Q&A

We are seeking clarification regarding <GG4> and <SG11> when using the Match Loader. <GG4> <SG11>

Consider the following scenario:

The Match Loader is in its fully lowered position. A Drive Team Member places a single Pin into the Match Loader and briefly puts their hand inside the Loader in order to properly position the Pin.

The sequence is:

The Match Loader is fully lowered. The Drive Team Member places a single Pin into the Loader and briefly reaches their hand inside the Loader to position the Pin properly. The Drive Team Member completely removes their hand from the Loader. After the hand has been fully removed is the Match Loader raised.

At no point is the Match Loader raised while the Drive Team Member's hand is inside it.

Would briefly placing a hand inside the fully lowered Match Loader for the purpose of properly positioning a Pin be considered a violation of <GG4> or <SG11>?

More specifically, does the hand entering the Loader in this manner count as entering the 3-dimensional volume of the Field under <GG4>, or is this action permitted as part of Match Loading under <SG11>?

Thank you for your clarification.

<GG4> Under rule GG4A, if a robot meets the requirements to be restarted and the student has requested permission from the referee, when is the robot permitted to be turned back on?

Specifically, may the robot be powered on during the transition period between Autonomous and Driver Control, or must the robot remain off until Driver Control has officially begun before it can be turned back on?

In question 2787 it was determined that blocks that are within tolerance should not be adjusted. If a team does make adjustments is that considered a violation? (Major, Minor, DQ) How should it be ruled?

At the end of a match's Driver Controlled Period, a referee instructs drivers to put their controllers down on the ground. The driver cannot put the controller down in the field because doing so may put them in violation of <SC1> and <GG4>. The driver also feels putting the controller down on the ground might be unsafe due to tripping hazards (<S1>). Also, due to concerns about damage to their controllers and/or the smart cable connection if the controller is accidentally kicked, stepped on, etc., the driver does not want to put their controller on the ground. This concern about damage to the controller is the result of a prior experience with a controller on the ground being stepped on and rendered unusable. However, the referee insists on drivers placing their controllers on the ground even after hearing the team's concern.

Does <T1> allow for the referee to require this procedure? Does this procedure fall under <T4>, and if so, should this be explained by the event partner prior to the start of matches (such as during an event meeting)?

<GG4> The Note for <GG4> states, "Any concerns regarding Field Element or Scoring Object starting positions should be raised with the Head Referee prior to the Match. Team members may never adjust Scoring Objects or Field Elements themselves."

Invariably, the placement of the Scoring Objects (Pins) on the Floor Goal will differ from event to event / match to match. These differences could affect a Team's game play especially during Autonomous Skill matches. (1) Is there a more definitive description of where the two (2) red pins and two (2) blue pins should be placed on the Floor Goal other than the picture shown in <RSC3>? (2) Are Drive Team Members allowed to request Scoring Objects be moved, within reasonable limits, to accommodate their practice field set ups and, if so, how much movement would be considered seasonable? Rule <T5>Be prepared for minor field variance states, in part, "Field Element tolerances may vary from nominal by up to +/- 0.5" [12.7mm], unless otherwise specified." Scoring Objects (Pins/Beams} are not included in the definition of a Field Element.

According to GG1, students are not allow to sit on any sort of object during a match. And GG4 stays that students must keep hands out of the field. Rule S1 says Robot operation and Team actions must be safe.

When drive team members sit or kneel on the floor at the field, I'm finding they often lean on the top of the perimeter and they are much more likely to get a block in the face. While they are not sitting on an object, they are still sitting.

My questions are:

1. Are drive team members allowed to sit on the floor in the alliance station during a match?
2. Are drive team members allowed to kneel on the floor in the alliance station during a match?
3. Are drive team members allowed to sit or kneel on the floor to match load?

Thank you!

**Related rules: ** <GG1> b. Standing or sitting on any sort of object during a Match, regardless of whether the Field is on the floor or elevated, except as required by an official accommodation request that has been approved by the REC Foundation.

<GG4> Hands out of the Field. Drive Team Members are prohibited from making intentional contact with any Blocks, Field Elements, or Robots during a Match, apart from the contact specified in or while introducing Match Loads as described in rule .

b. Drive Team Members are not permitted to reach into the 3-dimensional volume of the Field Perimeter at any time during the Match, apart from the actions described above. Rule applies.

<S1> Be safe out there. If at any time the Robot operation or Team actions are deemed unsafe or have damaged a Field Element, Block, or the Field, the offending Team may receive a Disablement and/or Disqualification at the discretion of the Head Referee. The Robot will require re-inspection as described in rule before it may take the Field again.

<GG4>Hands out of the Field d. Any concerns regarding Field Element or Block starting positions should be raised with the Head Referee prior to the Match. Team members may never adjust Blocks or Field Elements themselves.

<T5> Be prepared for minor Field variance b. Block placement at the beginning of the match may vary from nominal by up to ±1” (25.4mm). e. The rotation of Blocks is not specified.

For the bottom Block in a Loader, it is easier for a Robot to obtain that Block if it positioned closer to the edge of the opening. I have the following questions as it pertains to teams,

1. So long as it is not disruptive, can a Drive Team Member ask a volunteer to set the lowest Block in a Loader closer to the edge of the opening?
2. Does the volunteer position matter in terms of who is able to make preferential movements for the starting location of Blocks, <GG4> denotes a Head Referee is responsible for concerns.
3. If no to question 1, can Drive Team Members ask for Loaders to be reset or adjusted by the Head Referee due to concerns of preferential positioning?

I have the following questions as it pertains to Head Referees,

4. Up to the discretion of the Head Referee given element positioning is a gameplay decision, can the field be set such that the Blocks at the bottom of every Loader are all positioned for easier access by robots for matches with more time to reset the field (finals, semi-finals)?
5. Does the answer to 4 change if field resetters, a head ref, or different volunteer roles complete the positioning (All under the approval of the head referee for this question as well)?

We have a competition scheduled for 2 days after the next major update of the game manual (V3.0) is expected to be released so I just want to make sure that we enforce the correct rules based on the newly introduced concept of a game manual grace period and effective date.

I'm going to use Q&A question 2766 as an example to ask my question (even though it's an example in the past):

• Question 2766 asked a question that was answered on 21-Aug with a note that said These changes are effective immediately. Also the game manual has a note that says Q&A rulings are effective immediately upon release
• The changes from this question went into <GG4> in game manual Version 2.0 (released on 4-Sept)
• However, the Updates section of the game manual (pg 5 of the PDF) says the Version 2.0 of the game manual has an "Effective Date" of 11-Sept with a concept of a grace period described below

Generally, Mix & Match Game Manual updates, scheduled or unscheduled, will include a grace period before the updated rules go into effect for competitions ... Any events that begin before the 7-day grace period has ended should continue using the rules from the previous Game Manual Release. This policy ensures fairness and consistency, allowing Teams to adapt their strategies and gameplay accordingly before the changes are enforced in official competitions.

So, my question is... when should a change that is answered in a Q&A post go into effect?
In the example of the change from 2766 for <GG4>, does the rule go into effect on 21-Aug (when the question was answered with the statement of These changes are effective immediately) or on 11-Sept (the end of the grace period and the V2.0 manual's Effective Date)?

My apologies if I'm being totally pedantic with this question!

Thanks!

<GG4>[<GG4>] states, in part, "Hands out of the Field. During a Match, Drive Team Members are prohibited from making intentional contact with any Field Element, Robot, or Scoring Object that has been introduced to the Field, except for the allowances in <GG10>, <RSC5>, and/or <SG6>. a. Drive Team Members are not permitted to break the plane of the Field Perimeter at any time during the Match, apart from the actions described above **or while Loading a Pin as described in rule **<SG6>.

Is the hand of the Loader of the Drive Team allowed to hover over the field thereby breaking the plane of the Field Perimeter while: (1) waiting for the match to start?; and, (2) waiting for a scoring element to be removed from the Loading Zone?