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6.6        Violations

Unless otherwise noted, all violations are assigned for each instance of a rule violation. A description of the penalties are listed in Table 6‑3. All rules throughout the Game Rules section are called as perceived by a REFEREE.

Table 6‑3 Rule violations

Penalty

Description

MINOR FOUL

a credit of 2 points towards the opponent’s MATCH point total

MAJOR FOUL

a credit of 6 points towards the opponent’s MATCH point total

YELLOW CARD

issued by the Head REFEREE for egregious ROBOT or team member behavior or rule violations. A subsequent YELLOW CARD within the same tournament phase results in a RED CARD.

RED CARD

issued by the Head REFEREE for egregious ROBOT or team member behavior or rule violations which results in a team being DISQUALIFIED for the MATCH.

DISABLED

the state in which a ROBOT is commanded to deactivate all outputs, rendering the ROBOT inoperable for the remainder of the MATCH.

DISQUALIFIED

the state of a team in which they receive 0 MATCH points and 0 Ranking Points in a Qualification MATCH or causes their ALLIANCE to receive 0 MATCH points in a Playoff MATCH

VERBAL WARNING

a warning issued by event staff or the Head REFEREE.

ALLIANCE is ineligible for RP

An ALLIANCE is ineligible for the specified RP for that MATCH. This overrides any RP awarded through normal MATCH play or other rule violations.

6.6.1       YELLOW and RED CARDS

In addition to rule violations explicitly listed throughout this document, YELLOW CARDS and RED CARDS are used in FIRST Robotics Competition to address team and ROBOT behavior that does not align with the mission, values, and culture of FIRST.

The Head REFEREE may assign a YELLOW CARD as a warning, or a RED CARD for egregious behavior inappropriate at a FIRST Robotics Competition event.

A YELLOW or RED CARD is indicated by the Head REFEREE holding a YELLOW and/or RED CARD in the air while the Game Announcer describes the violation.

YELLOW CARDS are additive, meaning that a second YELLOW CARD is automatically converted to a RED CARD. A team is issued a RED CARD for any subsequent incident in which they receive an additional YELLOW CARD, including earning a second YELLOW CARD during a single MATCH. A second YELLOW CARD is indicated by the Head REFEREE holding a YELLOW CARD and RED CARD in the air simultaneously after the completion of the MATCH. A team that has received either a YELLOW CARD or a RED CARD carries a YELLOW CARD into subsequent MATCHES, except as noted below.

Once a team receives a YELLOW or RED CARD, a yellow rectangle will show next to the team number on the audience display during subsequent MATCHES, including any replays.

Figure 6‑6 Example audience screen graphic showing YELLOW CARD indicators

All YELLOW CARDS are cleared in FMS at the conclusion of Practice, Qualification, and division Playoff MATCHES. VERBAL WARNINGS issued by the head REFEREE are cleared after Practice MATCHES and persist from Qualification MATCHES through subsequent tournament phases.

6.6.2       YELLOW and RED CARD application

YELLOW and RED CARDS are applied based on the following:

Table 6‑4 YELLOW and RED CARD application

Time YELLOW or RED CARDS earned:

MATCH to which CARD is applied:

Prior to Qualification MATCHES

REFEREES may or may not be present during Practice MATCHES. With input from event staff, The Head REFEREE may opt to perpetuate a VERBAL WARNING or YELLOW CARD earned prior to Qualification MATCHES to the first Qualification MATCH for particularly egregious behavior.

during the Qualification MATCHES

team’s current (or just-completed) MATCH. In the case where the team participated as a SURROGATE in the current (or just completed) MATCH, the card is applied to the team’s previous MATCH (i.e. the team’s second Qualification MATCH)

between the end of Qualification MATCHES and the start of Playoff MATCHES

ALLIANCE’S first Playoff MATCH

during the Playoff MATCHES

ALLIANCE’S current (or just-completed) MATCH

Please see examples of the application of YELLOW and RED CARDS as shown in section 6.6.4 Violation Details.

6.6.3       YELLOW and RED CARDS during Playoff MATCHES

During Playoff MATCHES, YELLOW and RED CARDS are assigned to the violating team’s entire ALLIANCE instead of to only the violating team. If an ALLIANCE receives 2 YELLOW CARDS, the entire ALLIANCE is issued a RED CARD which results in DISQUALIFICATION for the associated MATCH. If both ALLIANCES receive a RED CARD, the ALLIANCE assessed the first RED CARD, chronologically, is DISQUALIFIED and loses the MATCH.

6.6.4       Violation Details

There are several styles of violation wording used in this manual. Below are some example violations and a clarification of the way the violation would be assessed. The examples shown do not represent all possible violations, but rather a representative set of combinations.

Table 6‑5 Violation examples

Example Violation

Expanded Interpretation

MINOR FOUL

Upon violation, a MINOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE.

MAJOR FOUL and YELLOW CARD

Upon violation, a MAJOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE. After the MATCH, the Head REFEREE presents the violating team with a YELLOW CARD.

MINOR FOUL per additional SCORING ELEMENT. If egregious, YELLOW CARD

Upon violation, a number of MINOR FOULS are assessed against the violating ALLIANCE equal to the number of additional SCORING ELEMENTS beyond the permitted quantity. Additionally, if the REFEREES determine that the action was egregious, the Head REFEREE presents the violating team with a YELLOW CARD after the MATCH.

MINOR FOUL. MAJOR FOUL IF REPEATED

Upon initial violation in a MATCH, a MINOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE. If the ALLIANCE ROBOT repeats the infraction in the MATCH, a MAJOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE. Assuming no additional infractions of that rule by that ROBOT in that MATCH, the ROBOT has “earned” a MINOR FOUL and a MAJOR FOUL for their ALLIANCE.

MAJOR FOUL, and for every 3 seconds in which the situation is not corrected, a MAJOR FOUL is assessed

Upon violation, a MAJOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE and the REFEREE begins to count. Their count continues until the criteria to discontinue the count are met, and for each 3 seconds within that time, an additional MAJOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE. A ROBOT in violation of this type of rule for 15 seconds receives a total of 6 MAJOR FOULS (assuming no other rules were being simultaneously violated).

RED CARD for the ALLIANCE

After the MATCH, the Head REFEREE presents the violating ALLIANCE with a RED CARD in the following fashion:

·         In a PLAYOFF MATCH, a single RED CARD is assessed to the ALLIANCE.

·         In all other scenarios, each team on the ALLIANCE is issued a RED CARD.

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6.6        Violations

Unless otherwise noted, all violations are assigned for each instance of a rule violation. A description of the penalties are listed in Table 6‑3. All rules throughout the Game Rules section are called as perceived by a REFEREE.

Table 6‑3 Rule violations

Penalty

Description

MINOR FOUL

a credit of 2 points towards the opponent’s MATCH point total

MAJOR FOUL

a credit of 6 points towards the opponent’s MATCH point total

YELLOW CARD

issued by the Head REFEREE for egregious ROBOT or team member behavior or rule violations. A subsequent YELLOW CARD within the same tournament phase results in a RED CARD.

RED CARD

issued by the Head REFEREE for egregious ROBOT or team member behavior or rule violations which results in a team being DISQUALIFIED for the MATCH.

DISABLED

the state in which a ROBOT is commanded to deactivate all outputs, rendering the ROBOT inoperable for the remainder of the MATCH.

DISQUALIFIED

the state of a team in which they receive 0 MATCH points and 0 Ranking Points in a Qualification MATCH or causes their ALLIANCE to receive 0 MATCH points in a Playoff MATCH

VERBAL WARNING

a warning issued by event staff or the Head REFEREE.

ALLIANCE is ineligible for RP

An ALLIANCE is ineligible for the specified RP for that MATCH. This overrides any RP awarded through normal MATCH play or other rule violations.

6.6.1       YELLOW and RED CARDS

In addition to rule violations explicitly listed throughout this document, YELLOW CARDS and RED CARDS are used in FIRST Robotics Competition to address team and ROBOT behavior that does not align with the mission, values, and culture of FIRST.

The Head REFEREE may assign a YELLOW CARD as a warning, or a RED CARD for egregious behavior inappropriate at a FIRST Robotics Competition event.

A YELLOW or RED CARD is indicated by the Head REFEREE holding a YELLOW and/or RED CARD in the air while the Game Announcer describes the violation.

YELLOW CARDS are additive, meaning that a second YELLOW CARD is automatically converted to a RED CARD. A team is issued a RED CARD for any subsequent incident in which they receive an additional YELLOW CARD, including earning a second YELLOW CARD during a single MATCH. A second YELLOW CARD is indicated by the Head REFEREE holding a YELLOW CARD and RED CARD in the air simultaneously after the completion of the MATCH. A team that has received either a YELLOW CARD or a RED CARD carries a YELLOW CARD into subsequent MATCHES, except as noted below.

Once a team receives a YELLOW or RED CARD, a yellow rectangle will show next to the team number on the audience display during subsequent MATCHES, including any replays.

Figure 6‑6 Example audience screen graphic showing YELLOW CARD indicators

All YELLOW CARDS are cleared in FMS at the conclusion of Practice, Qualification, and division Playoff MATCHES. VERBAL WARNINGS issued by the head REFEREE are cleared after Practice MATCHES and persist from Qualification MATCHES through subsequent tournament phases.

6.6.2       YELLOW and RED CARD application

YELLOW and RED CARDS are applied based on the following:

Table 6‑4 YELLOW and RED CARD application

Time YELLOW or RED CARDS earned:

MATCH to which CARD is applied:

Prior to Qualification MATCHES

REFEREES may or may not be present during Practice MATCHES. With input from event staff, The Head REFEREE may opt to perpetuate a VERBAL WARNING or YELLOW CARD earned prior to Qualification MATCHES to the first Qualification MATCH for particularly egregious behavior.

during the Qualification MATCHES

team’s current (or just-completed) MATCH. In the case where the team participated as a SURROGATE in the current (or just completed) MATCH, the card is applied to the team’s previous MATCH (i.e. the team’s second Qualification MATCH)

between the end of Qualification MATCHES and the start of Playoff MATCHES

ALLIANCE’S first Playoff MATCH

during the Playoff MATCHES

ALLIANCE’S current (or just-completed) MATCH

Please see examples of the application of YELLOW and RED CARDS as shown in section 6.6.4 Violation Details.

6.6.3       YELLOW and RED CARDS during Playoff MATCHES

During Playoff MATCHES, YELLOW and RED CARDS are assigned to the violating team’s entire ALLIANCE instead of to only the violating team. If an ALLIANCE receives 2 YELLOW CARDS, the entire ALLIANCE is issued a RED CARD which results in DISQUALIFICATION for the associated MATCH. If both ALLIANCES receive a RED CARD, the ALLIANCE assessed the first RED CARD, chronologically, is DISQUALIFIED and loses the MATCH.

6.6.4       Violation Details

There are several styles of violation wording used in this manual. Below are some example violations and a clarification of the way the violation would be assessed. The examples shown do not represent all possible violations, but rather a representative set of combinations.

Table 6‑5 Violation examples

Example Violation

Expanded Interpretation

MINOR FOUL

Upon violation, a MINOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE.

MAJOR FOUL and YELLOW CARD

Upon violation, a MAJOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE. After the MATCH, the Head REFEREE presents the violating team with a YELLOW CARD.

MINOR FOUL per additional SCORING ELEMENT. If egregious, YELLOW CARD

Upon violation, a number of MINOR FOULS are assessed against the violating ALLIANCE equal to the number of additional SCORING ELEMENTS beyond the permitted quantity. Additionally, if the REFEREES determine that the action was egregious, the Head REFEREE presents the violating team with a YELLOW CARD after the MATCH.

MINOR FOUL. MAJOR FOUL IF REPEATED

Upon initial violation in a MATCH, a MINOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE. If the ALLIANCE ROBOT repeats the infraction in the MATCH, a MAJOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE. Assuming no additional infractions of that rule by that ROBOT in that MATCH, the ROBOT has “earned” a MINOR FOUL and a MAJOR FOUL for their ALLIANCE.

MAJOR FOUL, and for every 3 seconds in which the situation is not corrected, a MAJOR FOUL is assessed

Upon violation, a MAJOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE and the REFEREE begins to count. Their count continues until the criteria to discontinue the count are met, and for each 3 seconds within that time, an additional MAJOR FOUL is assessed against the violating ALLIANCE. A ROBOT in violation of this type of rule for 15 seconds receives a total of 6 MAJOR FOULS (assuming no other rules were being simultaneously violated).

RED CARD for the ALLIANCE

After the MATCH, the Head REFEREE presents the violating ALLIANCE with a RED CARD in the following fashion:

·         In a PLAYOFF MATCH, a single RED CARD is assessed to the ALLIANCE.

·         In all other scenarios, each team on the ALLIANCE is issued a RED CARD.