Ball Recirculation Question

[Nuts4FIRST]

Can balls from both the center and corner goals really be returned to the field by the human players?

My current interpretation is that only balls scored in the center goal can be touched by the human players and returned to the field ONLY IF you interpret the words “chute” and “ball return” to be synonymous. Balls in the corner goals are kept there until the end of the match, there is no "exit chute" that returns the balls to the human player.

Look carefully at the semantics of these rules.

Take a look at rule G05. It states...

<G05> “In order for a ball to score, it must enter the goal and exit via the exit chute”... “it cannot score again until it is entered onto the field by the opposing ALLIANCE’s HUMAN PLAYER."

The only goal that has some thing that resembles a chute is the center goal. The corner goals have no “chute” that returns the ball to the human player.

If you look at rule 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 the word “chute” is not used. However one could conceive that the words “ball return” and “pipe” imply a “chute” mechanism.

3.4.2 Ball Returns
A Ball Return is located at the lower edge of each Center Goal, to guide scored balls safely down to the player stations for retrieval by the Human Players. The Ball Return is a section of 9 inch diameter corrugated plastic pipe through which the balls descend from an opening in the bottom of the Center Goal.

3.4.3 Ball Corrals
A Ball Corral is located at the ends of the Alliance Station Wall to restrain any balls that enter through the Corner Goals. The Ball Corral covers a four-by-four foot area. The side walls of the Ball Corral are three feet tall and constructed of square aluminum tube and polycarbonate. The back wall of the Ball Corral is of similar construction, except it is only 20 inches tall to permit easy retrieval of balls from the interior of the
corral.

Yes, the ball corrals at the corners do have an opening at the back, but no “chute”. May the HP reach into this opening? Where is that stated?

I can appreciate the intention of the game design but the rules are not explicitly written to match one’s interpretation. Perhaps the intention of the game design was to only allow balls from the center goal to be returned to the field. Thus, making it attractive to have a strategy that shoots balls; creating an exciting game from the audience’s perspective.