Is it possible to score a ball without POSSESSing it?

[Gregor]

Every shove into the low goal that I've seen has either been a trap or a herd, which both constitute as possession.

Originally Posted by FrankJ

I would think the if the intent to score the ball was there, it would be a possession. An accidental deflection wouldn't be. It would be a judgment call by the referees.

Could you cite a rule on that...

[FrankJ]

G12 and the glossary is where possession is defined. Herding is defined as multiple hits. Bulldozing (one hit while traveling to A to B) is not a possession. So one hit with the intention to put the ball in the goal is not really defined since it is not bulldozing or herding. Deflection is defined as not a possession.

So no I cannot site a rule where this is clearly defined hence it is the referee's interpretation of the rule of possession.

In terms of the game. This is an area that should be thoroughly covered in the driver's meeting so your drivers know how what counts as possession both in terms of scoring & avoiding penalties.

[Clinton Bolinger]

Another example:

Match 61 - Kettering District

The last Cycle which included 3 assist for the Blue Alliance was removed from the score after the match (31 points) because the refs claimed that a blue robot did not possess the ball when the ball went into the goal. However, there was no trapping or possession called on the Red Alliance for this action either.

http://youtu.be/_0DL5Tp-1GM?t=1m15s

Thoughts?

-Clinton-

[pntbll1313]

Originally Posted by Clinton Bolinger

Another example:

Match 61 - Kettering District

The last Cycle which included 3 assist for the Blue Alliance was removed from the score after the match (31 points) because the refs claimed that a blue robot did not possess the ball when the ball went into the goal. However, there was no trapping or possession called on the Red Alliance for this action either.

http://youtu.be/_0DL5Tp-1GM?t=1m15s

Thoughts?

-Clinton-

Based on my reading of the definition of SCORE it appears to be a perfectly legal goal. No where in the definition does it say the ball needs to be directly proceeded by a possession. (If they wanted it read that way they would state it just like they say CATCH points are awarded only if directly preceded by a TRUSS SCORE.


A BALL is considered SCORED in an ALLIANCE’S GOAL if

A. a ROBOT causes one (1) of their ALLIANCE’S BALLS to cross completely and remain completely through the opening(s) of one (1) of their ALLIANCE’S GOALS without intervening TEAM member contact, it appears from the video the blue robot pushed the red bot into the ball through the goal. Thus they caused it to cross into the goal
B. the ALLIANCE ROBOT last in contact with the BALL was entirely between the TRUSS and their ALLIANCE’S HIGH GOALS, and The last blue robot in contact with the ball was clearly in the blue zone
C. the BALL is not in contact with any ROBOT from that ALLIANCE. The ball passed completely through the goal and was not touching a blue robot


Really the only thing that could be argued is that it didn't meet (A) but I believe that it did.

[FrankJ]

The question is not about scoring the goal. It is about possession before the goal. The possession gives you additional points.

In the Arkansas regional F3 blue was apparently called for possession of red ball by bulldozing (or herding) it into the blue goal at the end of the match.
<http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119689&page=8> about post 112 forward.

[pntbll1313]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

The question is not about scoring the goal. It is about possession before the goal. The possession gives you additional points.

You're right that was the original question. I was quoting and answering Clinton Bolinger's question which was slightly off topic, but related as well. I guess I could have started a new thread to answer it but it seemed on topic enough to answer it here.

[Basel A]

Originally Posted by Clinton Bolinger

Another example:

Match 61 - Kettering District

The last Cycle which included 3 assist for the Blue Alliance was removed from the score after the match (31 points) because the refs claimed that a blue robot did not possess the ball when the ball went into the goal. However, there was no trapping or possession called on the Red Alliance for this action either.

http://youtu.be/_0DL5Tp-1GM?t=1m15s

Thoughts?

-Clinton-

Bolded part is not true. The score wasn't counted because the referees ruled that it was not a blue robot that caused the ball to cross into the goal. If you consider it a score (which I would have.. but I'm not a ref), then it's a perfect example of a score that occurs without possession. "Scored" uses a lower standard than possession, so it's totally within the rules that a robot can score a ball without possessing it.

[Clinton Bolinger]

Originally Posted by Basel A

Bolded part is not true. The score wasn't counted because the referees ruled that it was not a blue robot that caused the ball to cross into the goal. If you consider it a score (which I would have.. but I'm not a ref), then it's a perfect example of a score that occurs without possession. "Scored" uses a lower standard than possession, so it's totally within the rules that a robot can score a ball without possessing it.

[Blue Bot] Pushes -> [Red Bot 1] & [Red Bot 2] into -> [Blue Ball] into -> [Blue Low Goal] = Blue Bot caused the Blue Ball to cross into the Goal

I am byass but I believe that the assist points and goal should have counted. However, the refs called it differently. The match should have probably been replayed because the pedestal turned on and started a new cycle. Instead of returning the ball to the nearest human player and keeping the assist on the board.

I do think that FIRST needs to clarify these types of situations in the rules/updates. Most field reset/refs don't know how to properly handle these types of situations.

If a ball is possessed by an Alliance Robot in the area between the Truss and their High Goal. Then makes it into one of the Goals, the ball should count as scored. This makes it easier on the Refs and the spectators.

-Clinton-

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Clinton Bolinger

[Blue Bot] Pushes -> [Red Bot 1] & [Red Bot 2] into -> [Blue Ball] into -> [Blue Low Goal] = Blue Bot caused the Blue Ball to cross into the Goal

The last robot in contact with the ball before it entered the goal was not a member of the blue alliance, so the ball does not meet the criteria for being scored.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

The last robot in contact with the ball before it entered the goal was not a member of the blue alliance, so the ball does not meet the criteria for being scored.

That's not a rule.

A BALL is considered SCORED in an ALLIANCE’S GOAL if

a ROBOT causes one (1) of their ALLIANCE’S BALLS to cross completely and remain completely through the opening(s) of one (1) of their ALLIANCE’S GOALS without intervening TEAM member contact,

the ALLIANCE ROBOT last in contact with the BALL was entirely between the TRUSS and their ALLIANCE’S HIGH GOALS, and

the BALL is not in contact with any ROBOT from that ALLIANCE.

Blue robot still caused the ball to go in, albeit through a red robot, and the blue ball had been contacted by a blue robot on the blue side of the truss.

[Clinton Bolinger]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

The last robot in contact with the ball before it entered the goal was not a member of the blue alliance, so the ball does not meet the criteria for being scored.

There are no rules that say "the last robot in contact with an alliance ball must be a member of the same alliance"

Otherwise, goalie blocked shots would not count either.



Section 3.1.4 Scoring

An opponent ROBOT that contacts, but fails to stop a BALL from going over the TRUSS or in a GOAL has not caused either of these actions and does not invalidate the SCORE.

-Clinton-

[pntbll1313]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

The last robot in contact with the ball before it entered the goal was not a member of the blue alliance, so the ball does not meet the criteria for being scored.

Where in the rules does it say that?

[Alan Anderson]

My apologies. I was quite certain that an alliance robot had to be the last thing to contact the ball before it went over the truss or through the goal in order for it to count, but obviously I was mistaken. I think I misread (or misremembered) the bit about "does not invalidate the SCORE" as being the opposite of what it says. The "without intervening TEAM member contact" probably got mixed up with it in my head as referring to robots rather than humans.

[Taylor Nicholson]

Possession was consistently called this way at GTRE. After removing 3173's arm for eliminations and replacing it with a ramp for the purpose of low goal scoring, we (3710) would take the ball and place it their ramp to score (3173 still had to push the ball in). Assist points were not counted for 3173 doing this in the quarter-finals. This caused us to change our strategy to have them inbounding, where we had trouble with both herding and trapping being called. Our alliance's initial plans for the finals (before 1241 didn't field for F1 and our launcher failed in F2) had 3173 playing solely defense due to the difficulty of having an assist count without an active mechanism controlling the ball.

[jmcrawford45]

As a single unintentional hit by either alliance can result in a low goal score, the situation described by the OP certainly can and has occurred in regional events. In my experience, the referees have called this identical scenario both as possession and not possession, depending on the context of the game and the impact on the final score. Subjective interpretations changed the outcome of many matches this weekend, up to and including elimination matches. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. I don't believe that any team in any sport enjoys winning by persuading a scorekeeper to their point of view (except maybe a debate team.)
Unfortunately, the game manual contains some generalized rules that fail to explicitly define the legality of specific actions (like singular incidental contact causing an opposing alliance's ball to go into a low goal.) In Aerial Assist, this puts the burden on referees to decide the winner of many matches, including regional finals. I certainly wouldn't want to be the person to tell a drive team, "After much deliberation, we have decided that you intentionally hit the wrong ball 5 minutes ago. Better luck next year!"
To answer your question, I have seen a ball scored both with or without possession, depending on the circumstance and the referees' interpretation of the rules. Because of this, I would suggest avoiding the "grey areas" of this year's rule book at all costs. This especially applies to frame extensions near the field barrier, human player fouls, and possessing an opponent's ball. Make the legality of your actions so clear that referees cannot possibly lawyer it into something against the rules. It makes life a whole lot easier for the referees and event staff and makes Aerial Assist a much more enjoyable game to play and watch.