Re: Team Update #21
 

At our first regional in San Diego, we had no problem using an iPad for alliance selection.

When I got on the field for alliance selection in Oregon, I was told by the FTA to turn it off and put it away. I immediately referred him to the GDC ruling, so they went and checked the rule, after which the iPad use was ok'd. Later on in alliance selection, a team asked their head scout who to pick by using the in house mic. The MC told the captain that that was against the rules, so again, we pointed to the CDC update.

I know in Seattle, Blair expressly said that no electronics were allowed. I think this trend results mostly from personal opinions and commonly held misconceptions. As FIRST has expanded it's unfortunate that there is this much inconsistency across the regional events.

Re: Team Update #21
 

I think the issue is that in prior years, electronic and other aids were expressly disallowed in the rules. For quite a number of years, actually. There's a lot of people in FIRST who've been doing this a long time and you tend to get certain rules and things stuck in your head after five years and dozens of regionals all working the same.

That, and as awesome as Blair is, I don't know if he and other MC's are following the updates and Q&A as religiously as some most teams do. So what's probably called for is better internal communication on FIRST's side, with a primer and important updates being distributed to MC's and others that aren't necessarily keeping up with the in-season rule changes.

Re: Team Update #21
 

Bottomline, if you (your team) wants to use a phone/iTOuch/iPad/laptop/etc. use it. When you send your team rep up, they can have whatever they want with them. In addition, have them bring your team copy of the rules (this is assuming your team has an updated set of rules, which you should), and make sure the person is ready to pull the rule and update out. If you have that, then the head ref will go over and pull out his rules and confer with you, and it should be fine. Just make sure you're polite with it. There's a reason they came up with the update, and I doubt anyone will run into any more problems because the head refs will probably be notified about this latest update.

Re: Team Update #21
 

Any issues during week 6?

Re: Team Update #21
 

Our team went up with a laptop during alliance selections (although it died half way through) and there was at least one team on the phone during the entire selection process.

Re: Team Update #21
 

I and my lead strategy counterpart on our 1st pick team (thanks MOE) texted our reps throughout the process. Didn't face any problems, and I don't think we were the only ones. Definitely helps when rushing to weigh the scouting for that second-to-last pick!

Re: Team Update #21
 

Like.

Re: Team Update #21
 

Sounds good to me... perhaps you should have this rule on a piece of paper.. and not on a "illegal" electronic device....but hmmmm doesn't that give you an advantage? or if your team did scouting doesn't that give you an advantage... ???
So if a student has to wear glasses... isn't that something that gives you an advantage...

maybe we should just determine alliances randomly....

NOTE: My comment in this post is
SARCASM.... not intended to be taken seriously...

By the way I have all of the rules on a Kindle...
I am hoping that someone will post the entire QA in a PDF format so it would be available... it could come in handy...

see you in St. Louis!!

Re: Team Update #21
 

Following the final Qualification match in Philly, there was an announcement specifically allowing Laptops on the field during Alliance Selections.

Initially, one of the people managing the Queuing line for Selections told all teams that Cell Phones must be turned off during selections - this was later reversed and Phones were allowed during selections, and our Representative was not hassled for having a Blue Tooth Headset in his ear, at all.

Re: Team Update #21
 

As of a month ago: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...11#post1043511

Re: Team Update #21
 

VCU's only 'house rule' like this was a no cell phones in the queue. Since I was on the phone talking to my fiancee about what to do about my dog, I don't think I gained a competitive advantage other than a "good luck". I told the queuer that there wasn't a rule about the queing line, yet she refused ... eventually I leaned over the railing to finish the call and they were fine with that. 6" is a bit pedantic to be honest, even for a "house rule".