Did anyone else see it this way?

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Dinger

After reading this thread i noticed many people talking about "useing the arm for defense". can someone cite a rule that specifically says that the arm cannot be used for defense? its says another robot, or a tube that another robot posses cannot be grasped, and that an arm cannot be used to push another robot. However, i see no rule (and please correct me if i am wrong) about useing the arm to just get in the way. if other robots cannot make arm to arm contact legally it seems to me that putting your arm where the opposition wants to put thiers is a great and legal defensive manuver.
As far as i can see, from my interp of the rules the "Arm as defense" argument for a penalty seems void.

It’s not specifically a problem of playing defense but contact outside the bumper zone not being penalized. I think the rule was too loosely defined and that is what’s causing the trouble with interpretation.

<G35> Contact outside of the BUMPER ZONE is generally not acceptable, and the offending ROBOT will be assessed a 10-point penalty, and may be disqualified from the match if the offense is particularly egregious or if it results in substantial damage to another ROBOT.

Next year we need to do a better job of getting the GDC to tighten up rules like this.