This Q&A is now read-only
Official Q&A: VRC 2020-2021: Change Up
647: Field Out of Specifications
Completely reading and understanding "Where do we Measure the Bottom 2 Rings on the Side Goals?" (https://events.vex.com/VRC/2020-2021/QA/638) and the portion "It is the responsibility of the Event Partner, in conjunction with their Head Referee, to ensure that fields are assembled according to the specifications listed in Appendix A."
So, now if a field is out of specifications during a match (was in specifications at the start of the event) how should that be treated? Specifically, we've had a match where a robot was putting a ball in a goal. The ball would drop in, incur a slight bounce off the field tile, and occasionally easily come right out of the goal. After the match, it was requested to measure the distance between the rings for that goal and it was found to be out of spec (slightly over 7"). It is unknown if that measurement was caused prior to the match or during the match. The match was close - could have been match affecting.
The question is: should that match now be replayed since the field elements were not is specifications - treated similarly to a goal becoming detached? Or is should the field element be fixed to specifications and play, no replay, and matches resume?
There are a few rules that apply in this scenario.
First, G20, with some portions bolded for emphasis:
<G20> Match Replays are allowed, but rare. Match Replays, i.e. playing a match over again from its start, are at the discretion of the Event Partner and Head Referee, and will only be issued in the most extreme circumstances listed but not limited to the following:
a. Field Fault issues that have directly affected Match play.
i. Game Elements not in the correct positions
ii. Tape lines lifting
iii. Field Elements detaching or moving beyond normal tolerances that is not a result of team play violations.
iv. Autonomous Period or Driver Controlled Period ending early
v. Field Control disconnecting and disabling Robots. Not to be confused with a Robot that trips its own PTC and has to reboot to reconnect the robot to controller, or teams with controllers that have bent pins that affect only their alliance Field Control tower.
b. Game Rule issues that affect the outcome of a match.
i. Referee disables a robot for a misinterpretation of a rule violation.
ii. Referee starts the Driver Controlled Period without determining the outcome of the Autonomous winner.
iii. The field is reset before a score is determined.
Second, G9, with a portion bolded for emphasis:
<G9> Hands out of the field. Drive Team Members may only touch the Team’s controls and Robot at specified times during a Match as per <G9a>. Drive Team Members are prohibited from making intentional contact with any Game Object, Field Element, or Robot during a Match, apart from the contact specified in <G9a>.
[... clipped for brevity ...]
Note: Any concerns regarding the Ball(s) starting positions should be raised with the Head Referee prior to the Match; Team members may never adjust the Balls or Field Elements themselves.
Per G9, it is the responsibility of the Teams to raise any concerns with Balls or Field Elements with the Head Referee prior to the Match. Once a Match begins, the responsibility for monitoring correct tolerances is no longer the part of the Teams.
Per G20, if a Match does begin with Balls or Field Elements in an incorrect configuration, it will then be at the discretion of the Event Partner and Head Referee to determine whether the violation has directly affected Match play (and therefore, whether a Match Replay is warranted).
Similarly, per G20, Match Replays should only be issued in extreme circumstances, i.e. those which directly significantly affected Match play. In most situations where a field is found to be slightly out of spec after a Match has concluded, the field is simply repaired for subsequent Matches and no Match Replays are issued.