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Unread 27-01-2011, 16:50
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Bob Steele Bob Steele is offline
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FRC #1983 (Skunk Works Robotics)
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Re: Safety Zone on Playing Field

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Lucas View Post
In a related "Egregious breaking the rules to gain a strategic advantage" example:

In 2008 (Overdrive), did anyone actually possess an opponent's trackball for an extended period of time to keep them from hurdling at the cost of 1 penalty?

That strategy was discussed, but I dont think anyone actually tried it. There certainly was a risk of a Yellow or Red Card for this egregious behavior.

Hitting an opponent in their zone to break up a Logo is basically the same as intentionality possessing an opponent's trackball in '08. If you are going to intentionality take a penalty, why wait till they have almost completed a Logo? Why don't you just spend the entire match playing D in their zone? It is only 1 penalty in both cases, right?

Strategies like this is the reason the refs have/need the authority to issue cards to discourage any behavior they judge to be out of line (regardless of whether a card is specified in the rules). Break any rule and you can be carded.

I am not a ref but if I was this would be my policy on the matter (and I would make it clear at the driver's meeting):
If your robot is entirely outside of the zone and the opponent is entirely inside their zone there is clearly no legal defense you can play on them. If you then drive into their zone and contact the opposing robot, that is egregious and an automatic Yellow Card.
Too harsh? Remember, a Yellow Card is just a warning, so don't do it again. If it was a mistake, you should not have put yourself in a situation to make that mistake. Next time, stay behind the caution line (it is there to warn you "cross at your own risk").

Perhaps drivers need ask for a clarification of this possible situation at the driver's meeting. I expect all the competition teams in FIRST to read, understand and not intentionally break the rules of the game. I know this expectation will never be met by every competition team but I still expect it.
I believe that the possessing a trackball penalty was tried in Atlanta against FRC1114/FRC217/148 in the quarterfinals in their division (Galileo)... I can't remember what happened.... anyone remember that? I know they went through I don't remember the penalties assessed.. One team held onto the other teams ball for the whole match..and also trapped the 2nd ball against the wall for most of it...

Of course they went on to win the whole thing regardless of this attempted use of the penalty to stop them...

They were a juggernaut that year...
I guess some teams thought this was the only way to beat them..
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