[ColleenShaver]

We just decide on the robot we want to build for the game, and build it. We learn the rules and design around anything that would be a blatent rule violation.

When things are questionable (for instance, we used cables last year to grab the goals, could be considered an entanglement hazard), we figure out if we can defend it against the rules and then build. For instance, we made CAD drawings of our robot showing that even with the cables fully extended, it was impossible for a robot to get entangled, even if it may look so on the field.

Basically, don't blatently violate any rules. If you question the legality of something you post the question to FIRST, and/or play devil's advocate with members of your team to try and answer your own questions.

The key is just making sure everyone on your team is aware of the rules and they are being interpreted relatively the same way, then you shouldn't have much of a problem.