[JesseK]

Specifically, the rule states that a STANDARD bumper as defined in Fig. 8-1 must be no shorter than 6 inches. Since they also do not want "hard" bumpers in the corners, you must place a vertical pool noodle to soften the corners of the side or front bumpers such that it covers the corner.

The extra vertical pool noodle that isn't part of the STANDARD bumper cannot count toward the minimum 6 inches. Though it is unfortunate, this is the only interpretation of this rule I can come up with.