[DougHogg]

Originally Posted by dlavery

This one is simple. The rules and the situation are clear and straightforward.

Redabot is in contact with the 2X ball. For the duration of that contact, the ball is considered part of Redabot. The blue alliance throws balls towards their mobile goal. The balls are deflected and prevented from entering the goal by the 2X ball (which is currently considered part of Redabot). Under Rule G20, this is clearly goaltending. Since this happens six times before the red alliance thinks enough to let go of the 2X ball or move the goal out of range, they will be penalized for each occurrence.
...
-dave

4.3.1 Definitions
GOALTENDING – A ROBOT cannot interfere with a SMALL ball on its downward flight toward a goal or within a goal.

<G20> ROBOTS cannot GOAL TEND either the Mobile or Stationary Goals. If a ROBOT GOALTENDs or de-SCORES any SMALL ball, the referee will throw a red/green or blue/green 10-point penalty flag for each occurrence.

<G21> In the case of goal tending and assisting, while the ROBOT is manipulating a large ball, it is considered an extension of the ROBOT.

I have a different viewpoint on this. Per G21, the ball is only considered an extension of the robot IN THE CASE of goal tending.

Since the blue team is attempting to retrieve the yellow ball to cap a goal, they aren't goal tending, so the yellow ball is not an extension of the robot.

It would be nice if we could just have things be black and white, but sometimes they aren't, and this is one of those cases. Part of the game is retrieving yellow balls from mobile goals. That isn't goal tending. Goal tending is blocking balls headed for a goal. Are we now supposed to decide not to retrieve yellow balls anymore so as not to "violate" a goal-tending rule? No, because that isn't the rule. And if someone is making that the rule in an effort to make things straightforward and "non lawyer-like", then in my opinion, they are making a mistake in this case. We have to protect the right of teams to legally go after the yellow balls when they are at rest on a mobile goal, as that IS part of the game. To suddenly decide that picking up a yellow ball is a violation is to change the intent of the game. Fact is, we aren't playing basketball, so basketball rules shouldn't be imported without a lot of thought as to when and where they should and shouldn't apply to our game.