[Jon Stratis]

Joe - the requirement that the robot be in the bag really comes from R18 - the fabricated items you bring with outside of the bag you are for repair/upgrade of the ROBOT - this clearly implies that those fabricated items are not the actual ROBOT. So if you can't bring the robot in as a fabricated item under R18 (as it would not be a repair/upgrade for the ROBOT), then it either has to come in the bag or not at all.

At this point, my statements are personal opinion - I am not a part of the GDC. However, I believe it is in the intent of the rules that the robot is bagged, and not carried into the competition outside of the bag. I can tell you that if a team did have their robot outside of the bag (but kept it under 45 lbs), then as an LRI I would have to deal with the situation. That would include a discussion with the FTA and the head ref, and probably a phone call to HQ (baring any preexisting ruling from the GDC in a team update or Q&A).

We have a very difficult job of both enforcing the rules (telling teams they did something wrong and there's a penalty for it) and providing an environment where the kids are inspired (getting them on the field and playing as best they can). In a case where a team violates a major rule (for example, never bagging their robot and carrying it in unbagged), how do you enforce the rules without driving those students away from FIRST and everything we're trying to accomplish?