Re: Human player making baskets
 

They could make a basket but it is definitly not easier to make it than a regulation size basketball because it weights a lot less and also the pressure at the competition.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

As from my knowledge of being on the Girls high school basketball team and the human player it is easier to throw the FIRST basketball, than a regulation size girls ball.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

I saw a few baskets and near misses at the week zero I attended, and I by no means saw all the matches.

It can and will happen. I'm not sure if it will swing too many matches, but the potential exists. I'd have been happier if it wasn't allowed. My concern is less that it will swing matches and more that in the last 30 seconds there will be a lot of stuff going on- bridges rocking back and forth and robots taking last shots. Adding a flurry of human player shots to the mix seems like it made things even more confusing.

I guess it's a fairly minor complaint in what is otherwise shaping up to be a pretty good game. Time will tell...

Re: Human player making baskets
 

Good thread revival. I was skeptical at first, but our guys make shots all the time. It's not the majority, but it's enough to see a couple during breaks. Definitely more than could be made with a regulation ball..

No offense meant, but isn't basketball also a high-pressure competition?

Re: Human player making baskets
 

yes basketball is a high-pressure competition

Re: Human player making baskets
 

At the very least you got to go for it. Worst case you get a foul, otherwise you miss and the ball is closer to the alliance.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

Why do you think there's a possibility of a foul?
The other part is important, though; even if you don't get it in the basket, throwing a ball to the other side of the field could give your robot enough time to pick it up and score, while coming back probably wouldn't be possible in under 30 seconds.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

Well I was thinking of this rule:

[G13]
Basketballs may not be intentionally placed out of bounds. Basketballs that inadvertently exit the Court will be placed back on the Court approximately at the point of exit, at the earliest safe opportunity, by Court staff.
Violation: Foul

Worst case, you launch it over the other end or side of the Arena and the Ref calls you on it. It depends on the interpretation.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

Keep in mind, there is a limited number of balls. Teams will need to determine if their human player or their robot can make more shots. This is not like last year, when tubes were esentially unlimited and the human players threw without a stop.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

Actually quite the opposite is true. Last year each HP only had 3 sets of tubes to throw and there was no way to get them back once they were on the field. This year, the balls cycle through continuously so they can be returned, in theory, an unlimited number of times.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

I think if it was obvious that you were trying to score, the refs would not judge that you were "intentionally" shooting them out of bounds unless you were really, really bad...:p

Re: Human player making baskets
 

That's why I said worst case...I hope no one's that bad.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

This is a perennial rule (regardless of game piece), and I've never called, seen it called, or had it called on me in this fashion. (And some people really are that bad...sometimes they're us.) Maybe someone else has had a different experience?

Who threw non-stop in 2011? Granted, there are some situations in which it was strategically advantageous (e.g. overwhelming scoring capacity), but it was hardly a usual benefit. Sure there were twice the number of tubes, but they didn't cycle, averaged a shorter distance, were harder to score by humans, and could only be possessed one at a time.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

I can see some teams putting their lone jocks as the human player this year just to try for those points. The only disadvantage i see to it is that they have 54' to throw it and over their inbounder station. Its highly unlikely but props to the teams who actually can make that shot.

Re: Human player making baskets
 

from 2009 experience we decided this would be important at kickoff. we stole a basketball player and locked him in a closet with a hoop and some basketballs.