I would like clarification on a referee’s job at competitions. I’m at a competition now and during two different matches, have observed a team unable to establish connectivity to their robot during autonomous. Following autonomous and during the driver control period, the referee has gone over to help each of these teams. He has personally power cycled their robot and handled their controller. All of this while the match is going on. On one occasion, the referee was able to help establish connectivity and the other they were unsuccessful. Had he helped a team that ultimately won the match, i would have expected outrage by their opponents.
Having been a referee at VEX competitions for several years, I’m of the opinion the referee has no business assisting a team in that manner. The teams should be well aware of what steps to perform to establish a connection. If they’re not, the competition field isn’t the place to learn and the referee isn’t the person to teach in this scenario.
Maybe I’m wrong but i will usually remind a team they can power cycle, reseat keys, connect batteries, etc. but never would it cross my mind as acceptable to touch any team’s robot or controller.
In the referee guide the responsibilities of a referee are:
So, going as far as flicking a switch would not bother me whatsoever. Moreover, the competition field is part of the VRC learning experience. Check the referee guide about the emphasis on not being just punitive, but assisting the teams understand what infractions are about to occur.
This is especially true at the middle school level and for novice teams. Do you really want to put off a team on minor technicalities? It is not like the referee is rebuilding the robot on the field or driving it for the team. There is also the possibility that this helps keep the matches on time by making sure robots can start.
If there is time then I go over and show them how to power cycle etc. If we are pushed for time I tell them what they are allowed to do and then start the match. If there is a second referee one referee will go over and help.
As a student and driver for my team I feel that while it is not the referees direct job to help a team that is having problems, and while the team that is being helped should be able to perform the action needed to correct their robot during the match, it is good for the referee to go possibly help or observe the problem to make sure that it was not a problem caused by someone else, or a problem with the competition control; in which case there would be reason to redo the match.
I think what you say the ref did was within the ethos of Vex. If you are that much into the competition part of things that you would want to win because a team was not connected you sort of miss the point.
The standard that we have been following is not to touch the robots. The team needs to be responsible for being prepared. A coach/mentor is not allowed to go to the field to fix a robot so I shouldn’t do it either. That said, we are there to help and we will advise teams on how to fix their issue but we shouldn’t do it for them. This is also part of the learning process.
As is mentioned in the referee guide there are proactive procedures before a match that prevent most problems. This includes making sure we have proper indicator lights on all controllers and Cortex.
I think the referee role needs to stay impartial so that they are respected by all teams.