[pyroslev]

I'm gonna take a balance at this from the perspective of the game and then within/context FIRST.

Game
In the context of it on the field, it is a major game changer. It completely altered the way a team is ranked and way alliances work together/against each other. It's the wild card element to it all.

When it comes to teams interfering with balancing, a foul/penalty is needed. However, the question is against who, what extent, etc. Any points that would come from a balanced coop bridge could be withheld from the team that attempted to interfere with balancing as well as a foul for each instance of contact. Even a possible disablement for belligerency in their attempts.

With the third week of play getting underway in less than 48 hours, this all just a discussion as applying penalties or such rules at this point would stir the pool up.

So yes, there should be a penalty.

As it applies to FIRST

The bridge is in short the spirit of FIRST competition. One of the biggest stigmas/mindsets we all have to break when we explain what we do is we are not battle bots. The coop bridge is an easy way to point to someone who's watching a match and say watch. If two robots balance on it and the crowd cheers, they're gonna ask what happened. The bridge and coopertition shows that even though these teams are against each other, you can still work together towards a goal.

The goal bridge, in a physical manifestation, could be considered Gracious Professionalism in a simple form that anyone can see and serve as the seed to a conversation about who we are and why we do this.