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.
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)
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What interests you about rope?
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What kind of tie are you looking to do or try?
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How do you want the tie to make you feel?
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Do you have any joint injuries? If yes - what are they and from what?
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Do you get motion sickness?
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Do you have any false limbs or implants?
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Do you have any joint or muscle conditions?
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Do you have a history of seizures?
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Have you consumed any alcohol today?
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Have you used any drugs today?
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Are you on any medications that could affect your ability to feel pain?
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Are you claustrophobic?
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Is there someone you would want me to contact in the case of emergency?
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Is your partner here or are there any relationship dynamics I need to consider?
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How is your flexibility? Can you demonstrate your range of motion?
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Do you have any communicable skin conditions or diseases relevant to what we are doing?
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Do you have any new piercings or tattoos I should be aware of?
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Do you have any current injuries that could affect the tie?
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Have you done this (the type of tie you’re negotiating) before?
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Is there any part of your body you do not want me to touch during the tie?
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Are you ticklish?
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Do you have any known triggers I should be aware of?
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Do you have any heart or blood pressure issues?
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How are you feeling right now? Are you hydrated or do you need to pee?
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What kind of aftercare do you think you’ll need?
Human Knowledge and Safety - Do you know the answer to these questions? Do you know why you should? (Yes=1, No=0)
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What are safe words and why should you always have them?
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What are you safe signs in the event of a loud space or the person is gagged?
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What are the three major nerves in the arm to be aware of? What happens if they are compressed?
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Can you point to where the nerves are the most exposed on the arm?
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What are the main arteries on the arm to be aware of? What happens if they are compressed?
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Can you point to where the arteries are most exposed on the arm?
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What first aid steps should you take in the event of a pinched nerve or artery?
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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?
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Can you point to where the clavicle and sternum nerves are?
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How does compression of the chest or sternum area affect breathing?
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What are the major nerve clusters in the hip area that can be injured by many hip harnesses? What happens if they are compressed?
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Can you point to the pubic nerve cluster and femoral nerve?
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What is the main artery on the inside of the thigh beneath the groin?
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Can you point to the femoral artery?
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What is the fibular nerve? What happens if they are compressed?
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Can you point to the fibular nerve at both the knee and the ankle?
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What is the temperature safety check?
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What is the strength safety check?
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What do different colors in the limbs indicate during bondage?
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What are stretches you should do before rope bondage?
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What are stretches and movements you can do to help come out of a tie?
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What are the different types of joints in the human body?
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How do the types of joints in the body move differently?
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What are the risks of prolonged immobility?
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How frequently should you check in?
Terms/Knots/Patterns - Do you know these terms, knots, patterns or techniques? (Yes=1, No=0)
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What is the bight of the rope? What are the running ends?
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What is an overhand vs. an underhand loop?
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Can you tie a larks head?
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Can you tie a half hitch?
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Can you tie a munter hitch?
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Can you tie a friction?
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Can you tie a square knot or surgeon's knot?
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Why is it important that a tie is non-collapsing?
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Can you join two ropes?
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What is a single column tie? Can you tie one?
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Can you tie at least 4 different single column ties?
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What is a double column tie? Can you tie one?
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Can you tie at least 4 different double column ties?
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Can you tie at least 4 different common arm tie patterns?
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Can you tie at least 4 different common chest tie patterns?
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Can you tie at least 4 different common hip harness patterns?
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Can you tie at least 4 different common leg tie patterns?
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Can you tie a foot pattern?
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Can you tie hair?
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Can you tie a rope gag?
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Can you lock off an upline at the top of the line?
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Can you lock off an upline at the bottom of the line?
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Can you lock off an upline in the middle of the line?
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Can you tie a hanger tie into a harness?
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Can you tie a bomb knot or quick release knot?
Equipment knowledge and safety - Do you have these and know how to use them? (Yes=1, No=0)
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Do you have a rope cutter?
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What type of rope cutter do you have and why?
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Do you have a marlin spike?
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Have you actually cut a rope off of yourself or your partner for practice?
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Have you tensioned a knot and then used a tool like a marlin spike to unjam it?
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What is the difference between the working load of rope and the breaking load?
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How is rope rated and is your rope rated?
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What are different types of rope material?
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What are the common lengths and diameters of rope?
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What are different ways to whip the ends of your rope and why does it matter?
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What are ways to treat rope?
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What are ways to clean rope?
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What are signs your rope is fatigued and may break or needs to be replaced?
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What is a suspension ring and why would you want to use one?
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What are ways to attach a ring to a hard point?
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What are carabiners and what is the benefit of using them in suspension?
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What is a hard point and what are some examples of hard points?
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What are some things that are NOT hard points that people use in error and should be avoided?
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What is the difference between a dynamic load, a static load and a shock load?
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What is the plane of a rig and why should you be careful not to break it?
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What is directional force and how does it affect a rig and the attachment point?
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What are other hard point attachments that can be used in suspension bondage?
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What is a swivel and why would you want to use one?
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What are suspension straps (sometimes called climbing runners)?
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What are the risks of spinning in suspension?
Bonus skills questions - Things to try if you think you know it all already (Yes=1, No=0)
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Can you tie one handed?
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Can you tie with your non-dominate hand?
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Do you know rope pulling tips and techniques like the finger hook or finding the gaps in your tie?
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Can you tie blindfolded?
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Can you tie behind your back?
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Have you taught a basic tie to someone else?
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Have you taught an advanced tie to someone else?
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Have you taken a pattern you've learned and modified it to be even better for you or your partners style?
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Have tied to a rhythm or in time with music?
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Have you tied with your bottom staying still? With you staying still? With both of you staying still? With both of you moving?
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Have you done a transition in suspension?
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Have you attended a bottoming class to learn tips and tricks your bottom can do to make tying better and safer?
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Have you done breast bondage with rope?
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Have you done genital bondage with rope?
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Have you tied multiple body types and gender identities?
Link to original Fetlife writing