POLL - Penalties

[meaubry]

Steve,
For the teams involved I think it was good information. It helped explain the differences in what folks thought the score was and what it ended up being (most of the time).
I am concerned with the over emphasis on having a record of matches without a penalty. Each match is independent from the next and with so many violations that could occur (and I think I witnessed every type in Pittsburgh) making a record of 7 or 8 or 22 matches is irrelevent. Besides, the Ref's don't need the added pressure of "not calling violations in order to maintain the current penalty free match streak".
I really don't think that teams purposely go out to get penalties, The student with his toe on the line at the end of autonomous didn't do it maliciously or to gain any advantage. But, it still ended up as a Non-penalty free match.
Some loading zone violations were just bad driving and bad instructions - from the other end of the field the drivers can't really tell where they are (coaching decisions to engage in battle when near the opposing teams loading zone area are just simply bad choices - and they should be penalized as the rules state) Some of the other violations are still unfortunately "in the eyes of the beholder" - engaging high with or without intent to tip over the opponent and "high speed" ramming is subjective to the on lookers viewpoint of
"intentional" and "high speed".

The reminder at the beginning of the match of trying to be penalty free is great.

I am glad that I can say that ChiefDelphi was penalty free, and that is our #1 goal throughout the competition straight thru the Championship.