Quote:
Originally Posted by Boltman
Visibility is much less than in previous years take last 2 or most games ...basically open courts much easier to see protected zones with static features.
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There are at least 6 refs stationed along the side of the field, so they should have a MUCH better vantage point than the drivers to see the OUTER WORKS. If Refs are having trouble determining if robot are within protected zones, that's a much bigger deal than just whether or not you'll get the call when shooting.
I 100% agree it's on the teams to make it obvious they're within the OUTER WORKS, but a robot within the zone is within the zone, period. If a ref can't see that, it's an issue, shooter or not. There's no "priority" for a call. A robot with bumpers in the zone is TRAVERSING by definition of the rules, regardless of whether or not it's traversing (moving) in a colloquial sense. If refs can't see that occurance, that's a much larger problem than just for shooters trying to shoot from a protected region. Several robots will want to move into the protection of the OUTER WORKS before deploying or moving mechanisms to help them get across the obstacles.
For what it's worth, determining protection should be
easier this year than in the past, since the refs aren't trying to determine robot contact with a patch or a tape line on the floor with the perspective of looking halfway across the field with parallax. There should be at least two refs with a direct line of sight down the planes which determine the start of the outer works.
Time will tell. Palmetto was a very early event, I expect as more refs experience and give feedback on the game, FIRST head refs will improve the guidance to their teams on best operating procedures and how to call things.