Controversy at the SCRRF Scrimmage -- opinions needed!

[Kevin Ray]

WOW!!! I hope everybody is okay now.

I was wondering if any of you from the west coast who attended the aforementioned scrimmage could clear up a question I have. It seems that everyone seems to be in agreement that the lexan "carpet" tether was an entangling threat. It looks in all pictures to be no more than 1/2 inch off the carpet, yet refs and other team members complained of getting hung-up on it.

My question is, what could extend with less thickness (obviously height off the carpet is what caused the hang-up) than the lexan and still reach the desired zone? FIRST has stated that a device consisting of " A telescoping arm, given sufficient
rigidity, lack of sharp features, etc., would likely not present a risk of entanglement, but might prove flimsy and unreliable." This, however, would have caused the hang-up and/or entanglement that team 992 was DQ'd for. It appears that VERY few, if any tethering devices will be allowed.