Official Q&A: VRC 2019-2020: Tower Takeover
534: Clarification on Trapping: Game Manual vs. Referee Training Video
Is a robot considered trapped while not attempting to escape? There is a major discrepancy between the referee video on trapping and the game manual. In the referee training video, it is stated multiple times that for a robot to be considered trapped it must be actively trying to get out of the trap. However, in the game manual trapping is defined as “ A Robot is considered Trapped if an opposing Robot has restricted it into a small, confined area of the field, approximately the size of one foam field tile or less, and has not provided an avenue for escape. Trapping can be direct (e.g. pinning an opponent to a field wall) or indirect (e.g. preventing a Robot from escaping a corner of the field).” By definition, a robot is trapped whether or not it is attempting to get out of the trap. This training video causes the referees to rule trapping incorrectly as it would be believed that the training videos would be accurate to the game manual. However, it is stated in the game manual that “The 2019 - 2020 Q&A is the ONLY official source for rulings besides the Game Manual. If there are any conflicts between the Game Manual and other supplemental materials (e.g. Referee Training videos, VRC Hub app, etc), the most current version of the Game Manual takes precedent.” Useful info Game Manual Link: https://content.vexrobotics.com/docs/vrc-tower-takeover/GameManual-20190816.pdf
Referee Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsFRgTIkQVg
To emphasize a few specific portions of the Trapping definition:
A Robot is considered Trapped if an opposing Robot has restricted it into a small, confined area of the field, approximately the size of one foam field tile or less, and has not provided an avenue for escape. Trapping can be direct (e.g. pinning an opponent to a field wall) or indirect (e.g. preventing a Robot from escaping a corner of the field).
In order to know whether "an avenue for escape" has been provided, the opponent must be attempting to escape. In order to "prevent" an opponent from "escaping", they must be attempting to escape.
The Referee Training video intentionally goes into additional detail on this point to help make the distinction clear, and there was not intended to be any discrepancy. We will be sure to take this into consideration for future Game Manuals.