TEST PREPARATION

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TEST PREPARATION

• Hints Suggestions Clues
• Larry Helton

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Laying the Groundwork

• Materials needed
• Rule Book
• Case Book
• Illustrated and Simplified
• Officials Manual
• Test Part 1
• Old Tests
• FHSAA Manual
• ARS Rules Study

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General Study Tips

• Determine what works for you
• Have all necessary material in front of you
• Locate a comfortable and quiet place
• Start with most important material first
• Learn main details first
• Write ideas as you study
• Take breaks
• Space out studying

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General Tips Cont.

• Understand the material
• Dont just read through
• Make notes and ask the officials considered the
  best rules interpreters
• Experience officials will help
• Group Study
• Everybody should be serious
• Not a time to party
• Have others test you using old tests

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What Works for Me

• Read changes first
• Explanation of changes
• Think about scenarios that brought about changes
• Rule Book
• Read through
• Fundamentals
• All but one explanation
• Points of Emphasis
• Overtime Procedure

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Works for Me - Continued

• Rule Book Simplified and Illustrated Case
  Book
• Changes Rules, S I, Case
• Rule 1 Rules, S I, Case
• Repeat for rules 2 10
• Question Case Book there may be errors
• In doubt, ASK OTHERS
• FHSAA Manual
• Read, especially shaded area ( changes)

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Manuals from FHSAA
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Rule Book

• Shaded areas indicate changes
• Pay attention to commas ( , ) in many rules
• The comma is used to separate different
  situations covered by the same rule
• EG, backward pass, fumble, or kick
• The temptation is to gloss over these areas
• Dont get caught up in some details
• The Rockwell Scale
• Do pay attention to dimensions such as cleat sizes

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Rule Book - Continued

• Rule 2 Definitions Basis for all rules
• Fundamentals Never change unless indicated and
  many times will help to answer a test question
• Rule Book Ese use when preparing for test
• Ask to be the Referee in some Little League games
  Forces you to learn the rules for enforcement
  purposes
• Look up rules when in doubt
• Ask the experienced officials when you dont
  understand they will be glad to help
• Do some group studying

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Simplified and Illustrated

• Read including the part you just read in the rule
  book repetition is a key to learning
• Look at the illustration first and try to write
  the description before you read the description
• Read the description If you were right, pat
  yourself on the back if wrong, WHY?
• Good tool that a lot of officials dont use

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Case Book

• Read the part from the Rule Book Repetition,
  Repetition, Repetition
• Read the case, try to answer, read the answer
• If you missed the answer, look at the rule
  referenced, go to the rule book and look up the
  rule We all learn from mistakes
• Do not be afraid to question the case book,
  especially after looking the rule up, many times,
  the case book has been wrong

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Officials Manual

• Read introduction and general information
• Test purposes 5 man mechanics
• Season 4 and 5 man mechanics
• Take the time to read all positions and game
  situations
• Reread during season Do It Right

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FHSAA Manual

• Read general information
• Read section on Football
• Water Breaks
• Expulsion procedures
• Shaded areas which indicate changes
• Do it the FHSAA way

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Practice Tests
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Part 1 and Past Tests

• Take the test
• When wrong look up the rule
• If using old tests correct the answers to
  reflect changes in rules
• ARS rules study if wrong use the disk to look
  up the answer do not be afraid to question the
  disk I have consistently found 5 or more
  incorrect answers
• The disk allows for corrections

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Mind Set
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Mind Set for the Test

• Be POSITIVE
• Do NOT get caught up in the negative comments
  about the test being an English exam
• Pay attention to detail the test will have
  questions that are designed to address the detail
  not your English skills Force is not a factor
  on kicks going into the end zones or A player can
  lose possession by a fumble or a muff
• Tired the test will be after a day of work,
  school, or the daily activity so is the game
  get as mentally prepared for the test as you
  would a game

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Mind Set - Continued

• The finer points of the rules are the difference
  between a Rank 1 official and a Rank 2 and 3
  official
• Some officials believe the finer points will
  never happen so they dont take the time to learn
  them
• The finer points DO happen and usually in crucial
  situations such as play off games or the game
  that determines the District Championship Do
  you want to be responsible for a team losing the
  game?

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Test Materials

• Arrive early only one hour from start time
• Find a spot you like
• Get comfortable
• Bring at least 2 2 pencils
• Bring a watch for pacing purposes
• Dont rush an hour is longer than you think
• Stay relaxed and confidant

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Taking The Test
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Test

• Read the directions
• Lay the ground work for the questions
• Read the caption
• The 4 questions will refer to the caption
• Read the question
• Do not read anything into the question
• What you read is what you get

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Test - Continued

• Answer the questions you know first
• Helps to build confidence
• Provides momentum
• Answer difficult questions next
• Mark the answer sheet
• Pay attention to mark the correct question
• Mark you test paper
• I write the number of the question that I think
  is true
• Can use for future study
• Dont let your eyes wander

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True-False Tips

• Usually more true than false
• 50 chance of right answer
• Qualifiers like never, always, and every mean
  the statement must be true all of the time.
  Usually these lead to a false answer.
• Qualifiers like usually, sometimes, and
  generally mean the statement can be considered
  true or false depending on the circumstances.
  Usually lead to an answer of true.

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Test - Continued

• Once the question has become false it is false
• Make sure the question is NOT written in a false
  manner
• Diagram the question on the test
• The question page is yours to keep
• The diagram may help
• Reread the directions and/or caption
• Helps to refocus
• Can give a clue to the answer

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Test - Continued

• First impression is usually the right impression
• Put a question mark by those you are unsure about
• Dont read the questions in a hurry
• You might miss or overlook something in the
  question which gives the clue needed for the
  answer

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Multiple Choice Questions

• Read directions and headings
• Usually can eliminate 2 of the 4 answers
• Raises the odds to 50 50
• First impression is usually right
• Other questions may give answers to previous
  questions
• When done review answer sheet and test
• Check to see if all questions answered
• Time to review uncertain answers

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Athletic Rules Study

• Last 5 years of National Federation Part 1 and 2
  tests on computer disk
• Available at Athletic Rules Study, P.O. Box 8413,
  Cedar Rapids, IA 52408-8413
• 1 [phone]
• www.rules-study.com
• Lets do as many questions as you want
• We will discuss some of the questions in detail

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Athletic Rules Study
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Apply The Rules
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Photographs

• www.floridamemory.com

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION