Human Player

[mechlectrician7]

What is the purpose of the two human zones (12' 10" x 2' 6") marked blue or red located on either side of the field. I understand the white zones right next to the low goals, but it is the other ones that confuse me. Any information would be helpful and appreciated.

[brndn]

My understanding is that whenever a ball is thrown out of the playing field, a volunteer returns the ball to the nearest human player of that team, but I might be wrong. Also, rule G11 states:

BALLS may not be intentionally or repeatedly ejected from gameplay.
Violation: FOUL per instance.

Passing a BALL to a HUMAN PLAYER is within gameplay and not considered a violation of G11.

Emphasis my own. I guess the human players are meant to be passed to?

[yash101]

I actually think that there isn't much to being a human player this year!

[Tem1514 Mentor]

Look at this way the human players that are on the sides of the field get a front row seat which would be really helpful in scouting. Oh dear did I just let the cat out of the bag?

The one human player at the driver station will be very busy after every cycle goal.

[MooreteP]

These balls bounce, especially with a missed shot on a goal or a failed truss pass. The human players will perform an important function in keeping the balls on the field.

Even more important is how they return the balls to the field.
If they get their alliance ball, they can return it to the area of the most capable shooter, and finish the goal.
If they get the opposing alliances ball, they could roll a ball toward the weakest alliance member or to an area where the alliance has no presence.

I cannot find a rule that says if a Blue alliance ball bounces towards a Red alliance Human Player, that they can't possess it and return it to the field in a manner that negatively affects the Blue alliance.

If this is the case, then the human player will be more important than in most past games. (See Ladder Logic, or First Frenzy for important human player roles)

I think I am starting to understand this game.

[ToddF]

Human players exist to allow truss points to be scored by alliances without a robot catcher, while maintaining control of the ball. No catch points, but the ball isn't bouncing all over the field either.

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by ToddF

Human players exist to allow truss points to be scored by alliances without a robot catcher, while maintaining control of the ball. No catch points, but the ball isn't bouncing all over the field either.

Given the geometry of the truss plane, I don't think many balls would bounce right at their Human Player. A launch commensurate with a goal shot might clear the human player and result in a foul. G11 is fuzzy. Was it a truss clear or a "pass"?

I think they are going to play a larger role.
Just trying to parse the rules to predict the permutations.

[Thad House]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

These balls bounce, especially with a missed shot on a goal or a failed truss pass. The human players will perform an important function in keeping the balls on the field.

Even more important is how they return the balls to the field.
If they get their alliance ball, they can return it to the area of the most capable shooter, and finish the goal.
If they get the opposing alliances ball, they could roll a ball toward the weakest alliance member or to an area where the alliance has no presence.

I cannot find a rule that says if a Blue alliance ball bounces towards a Red alliance Human Player, that they can't possess it and return it to the field in a manner that negatively affects the Blue alliance.

If this is the case, then the human player will be more important than in most past games. (See Ladder Logic, or First Frenzy for important human player roles)

I think I am starting to understand this game.

I highly doubt that the refs would hand a ball to the other teams human player, because thats a tech foul according to G12. The refs would not cause a tech foul.

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by sst.thad

I highly doubt that the refs would hand a ball to the other teams human player, because thats a tech foul according to G12. The refs would not cause a tech foul.

I don't think refs will be involved in returning balls to the field. With a truss cross going out of bounds, the field personnel would most likely just return the ball in bounds near where it left. If the truss crosses repeatedly go out of bounds.....

I would like to see a Q&A on a blue ball bouncing at a red alliance human player and how they return it. Or even how they would return their own ball to the play field.

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by yash101

I actually think that there isn't much to being a human player this year!

I completely disagree.

Originally Posted by Tem1514 Mentor

Look at this way the human players that are on the sides of the field get a front row seat which would be really helpful in scouting. Oh dear did I just let the cat out of the bag?

The one human player at the driver station will be very busy after every cycle goal.

Look at the parenthesis of G38. Who says that the human players MUST be in separate areas? Why can't they all behind the alliance station for example? Or one in a human player area on the side of the field, and the other two in the alliance station. Have one man the pedestal, and the other being a 'communicator' between the alliance drive teams, and the screen above the wall to make sure all assists are counted. Make the most of what your given. Just because they're called 'human players' doesn't mean they can't act like the 'analyst' from 2011. When life gives you chocolate powder...add some of your own hot water and make some hot cocoa!

[FrankJ]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

I cannot find a rule that says if a Blue alliance ball bounces towards a Red alliance Human Player, that they can't possess it and return it to the field in a manner that negatively affects the Blue alliance.

G32 Strategies employing HUMAN PLAYER actions to deflect opponents’ BALLS are not allowed.
Violation: TECHNICAL FOUL

I think you want to avoid touching the opponent's ball. Even being helpful & keeping the ball in bounds.

[DStetzing]

The rule about not passing from one human player to another, does it imply that there can be two human players in the same area? Or do they have to all be in the three different areas?

[FrankJ]

Obviously one human player needs to be in the alliance station to inbound balls.
I can't think of reason you would want two human players in on zone. It might slow in bounding a ball.

[BBray_T1296]

If you have two robots that don't interface well (for whatever reason), One robot could pass to the human and then they could drop it into the other robot, completing an assist. At least, I think an (1) assist can come from robot>human>robot combos. Maybe I am wrong though

[TruBlu13]

Originally Posted by ToddF

Human players exist to allow truss points to be scored by alliances without a robot catcher, while maintaining control of the ball. No catch points, but the ball isn't bouncing all over the field either.

I don't think a human player can score truss points.

3.1.4 Scoring
Points are awarded once per CYCLE for BALLS SCORED by ROBOTS in the GOALS, BALLS SCORED by ROBOTS over the TRUSS,and for each ROBOT CATCH. Additional points are credited to an ALLIANCE up on each GOAL base on the number of ASSISTS earned by the ALLIANCE for that CYCLE.

My understanding is that means that the human can't make any truss points because that was one of my first thoughts.