[meaubry]

Yes, Deepwater is correct -
The way the rules have been distributed in the past at the kickoff, didn't assure year to year continuity. What was legal one year didn't necessarily mean it would be legal the next.

When purchasing material or parts, there is that risk that must be considered.

I have advocated that rules that do not impact the game, but might impact the way a team functions outside of the time from Kickoff to Championship event, should be posted on the FIRST FRC website - and not included each year in the rule book at the kickoff.

There are plenty of those type of "standing" non-game dependent rules that could be communicated and managed with effective dates for subsequent revisions, regardless of when those revisions occur. All of the rules do not need to be rolled out at the kickoff, and in some cases (like the one you are posting about) it would be good to know what teams could, and what teams shouldn't, plan on doing in advance.

Mike Aubry