The Key and the Alley

[beiju]

Rule [G44]: "Generally, a rule violation by an Alliance that was directly caused by actions of the opposing Alliance will not be penalized. Rule [G28] is an exception to this rule."

The letter of this rule states [G28] as an exception, but the intent of that seems to be to prevent a defensive robot from blocking one in the key/alley by positioning itself so that it will get in the way, but not actually touching the offensive robot. I expect that in reality, only the robot initiating contact will be penalized — if this ever actually happens.

[chi-town-biker]

I've asked this elsewhere but I add the question on this thread too.

From Q & A we know that if a robot on the key and another in the alley touch, both alliances will score a foul. But a defensive robot may want to keep bumping the shooter not to run up the score but just to keep the shooter from making a successful shot. After all, the shooter can always move to the other side of the key. Does this violate <G45> (i.e. exploiting <G28>)?

Personally I don't think it violates <G45> because if it did the GDC would have said key trumps alley. What's your take?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by chi-town-biker

I've asked this elsewhere but I add the question on this thread too.

From Q & A we know that if a robot on the key and another in the alley touch, both alliances will score a foul. But a defensive robot may want to keep bumping the shooter not to run up the score but just to keep the shooter from making a successful shot. After all, the shooter can always move to the other side of the key. Does this violate <G45> (i.e. exploiting <G28>)?

Personally I don't think it violates <G45> because if it did the GDC would have said key trumps alley. What's your take?

My take is that it's a referee's discretion. This is a question that the GDC probably won't answer, as it is highly situationally dependent.

[farmersvilleRob]

I still don't see how this would ever happen ever.... It's way past the max appendage rule and what would both bots be doing anyway?

[chi-town-biker]

The key and the alley are 59" apart at their closest point. Two 38" robots can touch and also be in both the key and alley. For a defensive robot, it's the best location to "harrass" a robot shooting from the key. I don't know how effective a tactic it is but it could keep a shooter from making a basket or two. For a game so heavily weighted in favor of offense, I'm wondering what defenses are available.

[PayneTrain]

The sweet spot of the key is the center at the flat end anyway, and I don't see opponents in the alleyways getting over there instantaneously.

Regardless, it's a 3-point-foul on both teams, so to me, it's not a match-defining strategy.