[smurfgirl]

Unfortunately, it happens. There can be a lot going on at once on the field and refs are human, we can miss things and make mistakes. The rules don't allow video evidence, so there is no way to apply that. If mistakes are recognized, they are generally corrected at regional events, but in my experience, it seems that at the highest levels at the championship, there are no match replays - for "the sake of the show".

All the way back in 2008, my FRC team experienced what I believe was an unfair call on Einstein. I talked to the Head Ref about it and he agreed with my interpretation, but he told me that's just how it goes - they don't do replays on Einstein because it ruins the flow of the show.

I won't tell you that wasn't upsetting to me, because it was, but ultimately it didn't take anything away from what I got out of my experience in FIRST. You just have to move past it. If anything, let your experience inspire you to become a volunteer - it's hard to appreciate everything that goes on behind the scenes until you've been there yourself.

Edit: To be clear, I am not trying to excuse ignoring bad calls that change the outcomes of matches and tournaments. But at this point, I have recognized that I have no power to change the way it's done at the Championship. In my experience at Regionals and Districts, everyone has been quite reasonable in recognizing when a mistake has been made and remedying it.