RECF Engage Robotics Competition Referee's Guide

Introduction

This guide has been prepared for use by RECF Engage Robotics Competition Head Referees and Scorekeeper Referees. This guide does not replace the RECF Engage Game Manual or the Head Referee Certification Course, but rather assists referees in finding those resources and learning best practices. Refereeing is one of our most challenging and rewarding volunteer positions. Thank you for your willingness to make the RECF Engage Robotics Competition a success by volunteering as a referee!

Position Summary

There are two different types of referees: head referees and scorekeeper referees. Each event (or division, if an event has multiple divisions) should have at least 1 head referee and each field should have 1-2 scorekeeper referees. Each alliance match & finals match must be watched by at least one certified head referee, and a head referee can only watch one match at a time. Each solo match field should have at least 1 scorekeeper referee. Scorekeeper referees stay at their assigned alliance match fields, and the head referee rotates to each of the alliance match fields so that they can observe every match. For example, to properly staff 3 alliance match fields, you will need at least 1 head referee and at least 3 scorekeeper referees.

Referees observe matches, identify rule fouls, and enforce the RECF Engage Game Manual as written. They keep track of all game objects scored and record these results on a score sheet or scoring tablet. Referees also keep track of the match time and ensure that matches are running in a timely fashion.

Refereeing at an RECF event is different from a traditional sporting event, in that RECF referees actually help the competitors avoid breaking rules. For example, we like to caution drivers when they are getting close to a foul, rather than watching passively until a foul has occurred. When a team has been cautioned, that is for their benefit and is not considered a penalty as no foul has yet occurred.

Key Attributes

Referees interact directly with teams and other event staff and need to have the following skills:

1. Thorough knowledge of the current game and rules of play.
2. Effective decision making.
3. Attention to detail.
4. Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
5. Ability to be confident and assertive when necessary.
6. Strong communication and diplomacy skills.

Referee Qualifications

RECF Engage Head Referees Must

1. Be at least 16 years of age.
2. Be approved by the Event Partner.
3. Possess all the attributes in the Referee Key Attributes section found above.
4. Be an RECF Certified Head Referee for the current season if volunteering at an event that posts official results to RECFevents.org.
5. Avoid apparel with messaging that may be inappropriate for student events, and anything that represents a specific robotics team.

Scorekeeper Referees Must

1. Be at least 15 years of age.
2. Be approved by the Event Partner.
3. Possess attributes 1-5 in the Referee Key Attributes section above.

Referee Key Responsibilities

Head referees and scorekeeper referees work together, but each has specific roles and duties.

Head Referee

Head referees have the following responsibilities at an RECF Engage tournament:

1. Train scorekeeper referees, ensuring they are fully versed in key game rules.
2. Act as the liaison between the teams and the scorekeeper referees.
3. Work with other event staff to ensure that matches are proceeding on time.
4. Work with the lead inspector to ensure that all robots are safe and rule-compliant.
5. Make all final scoring decisions and rulings.
6. Discuss any rules or ruling questions with teams.
7. Make the final check that the field and teams are properly set before the start of each match.

Scorekeeper Referee

Scorekeeper referees have the following responsibilities at an RECF Engage tournament:

1. Bring possible fouls to the attention of the head referee.
2. Discuss possible fouls with the head referee after the match.
3. Record the numbers of scored objects or field elements and communicates those to teams.
4. Communicate with the teams and event staff when the field is ready to be reset.
5. Ensure that the field gets reset properly and that the robots are positioned correctly before the head referee’s final check.
6. If serving as a scorekeeper referee for a solo driving or solo coding match, communicate final scoring decisions and rulings to teams. If there is a dispute of the score or ruling, the head referee will be asked to make the final scoring decision and ruling.

Referee Task List

Referees are responsible for the following major tasks during each match cycle.

Pre-Match

1. Check to make sure game objects are in the correct places after the last field reset.
2. Ensure that all team members are within their assigned driver boxes and that no more than 3 students are at the field for each drive team.
3. Verify all robots are turned on and the controllers have connections to their robots.
4. Verify all robots are a legal starting size and in a legal starting position based on constraints detailed in the game manual..
5. Verify that no spectators are in the competition area.
6. The head referee or emcee should ask if the teams are ready before starting the match.
   • If they are not ready, look at the scheduled start time and then decide how much time you can give them before you must start the match without them. Try to give as much time as possible without running behind schedule. Waiting 5 seconds for a robot to connect is better than having that team sit out a match. But waiting 3 minutes for a team to fix a broken robot is probably too much time to wait.
   • If a team is not present, wait until the scheduled start time, then start without them. If you see them approaching the field, use your best judgement on whether you can wait or have to keep things moving.
   • If a team can't get their robot into a proper configuration in a timely fashion, you should remove the robot and start the match.

During the Match

1. Communicate with the event emcee (if there is one) to begin the match.
2. Watch for any instances of drive team members touching robots or game objects. Keep them back, and keep them safe.
3. If a robot is in need of help from a driver, be sure that the team sets down their controller and places the robot in a legal starting position before picking up their controller again. If their robot is not legally reset, have the team set down their controller again until it is legal for them to do so. Teams might need help reaching their robot; if that is the case, gently pick up the robot and hand it to one of the drivers of that team.
4. Watch for any fouls, verbally cautioning the team when you see a robot come close to a foul. This is not a foul, just a way to help teams avoid them. Give out cautions all day long. If a foul calls for a robot grounding, call that immediately. If a foul calls for some other penalty, wait until the end of the match (see the Post-Match section).

Post-Match

1. Discuss any possible fouls with all referees from the match. Refer to the RECF Engage Game Manual to determine the appropriate criteria and consequences for the specific foul. The head referee MUST talk to the drive team members about any fouls. In most cases, the head referee will need to know the final score to determine whether a specific foul improved the match score. When this happens, go through the process of scoring the match to determine whether the foul improved the match score and use this information when discussing the match outcome with the teams.
   • If giving an official verbal warning, the Head Referee should add all details to the Head Referee Match Anomaly Log. 
   • If giving a foul, the head referee MUST tell the drive team members the exact rule and number that was violated. If the head referee can't find the rule, then the team can't be penalized. Use the other referees or event staff to help look up a rule if needed. There is no fixed time limit on this. Tell the team that you need to find the rule and will determine if the rule was violated before they play their next match. Record the foul on the Head Referee Match Anomaly Log and any resulting forfeits / zero scores on the score sheet or tablet.
   • Note that all sessions of a league are considered a single event, and the same anomaly log should be used for all sessions (i.e., a ryellow card foul that is recorded at the first session compounds with any fouls at the 2nd session when considering repeated foul).
2. The head referee should survey the field and make any scoring calls that are close.
3. The head referee should move on to the next field to start the next match while the scorekeeper referees record the score of the match.
   • When scoring the match, count out loud so that all teams hear what is being scored.
   • After the match is recorded, but before saving, show all teams the score sheet or tablet to confirm.
4. If there are unanswered questions or disputes, the scorekeeper referees should get the head referee to come back and resolve any dispute or answer any questions from the drive teams as soon as the head referee is able. This might be after the next match.
   • The game manual explains that drive team members must stay in their driver box if they want to appeal a decision.
   • When the head referee comes to talk with the drive team, the head referee can either settle the dispute immediately, or can ask that the students come back at a specific agreed upon time, giving the head referee time to gather all of the facts and look up the exact verbiage of rules.
5. Once the score has been confirmed, signal the field reset crew to reset the field and have the next teams prepare their robots for the next match. Note: Don't reset the field if students are standing in a driver box waiting to appeal a ruling!
6. Indicate to the queue managers that you're ready for the next match to come to the newly reset field.

Referee Best Practices

Other than scoring, a referee’s primary role is to watch for fouls and “call” them. Because a foul in the RECF Engage competition can result in a zero score for that Match, please help to caution and guide teams before they break the rules.

The teams have put a lot of time and effort into the competition; it is the philosophy of the RECF to be helpful rather than punitive when it comes to refereeing.

Waiting more than a few seconds for a team to be ready will have a compounding effect on the match schedule. Instead, help the teams get set up and prepared for the match so that when the start time approaches, the teams are already in place and ready to compete. If the scorekeeper referees can have everything set up by the time the head referee gets to the field, the event will run on time and at a more relaxed pace for the staff and competitors.

Scorekeeper referees must be careful to not answer rule questions from the teams. The head referee does this and needs to be consistent in the answers given to all teams. If there is disagreement between the head referee and the scorekeeper referees, look up the rule. If you can't find it, then it might not exist. Don’t make up rules based on how you think the game “should be” played. Games are designed without one strategy in mind, so teams will play the games very differently from each other.  To an untrained eye, this can look like breaking a rule.

Referee Tips

1. Caution teams if they are close to being penalized.
2. Make the necessary calls, even if fouls happen unintentionally.
3. Be fair and consistent to all teams.
4. Be friendly and positive.
5. Remember that a referee’s job is to enforce the rules as written, not as a referee thinks they should be written. Global consistency is key in ensuring the integrity of competition.
   • Do not invent, modify, or ignore rules.
   • Do not penalize teams who are not playing in a way that a referee “feels” is right.
6. If a team breaks a rule that calls for their robot to be grounded, the easiest way to ground them is to have the drivers turn off their controller and place it on the ground.
7. Be very vocal and visual when making calls. This way the audience and the teams will be aware of what is happening.
8. Direct all team questions to the head referee. The head referee should be the only person discussing rulings with the teams. When multiple referees are explaining rulings to the teams, inconsistencies in verbiage can easily arise.
9. The head referee (and only the head referee) should explain all controversial rulings and close calls to the teams. This level of communication is a positive experience for the teams.
10. When it comes to issues such as red card fouls, some referees will want to rule leniently to avoid being too harsh. Unfortunately, by not punishing a team for breaking a rule, you directly punish the other teams in competition. As unpleasant as it is, if a team violates a rule that is punishable by a red card and zero score, the team must get a red card and a zero score. It is the only fair thing to do.
11. If possible, attend some practice rounds to get the feeling for a typical gameplay and start establishing a match flow system between all referees and other event staff.

Referee Training and Preparation

In addition to this guide, the following resources are essential in preparing you for your referee role. If this is your first time being part of an RECF Engage event, we recommend that you do these in the following order to help you best understand your role and the game.

Essential Resources

Please review these essential resources:

1. Official Game Manual
2. Official RECF Engage Q&A system - coming soon!
3. Head Referee Certification
4. Robot Inspection Checklist - coming soon!
5. Head Referee Match Anomaly Log
6. Field Note to Judges

Head Referee Certification

Head referees are required to be certified. The team experience is much more positive when the head referees are fully versed in the rules and how to manage the competition area. There is no fee or charge to become a certified head referee, and the RECF Engage Head Referee Certification Course is accessible on any device. An exception to this requirement can be made if the event takes place before the head referee certification is available for the season. In that case, head referees should ensure they have fully read the game manual and are up to date on the rulings in the official Q&A.