<GG1> Only drive team members (up to 3) can be in the alliance station.  They cannot bring communication devices into the alliance station (unless communication features are turned off). They cannot stand on any sort of object during a match.  They cannot wear/use powered headphones or earbuds as these might interfere with hearing verbal calls during a match. 

<GG2> Your team’s robot must be at the field for each assigned match even if it is not functional. Otherwise, it is considered a “no-show” and your will receive no win points, autonomous win points, autonomous points, or strength of schedule points.

<GG3> You must be prepared to play when you put your robot on the field. If a robot is delaying the scheduled start of a match, it can be removed from the field at the discretion of the head ref or event partner. This includes:

• batteries charged
• pneumatics charged
• within size constraint
• having correct license plates
  
  

 <GG4> Keep your hands out of the field (cannot break the plane of the field perimeter at any time during the match) except to introduce match loads (rule <SG9>) or touching the robot if it has not moved at all during the match in order to:

• turn the robot on
• plug in a battery
• plug in a radio
• use the brain’s screen to start a program
  
  

<GG5> Match replays are rare, but can be issued in extreme circumstances when agreed upon by both the event partner and the head referee. Examples of situations that may warrant a replay include:

• field issues (elements in incorrect starting positions, tape lines lifting)
• autonomous period or driver control period ending early
• field control disconnects
• head referee disabling a robot for a misinterpretation of a rule violation
• field being reset before a score is determined
  
  

<GG6> If your team gets disqualified in a qualification match, you receive a score of 0 for the match, as well as 0 win points, autonomous win points, autonomous points, and strength of schedule points. If you are on the winning alliance, then your non-disqualified alliance partner and the teams on the opposing alliance who are not also disqualified will receive the win for the match and 2 win points.  

If the match is a tie, then only the teams on the opposing alliance will receive the win for the match and 2 win points. (If both alliances have a disqualified team, then all non-disqualified teams receive a tie for the match and 1 win point.)

Autonomous win points are not given to teams that receive a disqualification.

If your team gets disqualified in an elimination match, the entire alliance is disqualified and the opposing alliance is awarded the win.  If both alliances are disqualified, you will play another match to determine the winner.

<GG7> Only during the elimination rounds, an alliance can request a single 3-minute time out.  This must be used between elimination matches immediately before your upcoming match begins.  There are no time outs during the qualification rounds.

Your robot must:

• <GG8> stay together (cannot intentionally detach parts)
• <GG9> not clamp onto any part of the field 
  
  

<G9> Keep your hands out of the field (cannot break the plane of the field perimeter) except to:

• turn robot on or off, plug in battery, radio, or start program during the driver controlled period (and only if robot has not moved at all during the match)
• reintroduce a ring that has exited the field (when handed to you by a referee)

<GG10> In any match, the red alliance has the right to place its robots on the field last.  Once placed on the field, the robot positions should not be adjusted without giving the opposing alliance a chance to reposition their their robots.

<GG11> During a match, you must keep your controller connected to the field.  You may not unplug the cable until the “all-clear” has been given to retrieve your robots.

<GG12> During the autonomous period, drive team members cannot interact with the robots in any way, directly or indirectly.  This includes activating anything with the controller or manually triggering sensors.  <GG13> Teams are responsible for the actions of their robots at all times… this includes during the autonomous period.  Any violations committed during the autonomous period will result in the autonomous bonus being awarded to the opposing alliance.  If both alliances commit violations during the autonomous period, then no bonus will be awarded.

<GG14> You cannot destroy other robots, but you should be prepared to encounter defense.  Teams should never use strategies aimed on destruction, damage, tipping over, or entangling opposing robots.  Defensive play that does not involve these strategies is fine.  Incidental tipping, entanglement, or damage occurring as a part of normal gameplay will not be a violation.  The head referee decides if an interaction is incidental or intentional.  You should design your robot so that it is not easily tipped over or damaged by minor contact.

<GG15> In any interaction, the offensive robot gets the “benefit of the doubt.”  If forced to make a judgement call, referees will err on the side of the offensive robot.

<GG16> You cannot force an opponent into a penalty.  Most of the time, if a team causes their opponent to break a rule, the head referee will simply not enforce the penalty on that opponent and it will be considered a minor violation for the guilty team.  If it becomes match affecting in favor of the guilty team, then it becomes a major violation and a disqualification.

<GG17> Holding is the term used to include trapping, pinning, and lifting.  Robots may not hold an opposing robot for more than a 5-count during the driver controlled period.  The holding count is over when the robots separate by at least 2 feet for at least 5 seconds.  If a robot resumes holding the same robot again before this happens, the original count will resume where it ended.  Holding does not apply if the opposing robot is not trying to escape or is disabled.

<GG18> Scoring objects should be used to play the game and not for actions that would be otherwise illegal if a robot mechanism completed it.