Team Update #21

[hg273]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Yes, there is really being a discussion about this. Some regional events have imposed "house rules" prohibiting the use of phones and laptops by the team representatives during alliance selection. Those rules are not supported by the Game Manual, and they are explicitly contradicted by the GDC, but they exist.

At our first regional in San Diego, we had no problem using an iPad for alliance selection.

When I got on the field for alliance selection in Oregon, I was told by the FTA to turn it off and put it away. I immediately referred him to the GDC ruling, so they went and checked the rule, after which the iPad use was ok'd. Later on in alliance selection, a team asked their head scout who to pick by using the in house mic. The MC told the captain that that was against the rules, so again, we pointed to the CDC update.

I know in Seattle, Blair expressly said that no electronics were allowed. I think this trend results mostly from personal opinions and commonly held misconceptions. As FIRST has expanded it's unfortunate that there is this much inconsistency across the regional events.