[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Peter Matteson

It was the rule in 2006 but not widely known. After we (Gallileo Champs) were eliminated by the Newton alliance we were informed that Winnovation (#1 seed, finalist alliance captain) was our backup bot and was staged to join us if necessary. It was added to the rules the following year to make it clear after our discussions at the Championship of not knowing the rule.

That's not what the rules said... (although I don't doubt that is what actually happened).

8.4.4 Backup Teams - Championship Event
8.4.4.1 Divisional Playoffs
For the purposes of illustration, assume that the three teams on any alliance going into Divisional
Playoffs are A, B, C. The Highest Seeded team in that division NOT on one of the 8 alliances is Team
D.
If at any point during the Divisional Playoffs, one of alliance teams A, B or C can't go on and the
alliance captain decides to bring up Team D to replace said robot (for this example, we'll use team C),
Team C (the replaced robot) may not play in any subsequent Divisional Playoff matches.
8.4.4.2 Einstein Playoffs
IF the above alliance wins their division and moves on to the Einstein Playoffs, at that point the
alliance can move Team C back into play in place of Team D, making Team D the backup again.
In this case, if this alliance wins the Einstein Playoffs, the Grand Champions would be teams A, B, C,
and D.
If Team C is not able to be repaired and teams A, B, and D play and win the Einstein Playoffs, the
Grand Champions would be teams A, B, C, and D.
If Team C is not able to get repaired and if one of team A, B or D gets damaged in the Einstein
Playoffs, thus creating a need for a third robot, then the alliance may bring up Team E (the highest
remaining seeded team from their division, which did not participate in the Divisional Playoffs) to
replace the damaged robot.
In this case, if the alliance with Team E wins the Einstein Playoffs, the Grand Champions will be
teams A, B, C, D, and E.
In any case, once a replacement robot is used in the Einstein Playoffs, none of the teams who sat out a
match can come back into play.