A few years ago, I picked up where I left off many years earlier, and I started officiating basketball games again. Although my playing days are long since past, I do enjoy getting out on the floor again. I often joke that "Officiating doesn't necessarily keep me in shape, but it keeps me in the same shape." Each spring, the rules committee votes on proposed rule changes for the upcoming season. And this season, there were very few changes. Going over existing rules as well as new ones in the form of a refresher test helps to prepare us for the new season. And doing several scrimmages before the season starts, helps us to put those new rules into practice.
I think a secondary interest for me is the rules themselves. The rules of basketball are simple, yet complex. A fan might THINK they know the rules, but they really only know a few basic concepts. An official must take classes and pass a rigorous written test in order to qualify for a floor test, which gives a prospective official a chance to employ what was learned in the classroom. The same holds true for other observers of the sport which would include many sportswriters and sportscasters. Slide a written test of the rules in front of them. Very few would come close to a passing grade of 86.
In the mortgage business, we have faced changing laws, changing underwriting rules, and in some states, the need to test our knowledge. It is not the consumer's job to know all of the rules. It is ours. And we should be well versed in changes. And we must be sure we do not cross into gray areas as we originate loans. Just like in basketball, we should be following the rules.
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