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I just want to say that FIRST needs a better method for allowing teams to communicate with refs when it comes to these types of rulings. A red card has very strong implications for a team, particularly when it comes to alliance selection, overall rank, and future reputation.

I understand why FIRST implemented their policy about the question box and have student-only representation communicating with the ref. If I were in the ref's position I would hate to spend half my time explaining every small foul to a belligerent adult mentor.

But when it comes to red cards and the severe implications of it, I don't think we were being fairly treated here. The head ref fully ignored us for well over another match (did not acknowledge our presence in the question box until the match after us was played). When she finally did stop by, she refused to speak to the (tipped-over) alliance team's coach who was simply waiting around in the hopes to defend us. The field did not give either team an opportunity to better understand why we were being red carded (because the initial description of the ruling -- combo of yellow card and foul = red card was an incorrect interpretation of a rule) or allow us to explain ourselves.

I'm not asking for a "new" question box for mentors to argue and complain about unfair fouls. I'm asking for a resource where teams can discuss, or possibly seek appeal, for very strong field decisions such as red cards and disqualifications, possibly from a lead ref who's not as busy watching matches.