presentation given by different folks. Then what you get from any clinic is almost 100% determined by who the clinician is that presents the material. Some, simply read through the power point offer little in the way of discussion and you are in and out before lunch. Some clinicians offer more insight, experience, spark more discussion and you get more "out of it". That is the nature of the beast.

To me it is a lot like defensive driving. You can take a Saturday and go sit in a comedy club or any other various themes and get the dd out of the way, or now, theoretically, you will be able to do it online, both satisfy the court. The attendee can not pay attention sitting in a classroom as easily as sitting at home.

Then you are going to the wrong clinics. Yes, there will be a standard power point for new rules and UIL exceptions. That should be the case so everyone is getting the correct information. But the Dallas clinic had multiple speakers on many topics -- not just rules. We also had break outs by positions with film review. A full days worth of information and $40 is not too high a price to pay for a full day of education.

Just my humble opinion.

Hondo · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2014, 09:01:58 PM »

The test is out

Legacy Zebra · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2014, 01:42:47 AM »

Quote from: Hondo on July 23, 2014, 09:01:58 PM

The test is out

Where is it at? I looked in the member's portal on the TASO website and didn't see it.

rickref · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2014, 08:31:20 AM »

Friday according to the email I got yesterday.

Some people were given access early to sort of test things out.

TxSkyBolt · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2014, 08:46:18 AM »

It's on Arbiter.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Etref · « **Reply #19 on:** July 25, 2014, 10:03:54 AM »

Okay, I gi ve up! Where the heck is it?

BankerRef · « **Reply #20 on:** July 25, 2014, 11:04:33 AM »

Quote from: Etref on July 25, 2014, 10:03:54 AM

Okay, I gi ve up! Where the heck is it?

Sign in to Arbiter. You may have to go to the switch views tab depending on how many arbiter IDs or accounts you have. Choose the TASO - Central Hub account by clicking on central hub. Once there click on the testing tab. That should get you there.

Etref · « **Reply #21 on:** July 25, 2014, 12:46:59 PM »

Don't have any Arbiter accounts. Thought it was on the TASO site!

BankerRef · « **Reply #22 on:** July 25, 2014, 12:55:42 PM »

Didn't you have to set one up to do your online TASO renewal this year?

Etref · « **Reply #23 on:** July 25, 2014, 01:05:19 PM »

I have slept since then but do not believe so.

BankerRef · « **Reply #24 on:** July 25, 2014, 01:26:23 PM »

https://www.arbitersports.com/front/501/Site/Home/Home

Here is a link if that helps.

Author Topic: TASO test 2014 (Read 30807 times)

rickref