Chief Delphi - NOT Blocking the ball deposits

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- - NOT Blocking the ball deposits (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23783)

Re: Blocking the ball deposits

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Derbyshire

Ok so your saying by definition of this rule if a team blocks every inch of a ball chute except for 13inches that is fine? That to me is blocking but in the rules I read that it isn't cuse a team possesses the capability of scoring therefore there is no blocking. Go ahead and tell me the idea does not exemplify gracious professionalism and in three months I'll point you to a team that thought it was with medals around their neck. I don't think personally the strategy is a good idea however, I know that there are teams out year that live on the vague rules of FIRST and exploit them and I really don't think the rule in Team Update 1 really did anything to stop a robot from controlling the ball chutes. Another question I pose to the forum is where do you draw the line as to where blocking a ball chute occurs. For example Robot A extends winds across the field but he's a good 10ft away from the ball chutes is that still considered blocking? I think a definition for blocking and blocked need to be added this year so these vague rules don't get circumvented and the wall bots begin to rule the stages on saturday.

My definition of blocking:

Obstucting passage.

So... if you are at all obstructing the passage of balls through the shoots and into the HP booth, you are BLOCKING the ball chute.

Seems relatively straightforward.

There will be no circumventing of rules.
There will be no "blurry definitions" if everyone just uses COMMON SENSE and Gracious Profesionalism.

Sometimes I wonder if anybody actually watched the kickoff.

Common sense folks...
Refs will be using common sense when they make the calls.

John

Re: Blocking the ball deposits

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Derbyshire

.... I think a definition for blocking and blocked need to be added this year so these vague rules don't get circumvented and the wall bots begin to rule the stages on saturday.

Todd,

*sigh* I feel like I am beating a dead horse at this point... but this concept is very important, so I will try again:

There is a law that says you may not block a highway exit ramp. For this law I think the general public understands that the intent is not to impede passage on that ramp at all. I don't think you would tell a policeman "Well, I am not blocking the whole ramp, I am only blocking 1/2 of it".

When FIRST says that you may not block a (second) Ball Chute, the intent is that players understand that it means not to block it at all. If someone appeals to a ref "Well, I am not blocking the whole Chute, I am only blocking 1/2 of it", I don't expect they will get very far. Partial blocking is still blocking.

The refs will be instructed in the same manner that the teams were: It is the intent of the rule that is paramount - not technical dissection of the rule.

:)

Aidan