[Paul Copioli]

The biggest problem I see is that each year the refs are told to "really enforce" certain rules. Normally these rules deal with human interaction. Last year the refs were really harping on the human player not going into certain places, not dropping the bins on their side, etc. I thought it was a bit too much focus on something that didn't influence the game (or safety) so much, except for HPs jumping over the rail.

This year there were 2 major rules I noticed the refs looking at:

1. Robots breaking plane - I see the intent, but the way it was enforced was just plain silly. Not to mention the fact that a goal could be placed nearly 1 foot into the goal opening with no penalty. The reasons the goals weren't penalized have been explained, but it is still silly.

2. "Foot Fouls" - This isn't bowling people. Why were the refs so intent on calling penalties if you stepped over the back line?

These two rules took away four refs from looking at other, more important, parts of play.

Pushing, bumping, and ramming will happen. The repeated ramming that is going un-penalized is getting a bit absurd. Teams are playing within the rules actually given to them (since the written words are vague, at best. Read "INTENTIONAL" - what a joke). I am a big fan for defense, but not battlebots. I guarantee that if a team gets penalized (I mean points actually deducted) for ramming they will not do it again. How many times did it take you losing by 5 points to tell your driver to stay at least 6 inches away from the corral?

Some final thoughts:

1. I do not think that every time a team gets tipped it should be penalized.

2. I do not think that every time a team gets ran into and they break, it shoulld be penalized.

3. I DO think the refs need to look at different parts of play than they have the last few years.

4. I DO think the rules should be written and enforced consistently.

-Paul