Some thoughts on rules, refs, and ranking

[nicholsjj]

Originally Posted by EricH

Actually, it is. IF R1 cannot go under the pyramid, it is blockading. Or, if a third blue robot B3 was in front of the pyramid, it's blockading.

Additionally, the rule specifically calls out "to stop the flow of the match". If I were a ref, and I saw that setup (assuming B1 and B2 are not on their respective ways elsewhere), I would probably call the penalty regardless of whether R1, R2, and R3 could go under the pyramid, as B1 and B2 are attempting to blockade the field to stop the flow of the match--and the rule does not require a specific opposing robot action attempt to trigger enforcement.

The rules are not special to any individual team design. All teams had the manual and determined how to play the game. Teams like 1986, 610, and 2056 have no issue with this particular "blockkade" so why should the rule be called any different for teams that can't shrink under 29 inches. We designed our robot to be able to climb and stick out to max dimensions so that we could play some off hand defense. I think this year refs will be put in an undesirable spot just like what happened to OP.