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Official Q&A: VEX V5 Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Push Back

Usage Guidelines All Questions

2811: SG11 Clarifications on Endgame Blocking and Park-Zone Contact

Shan Chun Chang
24-Sep-2025

I like to ask about <SG11>.

Current situation: If a blue Alliance Robot positions itself in front of the red Alliance Park Zone to defend, the intent is to block the red Alliance Robot from Parking.

There are several ruling questions (all occurring in the last 20 seconds of the Match):

Question 1. If, during contact between the blue and red Robots, the red Robot pushes the blue Robot into the red Park Zone, is this considered a “forced” <GG16> penalty by red (and if it is a penalty, how should Match Affecting be determined), or is it a penalty on blue?

Question 2.If the blue Robot, while moving to defend, contacts the red Park Zone during the last 20 seconds, does that constitute a penalty on blue under <SG11>?

Question 3.If the blue and red Robots are entangled, and while attempting to separate the blue Robot enters the red Park Zone, does that count as a Violation by blue? (Consider <SG11> and the protected status of Robots that are at least partially within the vertical projection of their Alliance-colored Park Zone.)

Question 4.If it is not clear whether red forced blue into a Violation, blue intentionally blocked, or an accidental Violation occurred during a tussle, should advantage be given to red? (Consider <GG15> “Offensive Robots get the benefit of the doubt,” and <GG16> on forced penalties.)

GG16   SG11  
Answered by committee
25-Sep-2025

Hello, Shan Chun Chang, and thanks for these questions!

For your scenario and related questions:

  1. Yes, this would be a forced Violation and blue shouldn't receive a penalty; red should receive a Minor <GG16> Violation.
  2. Yes, this would be at least a Minor Violation for blue, and could escalate to a Major Violation if it is determined to be Match Affecting.
  3. Yes, this would generally be at least a Minor Violation for blue, unless red dragged them in.
  4. Yes, the red Robot should get the benefit of the doubt for unclear Violations that happen during the final 20 seconds of the Match at the red Park Zone (and blue Robots get the benefit of the doubt at the blue Park Zone).

We hope these answers help!