This Q&A is now read-only
Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Mix & Match
3001: Should illegally-loaded scoring objects that become score affecting be scored?
During a match, a pin was illegally loaded due to being a significant distance (several inches) from the load zone, violating <SG6b>. The pin was not retrieved and reintroduced per <SG6f>, and was subsequently used to create a three-color stack so therefore became score affecting. According to the red violation note,
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 Scoring Object is Connected to another Scoring Object), the first occurrence during a Qualification Match may be treated as a Minor Violation and a “final notice” that any future Violation will result in Disqualification for the Match.
the team was given a minor violation and final notice, since it was the team's first occurrence.
Now to the part I'm not clear on: should the three-color stack that included the illegally-loaded pin be counted toward the score for the match?
In this case, I made the call that the three-color stack would not be counted, understanding that per <T1> this was the "right" call at the time. After making the call, however, I began to wonder if the three-color stack should have been counted, or if possibly only the illegally-loaded pin itself shouldn't have been counted, leaving a two-color stack that should have been counted.
Thanks for this question! The next game manual update will include the following guidance in a new clause of rule <SC1>. You're correct, though---in the absence of specific guidance, the decision you made at that event was reasonable and correct.
Referees should record counts based on verified scoring statuses evaluated after the Match, using final positions of Scoring Objects, Field Elements, and Robots. Points scored during a Violation should not be deducted from a score, other than scoring which takes place after the Match due to continued Robot movement (see clause b of <GG12>).