The intent of this rule is to provide the Head REFEREES the flexibility necessary to keep the event running smoothly, as well as keep the safety of all the participants as the highest priority. There are certain behaviors that automatically result in a YELLOW or RED CARD because this behavior puts the FIRST community or integrity of the game at risk. Those behaviors include, but are not limited to the list below:

A.     inappropriate behavior as outlined in the blue box of G201,

B.     jumping over the guardrail,

C.     pushing past the FIELD reset person blocking an open gate to get on the FIELD,

D.     reaching into the FIELD and grabbing a ROBOT during a MATCH,

E.     PINNING in excess of 15 seconds,

F.     exploiting the 5-second window after a MATCH described in Section 6.5 Scoring to avoid rule violations (e.g. triggering an over-extension that enables ONSTAGE points or using a ROBOT’S residual energy to impact an opponent ROBOT on their STAGE),

G.     triggering scoring sensors or otherwise interfering with FMS or FIELD operation,

H.    feeding a NOTE to a ROBOT from behind the AMP, violating G429, to increase rate of scoring and accelerate progress toward the MELODY RP, and

I.       climbing on a STAGE.

The Head REFEREE may assign a YELLOW or RED CARD for a single instance of a rule violation such as the examples given in items above, or for multiple instances of any single rule violation. Teams should be aware that any rule in this manual could escalate to a YELLOW or RED CARD. The Head REFEREE has final authority on all rules and violations at an event.