|
Re: Call Inconsistencies Between Regionals
If a team recognizes that a rule is not being applied correctly, like <G14> (Trackball partially supported by the overpass at the end-of-match) at SVR, it is their duty to make the refs aware of the correct ruling. I've read in the SVR Regional thread that this rule was consistently mis-applied throughout SVR but, somehow, the refs weren't made aware of the issue until after the Finals-3 match.
Who's fault is that? Why didn't a team affected by this error in an earlier match "camp" in the challenge box until it was resolved? There is a ruling appeals process that starts with the head ref, then FTA, then FIRST authorities. There's a field-side rulebook with FIRST Q&A Forum responses appended for reference. If the team is told "even if we reverse the call, it won't affect the result", that's no reason to accept an incorrect ruling. As we've seen, the problem can and most likely will resurface. The business of making "consistent calls" is OK for judgment calls (like what defines "incidental contact" between robots), but not outright changing of the rules.
I wouldn't bash refs if teams are just "rolling over" and accepting incorrect applications of the rules. If you are told to "cease" your protest to keep the game flow moving, please make sure that the FTA or other authority is at least aware that an issue has been identified...before you walk away. The challenge box is there for a reason, you have a right to appeal, don't give it away.
There's an adage I often hear in my business: "silence is concurrence".
If something is wrong and you don't speak up, don't expect the problem to magically disappear.
__________________
"There's never enough time to do it right, but always time to do it over."
2003 AZ: Semifinals, Motorola Quality; SoCal: Q-finals, Xerox Creativity; IRI: Q-finals
2004 AZ: Semifinals, GM Industrial Design; SoCal: Winners, Leadership in Controls; Championship: Galileo #2 seed, Q-finals; IRI: Champions
2005 AZ: #1 Seed, Xerox Creativity; SoCal: Finalist, RadioShack Controls; SVR: Winners, Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technologies"; Championship: Archimedes Semifinals; IRI: Finalist
2007 LA: Finalist; San Diego: Q-finals; CalGames: Finalist || 2008 San Diego: Q-finals; LA: Winners; CalGames: Finalist || 2009 LA: Semifinals; Las Vegas: Q-finals; IRI: #1 Seed, Finalist
2010 AZ: Motorola Quality; LA: Finalist || 2011 SD: Q-finals; LA: Q-finals || 2013 LA: Xerox Creativity, WFFA, Dean's List Finalist || 2014 IE: Q-finals, LA: Finalist, Dean's List Finalist
2016 Ventura: Q-finals, WFFA, Engineering Inspiration
|