We recently completed our competition season (and had a great time!) - but had some questions regarding how reffing is typically handled, specifically regarding scoring and the questioning process. I'm not really looking for what the process "should be", I'm trying to understand what it is today and how decisions are really made. Ideally I'd like input from refs, and field volunteers.
It was confusing to me as a first time drive coach and mentor and I want to know how to best guide my team in handling these situations. If you do make "should be" comments - let's all keep them constructive. I know I appreciate the hard work all of the refs, judges, and volunteers and know it's not an easy job.
Specifically, if a match is replayed or re-scored due to a field fault or foul, is there any specific criteria needed to allow that re-match or re-scoring? Or is it entirely subjective? If it is subjective, who makes that decision: the head ref, the team of refs, the field crew?
Situation 1: I recall one situation where a field part fell off and "pinned" a robot for a short time. Should that have been a rematch or not? In either case, what is an appropriate response to a questioning student?
Situation 2: Pedestal light times (I know there has been a lot of conversation on this). What criteria has been used to call rematches? Is there some indicator on the field system that something didn't work right? I've heard teams say their pedestals didn't light quickly enough, and I've also heard counter arguments that the ball hadn't completely passed the plane of the goal slot, which isn't visible by the team waiting for the ball usually. What specific events would allow a ref to call a rematch based on only that much information?
Situation 3: A series of fouls are noted by teams of both alliances during a game. The score is displayed with fouls (but which specific foul was not noted during announcement) and one team goes back later to question it. The score was changed at some even later time (after a few matches) but with no announcement to that fact. The team is only informed via FRCSpyder and then goes to question it, where they are informed that they missed the allotted time to question the ruling.
I would have expected the team could see a copy of a scoring sheet with a determination of what specific foul was called, and what was contested and why it was changed (but were only provided with final scores).
Further, in talking to the teams on both alliances, each team had a different specific foul that they thought was scored and then retracted. In this situation we certainly left confused, with 3 different possibilities but no one knew for certain.
So, what is the best way to handle these situations?
Thank you all for your help and guidance!
