2005 Team Update #4 posted

[Joe Johnson]

Originally Posted by Mr. Van

30 points... three rows... 10 tetras... wow. I guess the point is STAY AWAY from opponents loading zones. I think with 6 'bots on the field, this might be a real issue. What about this situation:

BLUE01 has just capped a goal on the red side of the field. BLUE01 now heads back to its side of the field. As BLUE01 drives down the side of the field, RED01 heads for its loading zone. Contact is made and BLUE01 is in the red loading zone (or pushed into the red loading zone).

From what I understand, blue would receive a 30-point penalty.

How will referees determine if contact was incidental? How will they tell if you were intending to block access to a zone or simply couldn't get out of the way?

How difficult and how much of a risk will it be to travel to the far side of the field?

I could understand the rule and guidelines if the penalty was 10 points, but I believe a 30-point penalty will be just about impossible to overcome - especially if you weren't intending to block a loading zone at all.

-Mr. Van
Coach, 599

I don't see it as such a hard call. Refs in junior high basketball make tough calls all the time. This seems easier than charging calls.

Bottom line, STAY AWAY FROM ROBOTS IN THE LZ.

Finally, I like the examples. I think the intent and the implementation will be pretty clear.

Joe J.