Answered: Fumbled Match Loads

[misterG]

Karthik,

Consider the following; a team member is holding a match load, preparing to load it, when they accidentally drop it into the field. It rolls away from the starting tile. What should happen to the scoring object?

What if its a ‘special’ (doubler or negator). What if the special is dropped before 30 seconds remaining? What if its dropped after 30 seconds remaining?

Thanks in advance.

Al aka Mr. G

[Karthik]

@misterG

Consider the following; a team member is holding a match load, preparing to load it, when they accidentally drop it into the field. It rolls away from the starting tile. What should happen to the scoring object?

Let’s take a look at the specifc rule in the VEX Gateway Game Manual that deals with Match Loads.

@VEX Gateway Game Manual

<SG7> Any Scoring Objects introduced during the Match must be either gently placed on a Robot of your own color touching an Alliance Starting Tile or gently placed on an Alliance Starting Tile of your own color. The intent of this rule is to allow teams to introduce objects into play, but not to impart energy on the scoring object which will cause it to end up in a scored position. Violations of this rule will result in warning for the first offense. Subsequent offenses or an egregious first offense will result in a Disqualification.
• Match Loads may be introduced by a Driver or Coach at any point during the Match. Match Loads may only be introduced in the Interaction Zone. Violations will result in a Disqualification.
• Doubler Barrels and Negation Barrels may only be introduced by a Driver or Coach during the last 30 seconds of the Match. Doubler Barrels may only be introduced in the Interaction Zone. Negation Barrels may only be introduced in the Isolation zone. Violations will result in a Disqualification.

Thus if the Match Load is dropped accidentally in an illegal manner, the offending team should be warned or disqualified. If dropped legally (i.e. it lands on the Alliance Starting tile), no penalty would be issued. Regardless, the Match Load should be left in play.

@misterG

What if its a ‘special’ (doubler or negator). What if the special is dropped before 30 seconds remaining? What if its dropped after 30 seconds remaining?

No special rulings for the Doublers or Negations. The above answer applies.