Offizielle Frage&A: VEX V5 Robotics Competition 2026-2027: Override

Suppose a Blue Robot is legally driving near the opposing Red Stake. A Red Robot intentionally or strategically pushes the Blue Robot into the Red Stake, causing the Stake to collapse. In this situation, the Blue Robot did not intentionally contact the Stake. The Blue Robot was attempting to escape, but contact occurred because the Red Robot continuously pushed and forced blue bots into the Stake.

How should this interaction be ruled?

More specifically:

1. Does it matter whether the Red Robot intentionally pushed the Blue Robot into the Red Stake, or is the final result—the Red Stake collapsing—alone sufficient to determine the ruling?
2. If the Blue Robot had no reasonable opportunity to avoid the contact because the Red Robot continuously and intentionally pushed it as part of a strategic action, should this be considered a forced interaction rather than a violation by the Blue Robot? Major Violation or DQ?
3. Should this situation be evaluated under the Game Manual principle that a Team may not force an opponent into a violation?

The concern is that if the ruling is based only on which Robot ultimately contacts or causes the opposing Stake to collapse, Teams may intentionally develop strategies that involve pushing an opposing Robot into their own Stake to force a penalty or Disqualification.

Clarification from the GDC would help Teams understand whether this type of strategy is legal and how Head Referees should consistently evaluate these interactions.<GG16>