Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Smith
As far as I know, this was the period in which it was called (2:08-2:20). I cannot claim to be an impartial observer (3005 coach), but our team also didn't initiate any sort of request to the refs for review.
I believe the call would have been a G12, with the specific penalty being "trapping".
To me, it is pretty clear that the red robot recognized the ball was cornered against the low goal, and at least once, was touching the blue ball with the blue ball pinned between the player station and low goal. I would argue it was strategic, it was consequential to the match, but it wasn't extended, as red would trap, then break off the wall to push away. There isn't a "5 second rule" on possession like there is on things like pinning another robot though.
There was a previous match where something similar was done to us, but the opponent robot never directly pinned the ball. In the previous match, they maintained a 3-5 ft buffer off the ball, and essentially screened our rookie driver away from the ball for 30 seconds. We did challenge this (because I couldn't see the 3 ft. of space from 50+ feet away), and the refs said it wasn't trapping because there was sufficient space for us to maneuver around (correct call, IMO).
We did get a little better at breaking this tactic, and the driver was instructed to essentially ride the player station wall to push red away from the ball, then deal with the ball directly.
I would also go out on a limb and say this sort of "trapping" is somewhat reasonable in the context of defense, and could be considered a 20 point foul after the latest update... whereas a robot pinning the ball against the wall for 5+ seconds might be the flagrant sort of foul where a technical would be called.
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My issue is that I wouldn't consider the ball trapped there. In your other example where there was no penalty, the reasoning was that there was space to maneuver around and get the ball. In this case where there was a penalty, there was certainly still space to go around by the driver station wall, because the blue driver did so and got to the ball. As for touching the ball and holding it against the wall, I see the red robot tap the ball once in a situation that looks like the driver just forgot which was side of the robot was forward.
Ultimately, none of this matters because the rule change would most likely make this a smaller penalty. At the time I posted I was just worried because I'd absolutely want a team to play like 3735 did here if they were in the same situation. I'm sure your driver can attest to how annoying it was. I also thought it was a bit strange that the head ref called this from across the field, not the ref right by that low goal (as you said, it's hard to see gaps from across the field). The part we can't see however is what is being said over the radio.