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Official Q&A: VEX V5 Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Push Back
2751: Meaning of "Indirect" for SG11
If Red Robot 1 is attempting to Park (but is not yet Parked, but is in contact with the Red Park Zone) while Blue Robot 1 is attempting to defend it. Red Robot 1 is in contact with the Park Zone when Blue Robot 1 attempts to push it into the wall. Is this "Indirect" contact with the Park Zone? If so, would it be fair to say that this is "intentional" and/or "strategic"? In the course of this action, Blue Robot 1 may also come into direct contact with the Park Zone (still while the Red Robot is not parked, or is in a bang-bang state where it is difficult to determine - in which case, as the "offensive" robot, would Red Robot 1 get the "benefit of the doubt"?).
At the UND Signature Event at the Mall of America, on the livestream at 32:09, a head referee defines the Park Zone as the plastic parts AND the FULLY PARKED robot and that "if your robot is not fully parked, your robot is not protected". Given the presence of members of the GDC at the tournament, one would assume that her statements about this interpretation of SG11 are in alignment with the GDC. Given that, can the GDC clarify or provide examples for what "Indirect" contact with the Park Zone in the last 20 seconds would constitute at violation of SG11? Based on GG18, it would seem Blue using a Block to contact the Park Zone would be a violation of SG11. Is this the only such scenario for "Indirect" contact?
Based on early season Match play, the September Game Manual update will include changes to the definition of the Park Zone and rule <SG11>. These changes will expand the definition of Park Zone to include the portion of the Field Tiles that is bordered by the Field Perimeter and the plastic extrusions of the Park Zone, and will extend the protection of <SG11> to include any Robot that is at least partially within the vertical projection of its Alliance-colored Park Zone. These changes are effective now.
Using a Block to contact the opponent's Park Zone counts as indirect contact and a Violation of <SG11>. Pushing an opposing Robot into their Park Zone barrier, or into contact with a protected Robot in that Park Zone, also counts as indirect contact and an <SG11> Violation.
Finally, your assumption that the GDC plays an active role in referee calls at events other than the VEX Robotics World Championship is inaccurate. While members of the GDC may occasionally listen in on rule discussions during events, we have no authority or official role at those non-Worlds events, and those rulings may or may not be in line with the opinions of the GDC or its members. As described in the red box following rule <T1>, the "right" call is the one made by a Head Referee in the moment.