3.2.3 Center Goal

[AJunx]

To all those who made the NASA/VCU Regional go so smoothly--considering all of the difficulties associated with hosting a first-week regional-- Thank You.

Now, on to business.

Does this sound familiar?
"SHOOT SCORE...SHOOT SCORE...SHOOT SCORE, oops, ummm...SHOOT SCORE"

Rule 3.2.3 of the Revised Competition Manual states:

The Center Goal is located above each Alliance Station. The center six-foot section of each Alliance Station Wall extends to approximately 10-1/2 feet above the floor. A 30-inch diameter opening is located in the extended portion of the wall, centered at 8 feet, 6 inches above the floor. The opening is outlined by a 4-inch wide border of red or blue acrylic. The opening is backed by a rope mesh and suspended chains to absorb the impact of any scoring objects going through the opening. Scoring objects passing through the opening will be deflected downward by the mesh, and will exit the Center Goal by dropping into a collection tube at the bottom of the goal. There, they can be retrieved by the Human Players.

As you can see, I have highlighted, italicized, and underlined at my discretion. Why? Because I watched many a "scoring object" bounce right back out of the center goal at VCU.

Were any matches swayed one way or another due to "bounce-back"? I can't say; however, I can say that I witnessed, on multiple occassions, two out of five balls shot into the center goal bounce back out, never to be counted among the lucky poof-balls who so willingly gave their lives to the AIM HIGH cause.


Now I have questions for you:

1) Have you witnessed bounce-back at your regional?

2) If so, have you seen any attempts made by FIRST to reduce the pervasiveness of bounce-back?

3) If you have not witnessed bounce-back at your regional, what does the netting situation behind the center goal look like? (i.e. what has changed?)

4) Do you find the occurrence of bounce-back ______________?
A) Acceptable
B) Unacceptable


Have a good day.

-Andrew