[Ben Mitchell]

Them being volunteers does not give them a "get out of jail" free card. Hell, we are all volunteers, doing FIRST on our own time - does that mean that WE should not be held accountable for knowing the rules and abiding by them?

If volunteers want to help, they should understand the rules, and be consistant with rulings, if they are referees. If they are not "informed and competant" volunteers, they are NOT helping.

I should not have had to explain the rules to FIRST staffers at the fifth week of regionals.

Refs in professional sports play with consistant rules - why can't FIRST regionals decide on definitions of rules, or even spell the rules out?

I mean, with all due respect, how can a team be DQed for Intentional Damage, when no damage was done.

They twisted this rule

GM28
Robots may not intentionally:
· Detach Parts (no connection at all to a robot);
· Remove the lids from the containers;
· Damage another robot;
· Tip over another robot;
· Attach themselves to the ramp mesh or framing material;
· Attach themselves to the railings/walls of any field structure.


To mean: "A team can be DQed if they have an intent to do damage, even if no damage was done, and there was no proof of it being intentional, oh, and this rule only applies when the intent is directed towards disabled robots in the finals. Thanks."

Sorry, but maybe FIRST should invest time and energy to recruiting people that know the game, and can make fair judgements. I mean, many teams make potential drivers take tests on the rules of the game - why can't FIRST do the same for their referees?