hozeng wrote:Our system was designed for a max jump. We have a short receiving track (>5 cm according the rule) followed by a turn then connected to a ramp with the finish line mark. The horizontal distance between the jump point and land point on the receiving track is about 50cm. In the regional competition, our ball jumped over the gap as designed, however the gap was measured from the jump point to the RAMP!!! That was measured as 20 cm. The explanation from the event leader was
"The rules state that they should have measured from the jump point to the front edge of the ramp but that is also assuming that the ramp is on the same plane of where the originating gap was."
This is another example where rules can be misread and taken so literally that it misses the intent of the rules. In my opinion,
(1) When they speak of plane, they might be speaking of the horizontal measurement of the gap: that is, the measurement must be on the same plane, not done diagonally.
(2) Measuring the gap as they did to the front edge of the ramp might be the closest part of the track, but that was not where the ball landed and it did not travel from that direction up the ramp! Part of the rules for a gap bonus mentions direction of travel. They measured opposite the direction of travel, rather than in the direction of travel.
(3) Rule writing is obviously difficult and this shows it is impossible to foresee all possible interpretations. I really don't see how the rules could be made any plainer on this point, but perhaps a clarifying statement could be added, such as, "the measurement being in the same direction of travel as the vehicle." Best wishes.
