[KenWittlief]

I think an appeals process would make things worse

as it stands now, the judgement of the head referee is final. If there was an appeals process, then what does that do to a 3 day competition? If someone apeals a call or decision on the second day, do we stop the whole competition until the call is appealed to a higher authority?

I was totally unaware of team 68s giant spider legs last year - I read the whole thread, and in my opinion, if the wings were deployed and a bot pushed against them, then clearly they were using the dividing bar to hold their position on the top

If I remember correctly, FIRST clarified the rules so that nothing could reach over the side - if this was in response to their bot then I take this as an indication that FIRST felt the bot failed the intent of the rules, but rather than argue sematics, they issued a ruling that made their position clear.

personally I think it was a mute point anyway, those spider arms would have a rotational torque on them and they would have twisted up like pretzels if a bot slammed into them, they would have twisted along their length (like a strand of DNA) and supplied no holding force anyway.

the bottom line for this whole issue of meeting the requirements of the rules, if there is any doubt, ask FIRST - they will tell you before you start building anything whether your idea violates the intent of the rules.

and if you really think your team is the ONLY one out of 950 to come up with your idea, and you dont ask because you are afraid of giving your idea away

well then, you are taking a big risk, your gonna win big, or lose big.