[Greg McCoy]

I agree with the two posts above me.

I understand the fields are already built and we've been playing with these rules for 4-5 weeks, but the only way to truly protect the drivers is a taller wall or ceiling over the operator station. It doesn't seem to me that this would change the game play too much. I think it would make matches more enjoyable with less disabled robots and more safety. In my opinion, FIRST also needs to better protect the volunteers and workers on the side of the field who seem less protected than even the drivers.

If it were my call, I would only disable a robot if there was "a clear and present danger" to the operators on the other side. Nevertheless, I understand the rules and the calls which were made at Midwest; and I really enjoy this game even though it seems like a bad idea to put scoring objectives so dangerously close to humans (both the goals and the loading stations).