[OCCRA]: Rule Clarification

[Viking(redneck)]

Dear OCCRA,

We at Hazel Park High School (Team #50) would like to get a clarification on a certain rule. We would like to know about rule G15, which states a robot may not come across the field at a high speed and ram another robot. At the championship we noticed in one of our matches, another robot (Team #255) came across the field at the beginning of the match and rammed us. The robot continued to ram us until we flipped onto our backside, which also resulted in loss of power to our robot. We as a team would like to know what you think about this incident and why wasn't there a flag thrown.

Sincerely,

Hazel Park High School
Cpt. Robert Crabtree
Cpt. Dale Hawley Jr.
Cpt. Eric Kaminska

[Mr. Mac]

I did not see the colllision you referred to but I saw a couple during the season that I would have penalized if I had been a referee. Historically, the refs are reluctantant to make that call; sometimes they are not sure if it is intentional or just poor driving. If it's never going to get called (for whatever reason), the Game and Kit Committee should delete it from next year's rules.

[Viking(redneck)]

Dear Mr. Mac,

We believe that if the rule doesn't get enforced, which it hasn't for the most part, that it should be taken out of the rules. We as a team are not mad, just disappointed in the refs judgment on some calls and if a ref doesn't want to enforce the rules that we compete by, then we should get a new ref or remove the rule. We hope in the future that if this is to be an active rule that it gets enforced so that all the teams get a fair and just opportunity.

[Mike Martus]

Several teams have received warnings regarding rule G15. What has to be determined at the split second is what they are doing with the intent of damage to another robot or are they defending and not able to fully control the forward motion. Yes, coming from the opposite side is suspect, but, are they stopping the other from scoring? This stands out with the teams that have fast robots. Seldom is the slow robot questioned.

There are usually 5 refs on the field watching the match. In this case we felt that the intent was to block, prevent scoring and to not tip the other robot over as their goal.

I disagree on removing the rule as it controls what could turn into a demolition derby which is not good.

The refs do their best as do all refs in all sports. Opinions are challenged - look at basketball - and other semi contact sports that is a way of life.

If the adults on your team want the rules enforced differently then what they currently are , they need to become part of the ref team or the game and kit committee for next season. We are always open to assistance. Once you get to the other side of the stripped shirt your vision as to how calls are made changes, team specific focus stops and the good of all is considered.

Again we welcome input and assistance in operation of the OCCRA events. In fact without additional labor next season the question of survival comes to mind.

Originally Posted by Viking(redneck)

Dear OCCRA,

We at Hazel Park High School (Team #50) would like to get a clarification on a certain rule. We would like to know about rule G15, which states a robot may not come across the field at a high speed and ram another robot. At the championship we noticed in one of our matches, another robot (Team #255) came across the field at the beginning of the match and rammed us. The robot continued to ram us until we flipped onto our backside, which also resulted in loss of power to our robot. We as a team would like to know what you think about this incident and why wasn't there a flag thrown.

Sincerely,

Hazel Park High School
Cpt. Robert Crabtree
Cpt. Dale Hawley Jr.
Cpt. Eric Kaminska