[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by Gary Dillard

2 reasons:

1) <G29> POSSESSING Opponent’s TRACKBALLS - ROBOTS may not be in the POSSESSION of a TRACKBALL belonging to an opposing ALLIANCE. A PENALTY will be assigned for each violation. HERDING of an opponent’s TRACKBALL and removing an opponent’s TRACKBALL from the OVERPASS is permitted.

So, you can't possess the other alliance's ball, but you can herd it. But:

<G10> Each TRACKBALL that has CROSSED its own FINISH LINE while not in contact with a ROBOT of the same ALLIANCE will earn 2 points.

So, if you herd your opponents' ball around the track (and therefore across their finish line) you are scoring 2 pts for them, which offset the 2 pts you score for crossing your own finish line.

If you're already in the lead (and can herd the ball very well), that might be useful though; it would drive up your RPs. Hurdlers still can't get the ball and the match score increases equally for both alliances, so the net effect is the same (assuming you can keep control of the ball).