2012 <acronym title='High school rules, aka FED '>NFHS</acronym> Test

[johnnyg08]

How many of you still get a paper copy of the FED test? In MN, we get a paper copy of the test in late February, early March, then we take an online version of the same test for our state agency with a due date around the end of March.

To those of you in other parts of the country, when do you receive your paper FED test, how do you submit your test to your state agency, and when are the approximate deadlines?

[mstaylor]

We have gone to all internet testing.

[JaxRolo]

Online

[johnnyg08]

So ms and jax, when you say online, you don't get a paper copy to work through at all?

[Umpire in Chief]

VA & NC are both completely online

[yawetag]

I don't know about this year (haven't talked to a first-year umpire yet), so I'll give the specifics of last year for Missouri:

New umpires are required to take a Part I and Part II test. The Part I test is a paper test mailed with the rules and case books. The test is completed on a scantron-type sheet and sent back to the state. If you pass, they email you back your grade and how many you missed in each section, along with your patch for your uniform.

Part II is completed online, and is due by mid-April. The same questions are given to everyone, but in a different order. You can go on any time between the opening of the test and the due date and complete however many you want to complete. You submit it when you're comfortable of your answers.

[mstaylor]

No paper at all anymore. It used to be 100 T/F, now it is a combination T/F and multiple choice. It is designed to make you open the book and read it, which you are allowed to do. You must have a 70% to pass and you can take it 10 times. What I don't like about it is it tells you how many you missed and what rules sections they are in but not which you actually missed. The answers are not available until the season is half over. I want to know what I got wrong so I can do it correctly at the game.

[SAB_UIC_TX]

We're 100% online in TX as far as I know; you get your score immediately after hitting submit. We can see the questions we missed to go back and research. We have to have the test completed by Feb 15th with 70% to be eligible for varsity games and 86% to be eligible for play-off consideration, just confirmed yesterday at our state meeting.

[hckyosgood30]

Our unit uses the online study guide but still uses the paper test for our HS unit. College unit is online. I would like to see a standardize test across the nation for FED. I think that it should be a randomized test that way if I'm taking the same test next to someone they can't cheat off of me. I also think you should have a time limit but then have a few times to take the test and tell you your scores after the completion date. I think there are to many umpires who do themselves a disservice by cheating off of their buddies test. You need to know the rules for each level you work, just as much as you need to know the different mechanics for each level/conference you work. If your cheating will you truly know the answer when it comes up in a real game? Immersion is the key. Sorry guys I think we should be more accountable to ourselves when it comes to these tests.

[johnnyg08]

I'm pretty sure there is a standard FED test, but certain states choose to opt out thinking they can make a better one on their own (or whatever their thinking is)...

[mstaylor]

I'm pretty sure there is a standard FED test, but certain states choose to opt out thinking they can make a better on on their own (or whatever their thinking is)...

It's kind of like local rules that many leagues make. They think they know more than the guys that wrote the rules.

[zm1283]

I don't know about this year (haven't talked to a first-year umpire yet), so I'll give the specifics of last year for Missouri:

New umpires are required to take a Part I and Part II test. The Part I test is a paper test mailed with the rules and case books. The test is completed on a scantron-type sheet and sent back to the state. If you pass, they email you back your grade and how many you missed in each section, along with your patch for your uniform.

Part II is completed online, and is due by mid-April. The same questions are given to everyone, but in a different order. You can go on any time between the opening of the test and the due date and complete however many you want to complete. You submit it when you're comfortable of your answers.

I imagine they will not mail the Part II paper test out this year, as they didn't in basketball this season. I think last school year was the last year for paper tests in any sport. (Even though you actually took them online last year)

[LMSANS]

I'm pretty sure there is a standard FED test, but certain states choose to opt out thinking they can make a better on on their own (or whatever their thinking is)...

It's kind of like local rules that many leagues make. They think they know more than the guys that wrote the rules.

Sounds like my association. Last year for the first time, we did the FED test. Our interpreter decided he was going back to making his own test.

[JaxRolo]

So ms and jax, when you say online, you don't get a paper copy to work through at all?

Ours is all Online. No paper copy at all.

And we also have just 1 part.

I see some states have a Part 1 and a Part 2

[mstaylor]

When we did paper test the state gave us Part I for practice and Part II for the real test. Last year we took Part i as the online actual test. Some states still do two.

[cyclonehokiece]

Last year, Wisconsin still did paper tests (get them, fill out bubble sheet, mail it in). I won't know if they have switched or not, I have dropped that certification since I moved out east.

[Umpire in Chief]

If I recall correctly, at least in VA, We started with the Part I test. If you did well all was fine. If you needed to retest, they gave you part 2 (which was apparently much harder). Also they made coaches who missed the State clinic do Part 2.

[Triguy29]

In Pa there is no online option. There are testing sites a few times a year for all sports. We get a rule book and a study guide. Then show up at the date and time to take the paper test. We need a 75% closed book to pass.

[mtnump]

Colorado is all online beginning 1/30 and ending 2/29. 2 attempts and must have an 80% to be eloigible for post season.

[Chynoweth]

In Utah it is the FED test all done online and accessed through arbitersports.com. Part 1 must be passed with 80 percent or higher to become certified, with two chances to pass it. After two attempts each extra attempt to pass the test will cost you $15. To be considered for post season you must take Part 2 and pass that with 90 percent (you have only one shot at it) and attend or view online the UHSAA Rules Clinic.

[widac]

Portland OR is all online. It says Part 1

[th3]

I am stumped by the question about "the offending team can never benefit from an umpires call" question (i dont have my test here so im paraphrasing...i have found a rulce site for almost every other question

[johnnyg08]

That is a ridiculous question. I guess it depends on if the umpire got the call correct. I'd guess False on that one.

[Cajuncubsfan]

Im in Louisiana and we had to get a 90% or better to get the pay increase. I got a 93% ;-). We have a 100 question pool we studied from. I have the answers we came up with if you want to use it to study by. I can send you the PDF. If y'all have the same questions.

(null)

[johnnyg08]

I like how they call it a "timing" play on the test. Who writes and edits this? Absurd. Question 98 for me.

I've been trying for years to fix the terminology because guys would call the TIME play a timing play...now it appears on the dang test. *sigh