2025 TRI Rule Changes
V 25.3
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V 25.3
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Texas Robotics Invitational 2025 will use the except where noted below. Please send any questions to .
A. skateboards B. ‘hoverboards’ C. drones D. bottled gas tanks (e.g. helium) E. noisy devices or noisemakers, such as floor stompers, whistles and/or air horns F. walkie-talkies G. scooters, except for those used for accommodations H. Full Face Mascots
Violation: Team Members will be asked to remove them from the Venue, Further Violations can result in G201 Violations, Red Cards, Disqualification, and / or Team Memebrs will be asked to leave the venue.
No Ladders with more than 3 steps or taller than 5ft are allowed to be used by team at any point for any reason at the Event.
No more than 5 team members may be in the pits during Ceremonies outside of Playoff MATCHES.
There is now a PROCESSOR PATHWAY that connects an alliance’s PROCESSOR AREA and ALLIANCE AREA Marked by a 2” Gaffers tape line. Only HUMAN PLAYERS may use this pathway and must make a reasonable effort to stay on the line when moving between the 2 zones.
A DRIVE TEAM is a set of up to 5 people from the same FIRST Robotics Competition team responsible for team performance for a specific MATCH. There are 4 specific roles on a DRIVE TEAM which ALLIANCES can use to assist ROBOTS with REEFSCAPE.
COACH
a guide or advisor
any team member, must wear “COACH” button
DRIVER
HUMAN PLAYER
an operator and controller of the ROBOT
a SCORING ELEMENT manager
STUDENT, must wear a “DRIVE TEAM” button
DRIVE TEAMS prepare for a MATCH by staging in the appropriate areas, according to their role on the DRIVE TEAM, and by identifying themselves accordingly. DRIVE TEAM starting conditions are listed below, and a DRIVE TEAM obstructing or delaying any of the conditions is at risk of violating G301.
A. only DRIVE TEAM members assigned to the upcoming MATCH are present,
B. For QUALIFICATION and PLAYOFF MATCHES only DRIVE TEAM members whose ROBOTS have passed initial, complete Inspection are present,
C. any number of HUMAN PLAYERS are staged in their CORAL STATION AREAS or PROCESSOR AREA,
D. HUMAN PLAYERS not included in C or D, DRIVERS, and COACHES are in their ALLIANCE AREA and behind the HUMAN STARTING LINE,
F. DRIVE TEAM members clearly display their designated buttons above their waists (COACH - “Coach”, DRIVERS and HUMAN PLAYERS - “Drive Team”
G. if a Playoff MATCH, the ALLIANCE CAPTAIN clearly displays their designated ALLIANCE CAPTAIN identifier (e.g. hat or armband).
AUTO RP
all non-BYPASSED ROBOTS LEAVE and at least 1 CORAL scored in AUTO
CORAL RP
at least 6 CORAL must be scored on each of 3 levels.
BARGE RP
at least 14 BARGE points are scored
Win
completing a MATCH with more MATCH points than your opponent
Tie
completing a MATCH with the same number of MATCH points as your opponent
The Coopertition Point has been eliminated.
Most situations will likely only require one or two people to talk with the Head Referee. Still, we aren't going to institute a rule that doesn’t allow other drive team members (including adult drive coaches) to provide information or listen to the conversations. Please be mindful that the Head Referee makes the final decision on calls but may be advised by other referees and the Event Director (who replaces HQ at off-season events). Also, please remember that G212 is a rule, and the Head referee may give YELLOW or RED CARDS for any interactions that are deemed to be egregious. We are all working for the inspiration of our students. Be polite, reasonable, and respectful; we will all have a great event.
A team member (except DRIVERS, HUMAN PLAYERS, and COACHES) granted access to restricted areas in and around the ARENA (e.g. via Media badges, Volunteer position, etc.) may not assist or use signaling devices during the MATCH.
Event Staff shall not communicate with TEAMS about rule violations or gameplay concerns during a MATCH. The only exceptions are for immediate safety issues or for FTAs, FTAAs, or CSAs diagnosing technical problems.
Violation: Verbal warning. Yellow Card for Subsequent Violations. ARENA FAULT if violated by Event Staff.
Clothes and shoes are okay, and backpacks and items in your pockets or backpacks are okay if they don’t violate the other rules stated in G302.
Violation: MATCH will not start until the situation is remedied. If discovered or used inappropriately during a MATCH , YELLOW CARD .
In AUTO, a HUMAN PLAYER may not enter ALGAE onto the field.
A ROBOT may not use a COMPONENT outside its FRAME PERIMETER (except its BUMPERS) to initiate more than inconsequential contact with an opponent ROBOT inside the vertical projection of that opponent ROBOT’S FRAME PERIMETER.
Violation: MINOR FOUL
A ROBOT may not damage or functionally impair an opponent ROBOT in either of the following ways as a direct result of the contact:
A. deliberately, as perceived by a REFEREE.
B. regardless of intent, by initiating contact inside the vertical projection of an opponent ROBOT’S FRAME PERIMETER.
Violation: MAJOR FOUL and YELLOW CARD. If opponent ROBOT is unable to drive as a direct result of the contact, MAJOR FOUL, and RED CARD
A ROBOT shall be operated solely by that team's DRIVERS and/or HUMAN PLAYERS.
Violation: MAJOR FOUL and Warning. Repeated/Extended: MAJOR FOUL and RED CARD.
A. CORAL may only be introduced to the FIELD by a HUMAN PLAYER or DRIVER through the CHUTE and
B. ALGAE may only be entered onto the FIELD by a HUMAN PLAYER in their PROCESSOR AREA. Violation: MAJOR FOUL.
Violation: MAJOR FOUL
+5 pounds weight allowance and no formal inspections.
If we have more than 32 teams, The standard championship subdivision-level alliance selection process, including the four robots per alliance rules outlined in the game manual, will be used. 1-8, 8-1, 1-8
If we have fewer than 32 teams. We will use the standard 3-team alliance format from district/regional events.
At the beginning of Alliance Selection, the Emcee will ask if any teams would like to withdraw from Alliance Selection. Any teams wishing not to play can withdraw at this time. After Alliance #8 has made its first pick, teams are no longer allowed to decline invitations, and all further picks will be automatically accepted.
Given that the technology allows it (the video system doesn’t go down, etc.), there will be a video review process.
Each Alliance is allowed one challenge/review in the playoffs. The alliance captain will be provided a video review coupon.
Video review coupons must be given to the head ref within 2 minutes after scores are posted for that match to be reviewed.
Only match-affecting calls and yellow/red cards can be reviewed.
The score or lack of score being reviewed must be significant enough to affect the match's outcome. The Head Referee can choose not to review any call they do not believe will change the match's outcome.
Video evidence must be indisputable to change a call. The point is to receive credit for a missed score, not to debate further a close call on which a referee already used their best judgment. The Head Referee's decision is final after a review.
Only the head referee will use the event-provided video during a video review. Referees will not review any other video footage, including camcorders, phones, or tablets not provided by the event.
At their discretion, the Head Referee may choose to review any ruling throughout the event. Please do not ask for a video review at any time other than giving the referee your alliance’s video review coupon during the playoffs. All other requests will not be granted.
We will institute a soft time cap during the event to allow teams to leave in a reasonable amount of time if there are match delays. At the discretion of the event organizers, if the Finals start after 6 p.m. Central Time, we will move to a “Best of 1” elimination format instead of the usual “Best 2 of 3” format.
Due to the lack of awards, all pre-scheduled breaks in Elims have been reduced to 8 minutes long. This is to speed up the process.
