Update #14 has been posted. No rules have been amended.
I would take that as meaning that rule G22 will be enforced as written, along with the other game rules.
I love how they describe the end of hybrid.
When the clock hits zero, you can step forward. fantastic.
That has actually always been the rule (and was in past years, too). It just has never been explicitly stated that well, and there is always some confusion and inconsistency from event to event. I’m glad that they made it plain and clear in this update.
It is nice to see that the GDC has seen fit to explain the deletion of section 9.4.2.
We could have really used our pit crew during eliminations but our referee crew chose to read this rule elimination as 'NO PIT CREWS DURING ELIMINATION ROUNDS" rather than the way GDC has intended it.
I am honestly confused about this update. Why didnt they talk about blocking/impeding in hybrid mode. I really dont know why they didnt clarify this.
Joey
For the NJ Regional we didn’t allow the entire pit crew but we did allow one member per team to stay and help out with things b/c there was no set Queuing area for teams, Basically all the teams were constantly moving and there was def. a lack of space to just have alliance Queue spots. People who help setup each regional will determine what the safest amount of people allowed besides the drive team during elminiation matches. In one of the pictures (possibly Elgins I think) you’ll notice a curtained off area in the NJ Regional that was only for the alliances. As you can see that space was not a whole lot of room for 6 alliances while 2 alliances were on the field. It only looks empty b/c I think we were down to the Semi Finals. In any case persons allowed w/ the alliance teams will I guess be decided on a event to event basis. We played it safely. To not allow ANY additional members was wrong.
We had plenty of room in Oregon and the addition of one additional Pit Crew member would have been very helpful if even just to handle the batteries.
Our pit crew is a vital part of our team (as is probably true for most teams…) and to exclude their presence was tough on them after last year.
I can appreciate small venues and the limitations therein… I just think that in our case the referees/staff resorted to the rule book without looking at intent and this new update will make it easier for them to understand intent.
It is a good thing… and I appreciate that FIRST has recognized it and given us this update.
As Lead Queuer of NJ I went and asked a few people on how many people to allow with each team. I think I asked the FTA and someone else (maybe even 2 someones) referees were not part of who I asked though. Field Staff and Queuing were the only ones involved in my case and decision. Hopefully Week #2 and following regionals will be run much better and teams will have their pit crews with them or at least a runner for each team. I would expect week #1 to have some bugs in it. Lets pray there aren’t anymore bugs that have to be worked out.
In St. Louis we allowed two extra team members to accompany each robot during eliminations. I (as the FTA) advised the Lead Queuer and the Field Supervisor of this site-specific policy. It was based on floor space available, placement of judges, media, fixed barriers, etc. The policy needs to be site-specific for those reasons.
I agree with FIRST’s decision to delete 9.4.2 and let the policy fit each site.
Yea see I wasn’t sure who I talked to, I know I asked the FTA and we (the FTA, myself (Lead Queuer) and the Field Supv. all talked about it and agreed on one person only b/c of space and current layout constraints)
I agree that each site should make the right decision on their own instead of having a set amount.
I didn’t see anything that needs to be clarified. The people who think the GDC’s answer has discrepancies with the manual seem to be misreading the phrase “blocking the track” as if it meant “getting in the way of a single robot”. Reading it as written should clear up any confusion.