Texting a coach during a match.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

From Section 3 At the Events...

• Robots may be operated via wireless control only on the competition fields; and
• Two-way radios or other form of wireless communications are not allowed (with the exception of the previous bullet).

As a rookie you have not experienced the frenzy of being in the drivers station during a match. Even the few seconds that it takes for you to check the text, are a lifetime in the length of a two minute match.

Al,

You're 13 hours behind the times! See Team Update 8. The prohibition on two-way radios was stricken from the text of Section 3.

However, they are still banned by <T27>:

<T27> Devices used solely for the purpose of planning or tracking strategy of game play are allowed inside the ALLIANCE STATION, if they meet ALL of the following conditions:
 Do not connect or attach to the OPERATOR CONSOLE
 Do not connect or attach to the FIELD or ARENA
 Do not connect or attach to another ALLIANCE member
 Do not communicate with anything or anyone outside of the ARENA.
 Do no include any form of enabled wireless electronic communication (e.g. radios, walkie-talkies, cell phones, Bluetooth communications, WiFi, etc.)
 Do not in any way affect the outcome of a MATCH, other than by allowing team members to plan or track strategy for the purposes of communication of that strategy to other alliance members.

(emphasis mine, typo theirs)

[NorviewsVeteran]

My mom called me in the middle of a match I was driving in a couple years ago. (I let it ring and checked later)

I think having a cell phone on you at the field isn't a big deal, as long as you don't use it.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by NorviewsVeteran

My mom called me in the middle of a match I was driving in a couple years ago. (I let it ring and checked later)

I think having a cell phone on you at the field isn't a big deal, as long as you don't use it.

If it were a big deal, it would be emphasized by now. Everyone has a cell phone nowadays. Using it is the problem, not having it.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

If it were a big deal, it would be emphasized by now. Everyone has a cell phone nowadays. Using it is the problem, not having it.

Exactly. If you do not use it, you are probably not violating any rules.

(This is my opinion. My opinion is not of any value at competition)

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by NorviewsVeteran

My mom called me in the middle of a match I was driving in a couple years ago. (I let it ring and checked later)

Our driver's mom texted him just before a match last year. He checked it. The MC noticed, and had the field video crew zoom in on the screen. I don't remember the exact spelling, but I think it was the text equivalent of an excited squeal.

[Homsar66]

They're pretty lax. Last year at Atlanta as human player I duct taped a video camera (did have bluetooth) to my hat, and nobody had a problem with it. Even if it was obvious, I doubt they would penalize you for it. But texting to get an advantage doesn't really follow the spirit of the rules.

[EricH]

I wouldn't be too certain about that one, Homsar66. Last year, I was field reset at an event, and I saw a ref call a penalty on a particular team because a team member was in the lowest level of the stands yelling instructions to the drive team. They find you texting, you'll get a penalty.

There's a big difference between a camera that isn't used for an advantage and a cell phone/texting device that is. If that camera's view had gone to a viewscreen on your controls, you'd have been penalized under 2009's <T23>, which reads the same as the 2010 <T27>.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Al,

You're 13 hours behind the times!

Can I help it if I check Chief Delphi before I look at the Team Updates?

That really changes things though. As long as that rule has been in place (most of my 15 years) I would suspect that was an error to remove it in TU #8 and instead expect that the struck out language meant to change to (with the exception of the two previous bullets).

Sorry for the confusion but my previous thoughts are unchanged. Texting is a bad idea.