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Unread 11-04-2005, 13:17
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Mark Pettit Mark Pettit is offline
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FRC #0991 (The Dukes)
Team Role: Coach
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 177
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Re: Regional-specific rules, etc., and do the referees read the rules?

Two years in a row we have had problems during inspection that should have been non-issues but turned into stress for our team. I can't say for sure that it was due to a bias against our team, but the circumstances are a bit fishy.
Last year in LA, our inspector kept telling us that we did such and such "wrong" and how we should have done it the way he would have instead. This was not any specific rule infraction, mind you, it was simply a guy from another team that thought he was the absolute best robot designer/builder ever and that any idea that might have developed outside of his own brain was inferior. The guy could not keep his personal viewpoints to himself and he should, therefore, not have been an inspector.
This year in 'Vegas, we had a size issue that we corrected for re-inspection. Upon returning to the "box" and putting our robot inside, our inspector was about to check us off when another inspector started making a stink. Even though our robot was clearly (visibly) inside of the box, this guy was able to convince all of the inspectors present at the time that it wasn't. They even made us spin the robot around 180 degrees inside the box to see if it would(n't) fit then, it still did (last I checked, if it fits one way it would also fit the other but these guys were determined). Eventually, after several minutes of arguing, I asked to have a head inspector or supervisor make the final call. When the head inspector came over and ran the metal bar up and down the open sides of the box, he declared us "in compliance". The guy who was making a "stink" was not even our inspector.
Our team tries to remain gracious and professional, even under these circumstances. We read and understand the rules and we strive to put a legally competitive robot out on the field. However, occurrences such as these seem plentiful for us and we always tend to walk away from these with very bad tastes in our mouths.
After 5 years involvement with my team, I could not possibly remain completely impartial as a ref or judge/inspector, even in a competition where my team doesn't compete (we still have rivals). I hope that those who feel the same way will refrain from volunteering for these types of positions or at least do not become involved in a situation where your bias may play a role in your decision.
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Mark Pettit
Team #991 - The Dukes
Brophy College Preparatory
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
THE DUKES: Humans Competing In The Unlimited Class

Last edited by Mark Pettit : 12-04-2005 at 09:59. Reason: Slapped by someone of importance