[dhitchco]

We're a rookie team and have been to two regionals thus far (Rochester-Finger Lakes and Cleveland-Buckeye). We're off to Toronto this weekend.

At both regionals, we've witnessed tetras outside the palying field on all FOUR sides. Although I didn't see a tetra being dropped from above the playing staion wall, I did see several tetras being "flung" off to the sides of the field. A couple of times, a tetra "broke apart" when being dropped onto a goal (still counted if seated properly) but the loose parts were in and outside the field of play.

Everyone just needs to watch out. For the drivers, hard hats aren't such a bad idea and can be "fun" as well. The team coach standing behind the two drivers can also watch out for flying tetras if such an event were to occur. Call it an "occupational hazard". FIRST can't predict everything that possible "might" happen, so we all need to share the responsibility of safety.

Yes, I agree that if a robot is FLAGRENTLY dangling a tetra over the wall of the driver station, there should be a penalty, but NOT disabled. If a robot is holding a tetra high and gets hit from behind which causes the tetra to fly over the wall, the coaches and field attendants should simply be ON THEIR TOES to watch. That's about all that can be done this year.

In th real world, a lot of stuff just happens.....Be safe; the world is a jungle.