2010 Pittsburgh Regional

[2641Captain]

For what it is worth when I was driving I did go to block the tower so team 1114 could not hang as I had done in a previous match. The trouble is 1114 had bumped me into the tower during end game. The head referee had told me that bumping into the tower did not give me the penalty but it was the fact that I stayed there after I was free to escape for more that 5 seconds. I have video from our media person who has the clearest shot that clearly shows 3 seconds after making contact with the tower that my wheels where in full reverse. The G34 and G35 rules clearly state that if I obviously and intentionally touched the tower that I should receive a penalty. The whole conflict resulted from team 1114 bumping into me. Mrs. Perrotto told me that it was up to her and she did not have to give me a penalty, but she somehow thought that team 1114 bumping into me and then me not realizing I was on the tower until 3 seconds later was all my fault. That to me is not obvious intentional contact.

The change I would like to see in FIRST is this grey area where all of the referees have to interpret what a team is doing gone.