DECODE™ Penalties & Cards
This page summarises the official DECODE™ MATCH penalties as defined in the Competition Manual. Referees assess penalties when a ROBOT or DRIVE TEAM violates gameplay or safety rules.
Minor Penalty
A Minor Penalty is assessed for less severe rule violations. Each Minor Penalty adds points to the opposing ALLIANCE score.
| Penalty Type | Points Awarded to Opponent | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Penalty | 10 | Incidental contact, minor gameplay violations |
Major Penalty
A Major Penalty is assessed for more serious violations, repeated infractions, or actions that significantly impact MATCH play.
| Penalty Type | Points Awarded to Opponent | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Major Penalty | 30 | Repeated rule violations, strategic interference |
Yellow Card
A Yellow Card is a formal warning issued to a TEAM for egregious or repeated violations. Yellow Cards accumulate throughout the event.
| Condition | Result |
|---|---|
| Two Yellow Cards | Red Card |
| Severe safety violation | Immediate Yellow or Red Card |
Red Card
A Red Card results in DISQUALIFICATION from the MATCH. The ALLIANCE receives zero MATCH points and zero Ranking Points for that MATCH.
Autonomous & Gameplay Violations
| Violation Type | Typical Penalty |
|---|---|
| Early movement before MATCH start | Minor Penalty |
| Contact inside protected zone | Major Penalty |
| Interfering with scoring element | Major Penalty |
| Unsafe robot operation | Yellow or Red Card |
Referee decisions are final. Teams may request clarification but may not argue judgement calls.