Match Rules & Referee Protocol
Core Rules
Push the ball across your opponent's goal line. The goal spans the middle section of each short end.
Goal counts the moment the ball fully crosses the line — even if it bounces back.
A ball crossing either goal line scores for that net's attacker — own goals count.
After each goal: ball returns to center, robots keep running, clock keeps running.
Most goals wins. A tied score at 3 minutes is a draw.
Press Button A once.
No touching your robot during the match unless the referee says so.
Referee returns ball to center.
Referee places robot at nearest edge, at center line, facing inward. Referee presses B to try to reset matchLoop. Robot must recover autonomously.
Robot-to-robot contact is ALLOWED
Post-Match Protocol — Run After Every Match
Write the final score in the bracket immediately. Announce the winning team and seed progression.
Each team delivers one data acknowledgment sentence using the prompt card on their table. Winning team goes first. Not "good game" — one sentence with a stat or number.
Any scoring concern must be raised now. Disputes require the scouting report or rules log as evidence. No evidence, no dispute. After 30 seconds, the result is locked.
Both teams return bots to starting positions. Non-competing teams may go to the Skills Arena. Announce the next match.
Dispute Resolution