[FTC]: FTC Rules Question - Shooting

[Matthew Blake]

Hi, I have a quick question regarding contact with opposing teams crates/crate stacks.

In the rules, we found that rule SG6 states:
"Making contact with an opposing alliance's parked ball crate or stack while in its protected area and/or home zone is not allowed and will result in a major penalty(40 points)."

If we were to contact the opposing alliance's crates with balls through a shooter mechanism, would this violate rule SG6?

Thanks!

[Andrew Remmers]

Originally Posted by Matthew Blake

Hi, I have a quick question regarding contact with opposing teams crates/crate stacks.

In the rules, we found that rule SG6 states:
"Making contact with an opposing alliance's parked ball crate or stack while in its protected area and/or home zone is not allowed and will result in a major penalty(40 points)."

If we were to contact the opposing alliance's crates with balls through a shooter mechanism, would this violate rule SG6?

Thanks!

You just said it yourself

If we were to contact the opposing alliance's crates with balls through a shooter mechanism, would this violate rule SG6?

I know as a ref I would look through the rule book for that ruling, however I think the standing with most of the refs down here would probably said it would be contacted by your alliance, thus giving you a 40 point penalty. However I will talk with some people about this one to see if it would be considered "illegal", but at first glance it seems TOTALLY illegal.


Here is what I tell teams who want to have strategies aimed at that.

"If the GDC put a 40 point penalty on it, they don't ever want you to consider doing that."

Hope this helps,

- Andrew

[Matthew Blake]

If you get any new info please tell!

Thank you!

[maths222]

I believe that is incorrect. The only time a team may be called for hitting an opponent's crate while it is being carried is if the robot itself touches the crate. If the robot causes a field element to hit a crate, there should be no penalty unless field damage or robot damage results.

[Matthew Blake]

So is the rule implying direct contact (robot to robot) or any kind of contact that may be caused by the robot by manipulating field elements?

[team F.T.C 4240]

If you shoot balls at a crate in the safe zone, and it gets knocked down and it changes the score, im positive you will get a 40 point penalty or get disqualified (depends on the ref). ITS CALLED A SAFE ZONE, I wouldn't mess with it. Its a good strategy, but its not worth the risk of disqualification.

[normalmutant]

You could probably get away with it, but would it really be worth it? It may be more worth your while to make a really solid arm or lift to out-score your opponents. If you bank too much on defensive strategy, you only have your alliance partner to score, and they may or may not be good. It's a little risky with the refs, and risky on the field.
...We actually had the same idea, but decided against it.