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We’ve seen a number of situations this season of groups not making it again to the sphere earlier than timeout expiration leading to them being excluded from match participation. It is a feels-bad second for all concerned – groups, volunteers, spectators, and FIRST HQ – as all of us need to see groups on the sphere enjoying. I’m sorry for the misery this has prompted.
On the identical time, identical to in each different highschool sport, timeouts can’t be open-ended and we’d like set guidelines about learn how to deal with them. This helps maintain play honest and occasions shifting towards a conclusion.
We acknowledge, although, that the principles we had for timeouts might not have been as accommodating as they might have been. Groups want time to get their robots down from the Hangars earlier than they will begin engaged on them. Additionally, regardless that comparatively few of our groups are rookies, a lot of our members are they usually is probably not conversant in how timeouts work or what the implications are for not getting again to the sphere on time.
Because of this, we made a number of rule modifications, which you’ll see in Workforce Replace 19. Taken collectively, these adjustments give groups a number of extra minutes for every timeout interval. Moreover, we’re dedicated to reviewing your entire timeout course of after the season to see if there’s a higher answer that we will implement long-term.
We’re additionally taking different steps outdoors the principles to enhance our processes:
The Alliance Captain assembly held by the Head Referee after Alliance Choice should embrace one scholar member of the drive staff from every of the Alliance Captains instead of the staff consultant who known as the picks (in the event that they’re not already a member of the Drive Workforce). We acknowledge the scholar who participated in Alliance Choice is probably not on the sphere for Playoff Matches, and thus is probably not the very best individual to take part on this huddle.
All groups collaborating in Playoffs will obtain a printed handout explaining key factors of how playoffs work, together with timeouts. We can even be internet hosting this doc on the Season Supplies webpage.
We’re asking Queuers and FTAs to remind groups that, if there’s room and the groups don’t want to return to their pits, they need to keep field-side and even on the sphere to cut back pointless transit time.
I’d additionally like to emphasise that we instruct our volunteers to comply with the principles as FIRST HQ has written them. If time is up, and a referee or an FTA closes the gate on the sphere with a playoff staff nonetheless within the pits, they’re doing as instructed, whether or not they prefer it or not (and really probably, not). I ask that you simply direct any suggestions or concern you may have about this to FIRST HQ.
Our hope is that with extra time and improved communication, we will help guarantee each staff has an ample alternative to take part in Playoff matches.
I’m trying ahead to an important remainder of our season!
Frank
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