[YMTC]: Hurtling Interference YMTC

[ALIBI]

Assuming that Blueabot was in possession of a trackball when it entered its' home stretch and that Blueabot has the ability to Hurdle, the following conditions have been met:

1: In it's home stretch,
2: Be in possession of a trackball,
3: Be moving towards the overpass.

By the definition of HURDLING, Blueabot was in the process of HURDLING.

The intent of <G42> is to protect Blueabot while Hurdling. The protection is for overt, blatant or aggressive contact that interferes with the Hurdling attempt. When Redabot pushes Blueabot completely through its' home stretch, it is being overt, blatant and aggressive, the action of Redabot results in a ten point penalty. Redabot could have incidental contact while passing Blueabot, however, pushing Blueabot through its' home stretch is not incidental contact.

It seems as though when a robot that can Hurdle is in possession of a trackball in its' home stretch, it is pretty much off limits unless you are making incidental contact or bumping to pass per <G38>. However:

There are two questions that come to mind. The first is the requirement that Blueabot be "moving toward the overpass". If Blueabot stops moving just before it launches the trackball, can Redabot then push Blueabot because it is no longer moving toward the overpass? The second is the requirement that Blueabot be elevating the trackball so that the top of the trackball is higher than the Lane Divider. This seems to indicate that Blueabot must keep moving while it is elevating the trackball to at least a height where the top of the trackball is above the Lane Divider to be given protection under <G42>. If Blueabot stops moving before the trackball is elevated so that the top of the trackball is above the Lane Divider, can Redabot then push Blueabot?

The YMTC never gave Blueabot the opportunity to stop moving so the above questions never come into play. Ten Point Penalty on Redabot.

[EricH]

Blueabot satisfies 2 of the three conditions for sure: it is in its own Home Stretch, and it is in possession of a Trackball.

The thing is, this will be context dependent. As in, if Blueabot stopped to hurdle before Redabot hit it, or if Blueabot's launching mechanism is beginning to fire. Those can change the situation. In the former, Blueabot is not protected; in the latter, Blueabot would probably be protected, as it is in the process of elevating the Trackball.

Neither we nor the GDC can call this one; that'll be the ref's decision in each individual match. In this case as stated, there would be a penalty on Redabot, because Blueabot is moving towards the Overpass (admittedly, not exactly willingly, which might change the call).

[JesseK]

If Bluabot can only HERD the ball and never has the intention to ever HURDLE the ball due to lack of design or broken ability, there is no rule that would give me a reason to call this a penalty. However, this is subjective to how the refs will call it.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by JesseK

If Bluabot can only HERD the ball and never has the intention to ever HURDLE the ball due to lack of design or broken ability, there is no rule that would give me a reason to call this a penalty. However, this is subjective to how the refs will call it.

Sometimes refs can't judge intention very well. Blatant intention will almost always be called, however. If Blueabot can only herd at that time, no penalty (not in possession). If they can launch, and they act like they are going to, I'd probably call a penalty on Redabot, but if they aren't even trying, no penalty

Oh, and the decision I made earlier--Reversed; nothing was said about a trackball. Period. They could all be in the other corner. No penalty.

[Rick]

Depends on this is read:

(be moving toward the OVERPASS) and/or (elevating the TRACKBALL so that the top of the TRACKBALL is higher than the LANE DIVIDER).

or it could be this way

(be moving toward the OVERPASS so that the top of the TRACKBALL is higher than the LANE DIVIDER) and/or (elevating the TRACKBALL so that the top of the TRACKBALL is higher than the LANE DIVIDER).

This could be read as the TRACKBALL must be above the lane divider for any valid hurdle attempt. Or only motion is required.