This Q&A is now read-only
Official Q&A: VRC 2020-2021: Change Up
716: Ball Locking at Remote Events
G19: Field Element tolerances may vary from nominal by ±1.0”, unless otherwise specified. Ball tolerances and weights may vary from nominal to ±0.10” and 10 grams respectively. Ball placement at the beginning of Matches may vary from nominal to ±1.5”. The bottom opening of Goals between the lowest two rings has a dimensional tolerance of -0.0 / +0.5”. Teams are encouraged to design their Robots accordingly. Please make sure to check Appendix A for more specific nominal dimensions and tolerances
G20: 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.
As per the May 25th update, a 4” standoff or 2x 11” zipties must be added to the corner goals to prevent balls from becoming locked <Q&A599>. When using the ziptie option, it can be easy for the ziptie loop to slide outside of the accepted tolerance as specified in Appendix A (1.25” to 4.75” measured from top face of the goal’s bottom ring) as a result of normal gameplay. This is especially true in situations like Remote Skills Events and Live Remote Tournaments where the Head Referee is unable to directly assess how well the zipties have been installed.
Say during a Remote Skills Event or Live Remote Tournament, a situation arises where a ball becomes locked in a corner goal as a result of a ziptie loop sliding out of tolerance and violating G19. But, it is unclear if the ziptie loop was already out of tolerance before the match started or became out of tolerance during the match as a result of normal gameplay. G20aiii states a field fault can be “Field Elements detaching or moving beyond normal tolerances that is not a result of team play violations.” Since only the team is capable of physically interacting with their own field in a remote event, would the ziptie loop being out of tolerance be considered “a result of team play violations” and not result in a replay?
In a related scenario, a team fails to install the standoffs or ziptie loops to the corner goals after being reminded via email and/or the team meeting for a remote event. During one of their matches, a ball becomes locked and the team requests a replay due to a field fault. Would the failure to install standoffs and/or ziptie loops be “a result of team play violations” and not result in a replay?
Since only the team is capable of physically interacting with their own field in a remote event, would the ziptie loop being out of tolerance be considered “a result of team play violations” and not result in a replay?
Just as it is the Team's responsibility to ensure that their Robot is built as intended (and legally) during an in-person event, it is also their responsibility to ensure that the playing field is set up correctly during a Live Remote Tournament. Therefore, this would not be considered eligible cause for a Match replay in most circumstances.