Rule G22

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Stu Bloom

You should be careful stating absolutes regarding the rules. There is usually room for various interpretations.

If there is no rules update that addresses this issue I would suggest asking the question at your driver's meeting. And in this specific case I suspect that it will not matter which SC is played, as long as there is a 1 for 1 relationship. However, please refer to the recent communication sent out by FIRST, which states in NO uncertain terms: So, challenge if you must, but I believe FIRSTs position is very clear on that point ...

In this case, the GDC has ruled in Q&A that penalties must be backed by the Manual. The refs at Suffield were apparently giving penalties that are nowhere to be found in the Manual. Until there's an Update that says that this is the procedure, or FIRST releases official documentation saying the same thing, this isn't a rule, or rather, not penalizable.

The "Challenge" I refer to is the clarification process, as teams may sometimes see it. I.E. Team YZXA goes to the Head Ref and says, "Excuse me, but why was this penalty given?" If a Head Ref can find a rule that says this, then the team has clarification. If a Head Ref can't find the rule, then he or she needs to retract the penalty if at all possible, similar to how a football ref can pick up thrown flags if he finds he made a mistake.