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Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2024-2025: Rapid Relay
2291: 3rd Ball accidentally being added to the field
The question I have is what happens if a 3rd ball ever enters the field of play during a teamwork match or skills match. I have had some discussion with coaches about this rule to make sure to give our teams the correct guidance on how to approach the issue. The rule reads:
a. No more than two (2) Balls may be in play at any one time (i.e., the next Ball should not be Loaded until a previous Ball is either scored or leaves the Field).
- If the loader didn't catch the ball while it was tossed to them from another loader and the 3rd ball fall onto the field during a match?
- If the loader drops the ball early before checking the ball has made it through the goal?
- If the loader doesn't see a ball because it is inside a robot
I've heard some teams say that if a third ball ends up on the field it is an automatic disqualification because the rules states (NO MORE THAN TWO)
My students and I have interpreted the rule as the 3rd ball was improperly introduced and:
From SG4 E and F point this out:
e. If a Ball is introduced improperly through the Loading Station, the Head Referee will verbally notify the Loader as soon as possible (e.g., “your hand crossed, load that one again”). The Ball must then be removed from the Load Zone by a Loader before it is retrieved by a Robot and legally Loaded again.
f. If a Ball is introduced improperly outside of the Loading Station (e.g., into the middle of the Field prior to the Rapid Load Period), the Ball must be retrieved by a referee and handed to a Loader.
By adding a third ball does nothing for score affecting or anything else I can find in the rules about being a major violation and causing a team to receive a disqualification.
If a Ball is introduced improperly through either the Loading Station (rule <SG4>) or as a Rapid Load Ball (rule <SG5>), it should be removed from the Field and reintroduced by a Loader.
As described in the Violation notes for <SG4>, "Most Violations which are not Score Affecting (i.e., where a Robot never retrieves the illegally Loaded Ball) are considered Minor Violations, even after repeated occurrences. The primary penalty is intended to be the Match time that is lost from retrieving and re-introducing the Ball." If a Ball is mis-loaded through the Loading Station or before the Rapid Load Period and is then Scored through a Target or used to Clear a Switch, the Violation becomes Score Affecting and should result in a Disqualification for that Match.
As described in the Violation notes for <SG5>, "It is expected that most Violations of this rule will be accidental. In accidental cases that end up being Score Affecting (i.e., an illegally-Loaded Ball scores a Goal), the first occurrence during a Qualification Match may be treated as a Minor Violation and a “final warning” for any future Violations." This allowance only applies to Balls introduced as Rapid Loads during a Rapid Load Period.