[jds2001]

From what I understand, balls are placed on the pedestal by the field crew, and only when the pedestal is lit up may a team retrieve the ball and place it in play. After a ball is scored, I would guess that the field team retrieves it (being that it will end up in the alliance station) and place it on the pedestal (or out of play if there's already one there).

My interpretation of G39 (obviously far from official) is that people may not switch places during a MATCH. In other words, you can't exchange your HUMAN PLAYER and your DRIVER in the course of a MATCH.

One thing that I don't see mentioned is where the COACH must start. Presumably, if they started in the HUMAN PLAYER AREA (not sure why you'd do that, but there seems to be no rules against that), they would be prohibited from moving to the ALLIANCE STATION by G39.