[meaubry]

All - I also am not aware of any rule regarding coaches and the autonomous starting line. In fact a Q&A on the FIRST site responded that coaches may go any where within the boundaries - that is why there isn't 3 separate sections.
A coach, clearly, cannot touch the controls - but a foot violation of a rule that doesn't exist?
Please - someone must stop this kind of activity. It doesn't do anyone any good to get a penalty for a rule that is made up by someone without FIRST sanctioning the new rule and posting it for everyone's awareness.
Until it is cleared up - every coach out there must now ask the ref's watching the drivers station what they intend on calling. There are much bigger issues out there, those that make a difference or give a competitive advantage. Rule violations and penalties for actions like this MUST stop.
During our first competition we had to request clarity as to when the drivers could touch the controls. The clock timer on the display at the end of the field or the sound of the bells? Once that was understood, the drivers foot position before autonomous ended was the focus of attention - but never, never, never, in all the years that I have coached, has there been a rule about where the coach can put their feet.
It is up to us to request clear communication - alter behaviour accordingly. Bring up the concerns and issues in an appropriately profession manner and hope that FIRST steps in and assists the ref's in understanding and executing only those that they have sanctioned.
Can anyone please tell us what was the rationale used for calling the violation? Bharat or Lisa?? I don't doubt your word, but can you give first hand dialog between the ref that called it and the coach it was called on?
And - the ruling about tetra positioning was correct at Buckeye (you can't use the goal or playing field to position the tetra) - only your robot.