Rigger Self Assessment
Below is our attempt to create a rigger self assessment quiz. This quiz is not an end all be all, it does not certify anyone or anything as safe. It is an attempt to give people a tool to assess their own knowledge as a rigger or for you to assess a potential rigger and check what they know. It was created to address two problems.
The first is imposter syndrome where people do not yet have confidence in their skills or a base line of comparison. The second is to address the dunning-kruger effect where beginners believe themselves more skilled than they are.
It is broken into 5 parts and a score of 0-35 roughly means you are still a beginner. A score of 35-75 tags you in the intermediate range. 75 or higher and you're heading into the advanced range. This assumes a relatively even distribution across all categories.
The quiz covers much more than just knowledge of rope as their is much more to being a rigger than just tying knots. After all, rope safety tip #1 is you are not tying rope, you are tying a person, talk with your person.
As this is a creation over time of multiple people it is for use by anyone so yes, you may steal this quiz but if you could give the site a shout out as you do, that'd be appreciated. www.smirc.net/ropetest
People and negotiation: */25
Human Knowledge and Safety: */25
Terms/Knots/Patterns: */25
Equipment Knowledge and Safety: */25
Bonus skills questions: */15
People and negotiation - Do you ask these questions?
Do you know why you should? (Yes=1, No=0)Yes/No
What interests you about rope?-
What kind of tie are you looking to do or try?-
How do you want the tie to make you feel?-
Do you have any joint injuries? If yes - what are they and from what?-
Do you get motion sickness?-
Do you have any false limbs or implants?-
Do you have any joint or muscle conditions?-
Do you have a history of seizures?-
Have you consumed any alcohol today?-
Have you used any drugs today?-
Are you on any medications that could affect your ability to feel pain?-
Are you claustrophobic?-
Is there someone you would want me to contact in the case of emergency?-
Is your partner here or are there any relationship dynamics I need to consider?-
How is your flexibility? Can you demonstrate your range of motion?-
Do you have any communicable skin conditions or diseases relevant to what we are doing?-
Do you have any new piercings or tattoos I should be aware of?-
Do you have any current injuries that could affect the tie?-
Have you done this (the type of tie you’re negotiating) before?-
Is there any part of your body you do not want me to touch during the tie?-
Are you ticklish?-
Do you have any known triggers I should be aware of?-
Do you have any heart or blood pressure issues?-
How are you feeling right now? Are you hydrated or do you need to pee?-
What kind of aftercare do you think you’ll need?-
SECTION TOTAL
Human Knowledge and Safety - Do you know the answer to these questions?
Do you know why you should? (Yes=1, No=0)Yes/No
What are safe words and why should you always have them?-
What are safe signs in the event of a loud space or the person is gagged?-
What are the three major nerves in the arm to be aware of? What happens if they are compressed?-
Can you point to where the nerves are the most exposed on the arm?-
What are the main arteries on the arm to be aware of? What happens if they are compressed?-
Can you point to where the arteries are most exposed on the arm?-
What first aid steps should you take in the event of a pinched nerve or artery?-
What are the pressure points along the clavicle and in the center sternum that can cause pain or nerve compression? What happens if they are compressed?-
Can you point to where the clavicle and sternum nerves are?-
How does compression of the chest or sternum area affect breathing?-
What are the major nerve clusters in the hip area that can be injured by many hip harnesses? What happens if they are compressed?-
Can you point to the pubic nerve cluster and femoral nerve?-
What is the main artery on the inside of the thigh beneath the groin?-
Can you point to the femoral artery?-
What is the tibial nerve? What happens if they are compressed?-
Can you point to the tibial nerve at both the knee and the ankle?-
What is the temperature safety check?-
What is the strength safety check?-
What do different colors in the limbs indicate during bondage?-
What are stretches you should do before rope bondage?-
What are stretches and movements you can do to help come out of a tie?-
What are the different types of joints in the human body?-
How do the types of joints in the body move differently?-
What are the risks of prolonged immobility?-
SECTION TOTAL
Terms/Knots/Patterns - Do you know these terms, knots, patterns or techniques? (Yes=1, No=0)Yes/No
What is the bight of the rope? What are the running ends?-
What is an overhand vs. an underhand loop? Can you tie one?-
Can you tie a larks head? Can you tie a half hitch?-
Can you tie a munter hitch?-
Can you tie other frictions like an X friction?-
Can you tie a square knot or surgeon's knot?-
Why is it important that a tie is non-collapsing?-
Can you join two ropes?-
What is a single column tie? Can you tie one?-
Can you tie at least 4 different single column ties?-
What is a double column tie? Can you tie one?-
Can you tie at least 4 different double column ties?-
Can you tie at least 4 different common arm tie patterns?-
Can you tie at least 4 different common chest tie patterns?-
Can you tie at least 4 different common hip harness patterns?-
Can you tie at least 4 different common leg tie patterns?-
Can you tie a foot pattern?-
Can you tie hair?-
Can you tie a rope gag?-
Can you lock off an upline at the top of the line?-
Can you lock off an upline at the bottom of the line?-
Can you lock off an upline in the middle of the line?-
Can you tie a hanger tie into a harness?-
Can you tie a bomb knot or quick release knot?-
Can you tie a hashira lock off for a vertical beem?-
SECTION TOTAL
Equipment knowledge and safety - Do you have these and know how to use them? (Yes=1, No=0)Yes/No
Do you have a rope cutter?-
What type of rope cutter do you have and why?-
Do you have a marlin spike?-
Have you actually cut a rope off of yourself or your partner for practice?-
Have you tensioned a knot and then used a tool like a marlin spike to unjam it?-
What is the difference between the working load of rope and the breaking load?-
How is rope rated and is your rope rated?-
What are different types of rope material? What are the benefits of draw backs of them?-
What are the common lengths and diameters of rope? Why would you use one vs. another?-
What are different ways to whip the ends of your rope and why does it matter?-
What are ways to treat rope?-
What are ways to clean rope?-
What are signs your rope is fatigued and may break or needs to be replaced?-
What is a suspension ring and why would you want to use one?-
What are ways to attach a ring to a hard point?-
What are carabiners and what is the benefit of using them in suspension?-
What is a hard point and what are some examples of hard points?-
What are some things that are NOT hard points that people use in error and should be avoided?-
What is the difference between a dynamic load, a static load and a shock load?-
What is the plane of a rig and why should you be careful not to break it?-
What is directional force and how does it affect a rig and the attachment point?-
What are other hard point attachments that can be used in suspension bondage?-
What is a swivel and why would you want to use one?-
What are suspension straps (sometimes called climbing runners)?-
What are the risks of spinning in suspension?-
SECTION TOTAL
Bonus skills questions - Things to try if you think you know it all already (Yes=1, No=0)Yes/No
Can you tie one handed?-
Can you tie with your non-dominate hand?-
Do you know rope pulling tips and techniques like the finger hook or finding the gaps in your tie?-
Can you tie blindfolded?-
Can you tie behind your back?-
Have you taught a basic tie to someone else?-
Have you taught an advanced tie to someone else?-
Have you taken a pattern you've learned and modified it to be even better for you or your partners style?-
Have tied to a rhythm or in time with music?-
Have you tied with your bottom staying still? With you staying still? With both of you staying still? With both of you moving?-
Have you done a transition in suspension?-
Have you attended a bottoming class to learn tips and tricks your bottom can do to make tying better and safer?-
Have you done breast bondage with rope?-
Have you done genital bondage with rope?-
Have you tied multiple body types and gender identities?-
SECTION TOTAL
YOUR TOTAL SCORE