On a competition the day before yesterday, a high ranked team were consisted of 6 or so team members. However, apparently 4 members went to take the SAT the next day of comp, so only 2 members participated on the second day. Is this allowed?
Yes this would be permissible. The only situation that would require scrutiny is if a drive team member drove for another team during the competition.
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Is there a specific rule that states this to be legal?
You mean is there anything that prohibits it. If the student drive team in the alliance station satisfies the rules, then it is permissible:
Alliance Station - The designated region where the Drive Team Members must remain for the duration of the Match.
Drive Team Member(s) - Up to three (3) Students who are allowed in the Alliance Station during a Match for each Team. Only Drive Team Members are allowed to touch the controls at any time during the Match or interact with the Robot as per . Adults are not allowed to be Drive Team Members. Per , Drive Team Members may only fulfill this role for one Team.
<G6>Drive your own Robot. Each Team shall include up to three (3) Drive Team Members. No Drive Team Member may fulfill this role for more than one Team in a given competition season.
When a Team qualifies for a Championship event (e.g., States, Nationals, Worlds, etc.) the Students on the Team attending the Championship event are expected to be the Students on the Team that was awarded the spot. Students can be added as support to the Team but should not be added as Drive- Team Members or programmers for the Team.
An exception is allowed if one (1) Student on the drive team or a programmer on the Team cannot attend the event. The Team can make a single substitution of a Drive Team Member or programmer for the Championship event with another Student, even if that Student has competed on a different Team. This Student will now be on this new Team and may not substitute back to the original Team.
Violations of this rule will be reviewed by the REC Foundation and may result in one or both Teams being disqualified for the event or the remainder of the season with all trophies and awards won that season being nullified.
There is also definition for middle and high school students.
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I actually thought they are a 2 man team
Yeah it’s quite funny how two ppl went to collect excellence
Is your opinion that they should either forfeit or some team members forgo taking the SAT?
Moot. There are NO rules against students taking SAT or eating or … during a competition. As long as the Drive Team definition is met, where is there a problem?
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Rules aside, why should they forfeit? If they’re good enough to win Excellence with only 2 people, then they deserve the Excellence Award, don’t you think?
And why should they be restricted from taking the SAT? It is an important test for many high school students in the US, probably much more important than attending a VRC competition for a single extra day.
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They only state the things that are illegal, not legal.
I had intended that question for the OP who seems to take issue.
I had intended my question for the OP who seems to have an issue. I agree the students should be able to go to other activities if needed during a tournament. We competed on Saturday and had students coming in and out for basketball, soccer, math team and choir.
I think for the sake of clarity, let the rule definitions speak for themselves. Otherwise, it is sowing doubt in a situation that should be crystal clear.
Now to go read all those Q&A’s before competition weekend here on Saturday:)
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There are no rules forbidding a full complete team must be present during a competition given a drive team from another team does not substitute in. This would be the same case as if a team member was sick and unable to attend.
The team you are questioning will still qualify to the worlds championship by winning the excellence award.
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