TASO Test release date

[dammitbobby]

Anyone know when the test will be released?  Last year it was June 9, but haven't seen anything yet for this year.

[JasonTX]

It was sent in to be uploaded a couple days ago.  We'll test it out for a week and then release it to all.  We had to make sure all the new rules and editorial changes were implemented and fix any rules references so that was tedious.  July 15 is the date required by policy but we are ahead of that.

[JDM]

It was sent in to be uploaded a couple days ago.  We'll test it out for a week and then release it to all.  We had to make sure all the new rules and editorial changes were implemented and fix any rules references so that was tedious.  July 15 is the date required by policy but we are ahead of that.

 

[ETXZebra]

The 2023 test is now online. GoodLuck!!!

[ElvisLives]

Dang. 94. I'd tell y'all my errors, but I don't want to get in trouble for giving away answers, in any way. Not sure if I'll go for 100. But, good luck to y'all!

[JasonTX]

A free assist on one question.  Working to get this corrected.  The test bank is an excel file so when you use numbers it doesn't like 0 being a leading digit and will remove zero so if you get this question know that is should be like this.

Player Numbering: Which of the following numbers are legal?

110
7     (This option should read 07.....working on getting it corrected but answer as if it shows 07)
0
00

[ATG]

A free assist on one question.  Working to get this corrected.  The test bank is an excel file so when you use numbers it doesn't like 0 being a leading digit and will remove zero so if you get this question know that is should be like this.

Player Numbering: Which of the following numbers are legal?

110
7     (This option should read 07.....working on getting it corrected but answer as if it shows 07)
0
00

Wish I would have checked here first before answering 7...I thought the test was good - interesting that I got a 6-man (1-A) football question on the test...had to dig up the new 2023 exceptions on that one.

[JDM]

Dang. 94. I'd tell y'all my errors, but I don't want to get in trouble for giving away answers, in any way. Not sure if I'll go for 100. But, good luck to y'all!

Ditto. Would've been 96 except for that 6 man trick question...

Ain't gonna strive for perfection. Playoff score criteria is all that matters to me.

[JasonTX]

Ditto. Would've been 96 except for that 6 man trick question...

Ain't gonna strive for perfection. Playoff score criteria is all that matters to me.

Trick question?      

[ElvisLives]

Ditto. Would've been 96 except for that 6 man trick question...

Ain't gonna strive for perfection. Playoff score criteria is all that matters to me.

What trick question?   I got that one.  (We need an emoji of a sanctimonious character patting himself on the back.)

[blindtxzebra]

Here’s one that is poorly worded:

True / False No rule decision may be changed after the ball is next legally snapped.

[ElvisLives]

Here’s one that is poorly worded:

True / False No rule decision may be changed after the ball is next legally snapped.

I didn't like that one, much, myself (one of those I missed), but, in retrospect I can't argue with the pureness of it. You have to consider the down number as a "rule decision." In that case, yeah, the answer is false, since there is an exception for correcting the down number (any time during that series). Also, there doesn't have to be a snap. It could be a free kick, or the end of the second or fourth periods. So....

I would prefer to see that question split into several questions, such as:

A) 2/10, 50. A12 advances to the B-35 and runs out of bounds. During A12's advance, A88 blocked B99 in the back at the B-40. The officials enforce the penalty as 15 yards from the spot of the foul, resulting in A, 2/15, A-45. The ball is made ready and Team A snaps the ball and A12 advances to the 50 and runs out of bounds. Team A's head coach then alerts the officials that the penalty for the illegal block in the back should have been 10-yards, not 15. The referee explains to the coach that he is correct, but the error cannot be corrected since the ball had been put in play following the error. True False

B) 1/10, A-40. A12 throws a legal forward pass toward A88 at the 50. Guard A66 is clearly at the A-48 as the pass is in flight, and is called for ineligible downfield. After the distance penalty is enforced, taking the ball to the A-35, the referee announces, "loss of down," and the down box is set to 2nd down (A, 2/15, A-35). The ball is made ready and Team A snaps the ball. A12 Advances to the A-40, where he runs out of bounds. As the officials are indicating 3rd down, Team A's head coach alerts the officials that this should be 2nd down, because ineligible downfield is not a loss of down penalty. The referee concurs, and he orders the down box to be changed to 2nd down, and the game continues. This is the correct procedure. True False

Or, just simplify the original question a bit: "No rule decision may be changed after the ball is next legally snapped (no exceptions)."  But that's too easy. Any time you see "...no exceptions..." you almost automatically know the answer is false, even if you don't know why.

[JasonTX]

I didn't like that one, much, myself (one of those I missed), but, in retrospect I can't argue with the pureness of it. You have to consider the down number as a "rule decision." In that case, yeah, the answer is false, since there is an exception for correcting the down number (any time during that series). Also, there doesn't have to be a snap. It could be a free kick, or the end of the second or fourth periods. So....

I would prefer to see that question split into several questions, such as:

A) 2/10, 50. A12 advances to the B-35 and runs out of bounds. During A12's advance, A88 blocked B99 in the back at the B-40. The officials enforce the penalty as 15 yards from the spot of the foul, resulting in A, 2/15, A-45. The ball is made ready and Team A snaps the ball and A12 advances to the 50 and runs out of bounds. Team A's head coach then alerts the officials that the penalty for the illegal block in the back should have been 10-yards, not 15. The referee explains to the coach that he is correct, but the error cannot be corrected since the ball had been put in play following the error. True False

B) 1/10, A-40. A12 throws a legal forward pass toward A88 at the 50. Guard A66 is clearly at the A-48 as the pass is in flight, and is called for ineligible downfield. After the distance penalty is enforced, taking the ball to the A-35, the referee announces, "loss of down," and the down box is set to 2nd down (A, 2/15, A-35). The ball is made ready and Team A snaps the ball. A12 Advances to the A-40, where he runs out of bounds. As the officials are indicating 3rd down, Team A's head coach alerts the officials that this should be 2nd down, because ineligible downfield is not a loss of down penalty. The referee concurs, and he orders the down box to be changed to 2nd down, and the game continues. This is the correct procedure. True False

Or, just simplify the original question a bit: "No rule decision may be changed after the ball is next legally snapped (no exceptions)."  But that's too easy. Any time you see "...no exceptions..." you almost automatically know the answer is false, even if you don't know why.

Funny story, this question has been in the test bank for a while.  When it first came up the answer key said it was TRUE.  Then we were bombarded with a lot of feedback pointing out the exception.  We really couldn't win that argument, so the answer key was changed to what it is now and I'm not saying.   

[ElvisLives]

Funny story, this question has been in the test bank for a while.  When it first came up the answer key said it was TRUE.  Then we were bombarded with a lot of feedback pointing out the exception.  We really couldn't win that argument, so the answer key was changed to what it is now and I'm not saying.   

Oh, man. I wish you would tell. I could never figure that out. Maybe somebody else. But not me. I wish I was in Hawaii. (Here, Tues = 109, Wed = 106, today = 101; Honolulu = high of 80 today.)

[blindtxzebra]

Then obviously the question is ambiguous since an argument can be made for both answers. Why leave it in the bank? There are a plethora of questions that can be written to substitute for it and they most likely would have more relevance to the game.

[dammitbobby]

^^^ this.  I really don't care if the white area for coaches is mandatory to be white or striped or zigzagged or whatever. 

[ElvisLives]

^^^ this.  I really don't care if the white area for coaches is mandatory to be white or striped or zigzagged or whatever.

Sadly, even for those us that don't mind having that knowledge, the UIL doesn't care, which is why they change everything to 'recommended' instead of 'mandatory' regarding most field markings. So it is, indeed, somewhat moot. The 'structure' is what I miss most about FBS football.

[dammitbobby]

OK, so I care, to a degree, as I do like knowing the rules. But, in the context of what this test is for, it's 2 points better spent on testing knowledge of actual game-related rules and situations, not obscure UIL exceptions that never in the history of ever been an issue.

[JasonTX]

Sadly, there are a lot of officials who don't read the rule book that often.  For our test, it is designed to get you to read and to cover all sections in the rule book.  For example, there might be 20 questions in the test bank on just rule 10, but you will only have a certain number like 5 that are randomly shown on each test.  We have several questions that are just definitions.  The questions force you to open the book or UIL exceptions to confirm and as we all can attest to, once we open the rule book, we have a tendency to keep reading and learn something new that otherwise we wouldn't have.  At the end of the year, we can pull the statistics of the test and see what questions are most missed and by what chapters.  It doesn't show the official so nobody is singled out.  There are some that take all 20 attempts just to achieve a 70.  Last year there were two questions that were created based upon the previous year state championship games and the crews got it wrong in the game.  Those two questions were the most missed across the whole state as well as each chapter.  As a state association, we can use those to focus on those areas in our clinic presentations and state meeting breakout. 

I would like to see us copy the NCAA test and let that one loose.  It's no joke.  TASO test is a cake walk.   

[Bulldog75]

Can someone explain why this one is false?  I read through the explanations but am still not getting it.

If there had been no penalty, then it's Team A, 1st and 10, at the B-12.  Game clock stops for the 1st down and restarts on the ready. 

Is the key the wording of 3-4-3-b "If the game clock is stopped to complete a penalty for a foul by the team ahead in the score..." and the game clock was stopped for the first down and not for the penalty?


4th and 6 for Team A at the B-20, 4th quarter with Team A trailing 10-6 and the game clock running. QB A11 runs around the right end and remains inbounds after gaining 8 yards. At the snap, B42 was lined up in the neutral zone. At the end of play the game clock has 0:38 remaining. RULING: If Team A declines the Team B foul then it is Team A's ball 1st and 10 and game clock starts on the ready. If Team A accepts the penalty, it will be Team A 4th and 1 at the B-15, game clock starts on the snap at the option of Team A.

[dammitbobby]

Because of 3-4-4.

3-4-4-a: ...The offended team may accept the yardage penalty and decline the 10-second runoff. If the yardage penalty is declined the 10-second runoff is declined by rule.

3-4-4-c:  After the penalty is administered, if there is a 10-second runoff, the game clock starts on the referee’s signal. If there is no 10-second runoff, the game clock starts on the snap.

3-4-3-b doesn't come into play because since they would almost certainly not want the runoff, so from 3-4-4-c, GC would start by rule on the referee's signal, no option for Team A.

3-4-3-b:  b.   If the game clock is stopped to complete a penalty for a foul by the team ahead in the score (or either team if the score is tied) inside the last two minutes of a half and the clock would start by rule on the referee’s signal, it will start on the snap, at the option of the offended team.


That's what I rationalized when I got it wrong as well on the test .

[Snapper]

Can someone explain why this one is false?  I read through the explanations but am still not getting it.

If there had been no penalty, then it's Team A, 1st and 10, at the B-12.  Game clock stops for the 1st down and restarts on the ready. 

Is the key the wording of 3-4-3-b "If the game clock is stopped to complete a penalty for a foul by the team ahead in the score..." and the game clock was stopped for the first down and not for the penalty?


4th and 6 for Team A at the B-20, 4th quarter with Team A trailing 10-6 and the game clock running. QB A11 runs around the right end and remains inbounds after gaining 8 yards. At the snap, B42 was lined up in the neutral zone. At the end of play the game clock has 0:38 remaining. RULING: If Team A declines the Team B foul then it is Team A's ball 1st and 10 and game clock starts on the ready. If Team A accepts the penalty, it will be Team A 4th and 1 at the B-15, game clock starts on the snap at the option of Team A.

I'm not from Texas.  So I don't know if this falls under any of your adaptions.

But under NCAA rules, A should be able to choose on the Snap whether they accept or decline B's penalty on this play.  The key is not in sync with my understanding of NCAA rules on this question.


"If the game clock is stopped to complete a penalty for a foul by the team ahead in the score (or either team if the score is tied) inside the last two minutes of a half and the clock would start by rule on the referee's signal, it will start on the snap, at the option of the offended team."


It doesn't say that the penalty has to be accepted.  And it doesn't say that the penalty has to be the only thing that stopped the clock.

[JDM]

Trick question?      

In a sixman (1A) football game, 4th and 15 at the A-35. A10 receives the snap and remains in the backfield where he is hit and fumbles the ball. The ball is rolling on the ground and untouched by team B when A20 recovers the ball at the A-30 and runs for a Touchdown. Ruling?

[CosmoKramer]

In a sixman (1A) football game, 4th and 15 at the A-35. A10 receives the snap and remains in the backfield where he is hit and fumbles the ball. The ball is rolling on the ground and untouched by team B when A20 recovers the ball at the A-30 and runs for a Touchdown. Ruling?

What's tricky about this question?  It's in line with a rule change this year.

[JasonTX]

Can someone explain why this one is false?  I read through the explanations but am still not getting it.

If there had been no penalty, then it's Team A, 1st and 10, at the B-12.  Game clock stops for the 1st down and restarts on the ready. 

Is the key the wording of 3-4-3-b "If the game clock is stopped to complete a penalty for a foul by the team ahead in the score..." and the game clock was stopped for the first down and not for the penalty?


4th and 6 for Team A at the B-20, 4th quarter with Team A trailing 10-6 and the game clock running. QB A11 runs around the right end and remains inbounds after gaining 8 yards. At the snap, B42 was lined up in the neutral zone. At the end of play the game clock has 0:38 remaining. RULING: If Team A declines the Team B foul then it is Team A's ball 1st and 10 and game clock starts on the ready. If Team A accepts the penalty, it will be Team A 4th and 1 at the B-15, game clock starts on the snap at the option of Team A.

It's false because the answer suggests that if team A declines the penalty there is no option on the clock that it starts on the ready.  If then suggests that if A accepts the penalty, then they'd have the option to start the clock on the ready or on the snap.  The rule simply states, "complete a penalty", and a penalty is completed when it is accepted, declined, or cancelled according to rule.  So, in this play, Team A has the option on the clock regardless of if they accept or decline the penalty.