To play an official match in the Small Size League, four impartial roles must be filled:
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the referee
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the vision expert
Usually, these roles are filled by two non-playing teams, with one team providing the referee and the game controller operator and the other team providing the assistant referee and the vision expert. The assignment of the roles is up to the organizing committee.
Every participating team is required to be able to provide enough people who are familiar with these roles.
Each match is controlled by the referee. He has full authority to enforce the rules of the Small Size League in connection with the match to which he has been appointed. The referee is encouraged to use the designated walking area next to the field (see [Field Setup]).
The referee is assisted by the automatic referee software. The human referee is allowed to override any decision made by the automatic referee software.
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee, provided that he has not restarted play.
The rules do not define all circumstance and their consequences in every detail. The referee is thus advised to judge in an adequate way, if the rules are not explicit. The usual procedure is to issue a warning on the first occurrence and an [Unsporting Behavior] on repetition.
The referee is not held liable for any kind of injury suffered by an official or spectator, any damage to property of any kind nor any other loss suffered by an individual, club, company, association, or other body.
The robot handler is the only team member that may talk to the referee.
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The referee ensures a safe match for all humans and robots
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The referee ensures a fair match according to the rules of the Small Size League
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The referee ensures that there is no interference by unauthorized persons or team members
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The referee or assistant referee places the ball for kick-offs and penalties (division A) or after every stoppage (division B). Subsequently, the referee resumes the match
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The referee ensures that the game is started and resumed in time
The assistant referee supports the referee wherever he can. He is encouraged to use the designated walking area next to the field, opposite the referee.
No team members are allowed to talk to the assistant referee.
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The assistant referee indicates when misconduct or any other incident has occurred out of the view of the referee
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The assistant referee discusses unclear situations with the referee
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The referee or assistant referee places the ball for kick-offs and penalties (division A) or after every stoppage (division B)
During a match, the game controller operator uses the game controller software as an interface between the referee, the automatic referee and the team software.
No team members are allowed to talk to the game controller operator, except the robot handler for robot substitution intents.
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The game controller operator configures the game controller before the game begins
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The game controller operator enters the signals of the referee into the game controller
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The game controller operator watches the game event log for any events that need attention, like detections of an automatic referee or elapsed timers and notifies the referee
During a match, the vision expert is in charge of the shared vision system on the field.
Team members are generally advised not to talk to the vision expert, unless they experience major vision problems.
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The vision expert checks the vision hardware and reports any kind of hardware problems to the technical committee
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The vision expert monitors the shared vision system during the match and reports any kind of problems to the referee instantly
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The vision expert recalibrates the vision system if the referee deems it necessary
Before the start of the match, every team has to designate one robot handler. The robot handler represents the team during the match.
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The robot handler helps preparing the match.
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The robot handler asks the referee for timeouts if necessary.
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The robot handler can substitute a robot during game play.
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The robot handler asks the referee for the permission to substitute a robot in the next stoppage and, if the referee agrees, substitutes the robot.
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The robot handler voices concerns of the team (for example network issues or vision problems).
All people that fill a role in the match (impartial or team-specific) have to be ready at least 10 minutes before the start of the match to allow the referee to make the following preparations:
The referee obtains a game result sheet from the organizing committee. After the game, the referee fills in the final score, collects the required signatures and submits the sheet to the organizing committee.
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Note
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While obtaining the game result sheet, the referee can also take an official ball and referee equipment such as a whistle or red and yellow cards (if provided). |
The referee ensures that both teams receive vision data and referee commands.
The referee asks the robot handlers of the teams about their preferred team color (either blue or yellow). If the teams agree on a color assignment, the colors will be used for the entire match.
However, if both teams prefer the same color, the referee assigns the colors by chance. In this case, the teams switch the colors after the first half of the match as well as after the first half of the overtime if applicable.
The referee tosses a coin with both robot handlers. The winning team chooses the goal it will attack in the first half of the match. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match.
The referee asks both robot handlers which robot they will use as the keeper and forwards this information to the game controller operator.
The keeper id can be changed anytime during the game if the ball is either out of play or in the opponent’s field half by:
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Using the game controller network interface
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Asking the game controller operator to change it in the game controller. The game controller operator must not change the keeper id until the ball is at a valid position.
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Note
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Teams should only ask for a change once the requirements are met. The game controller operator is responsible for complying to the rules. |
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Note
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If a team does not want to use a keeper, it may select the id of a robot that is not on the field. |
An official match of the Small Size League consists of the following stages:
| Game Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
First Half |
300 seconds of playing time |
Half-Time Break |
300 seconds pause |
Second Half |
300 seconds of playing time |
If the match is an elimination match (draw is not a possible outcome) and the score is even after the regular game time, the match goes into overtime and the following game stages are added:
| Game Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
Pre-Overtime Break |
300 seconds of pause |
Overtime First Half |
150 seconds of playing time |
Overtime Half-Time Break |
120 seconds of pause |
Overtime Second Half |
150 seconds of playing time |
If the score is even after overtime has been played, the following stages are added:
| Game Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
Pre-Shoot-Out Break |
120 seconds of pause |
unlimited |
The match timer is paused whenever no team is allowed to manipulate the ball. This includes stop, halt and the preparation states of kick-off and penalty kick. Additionally, it is paused during ball placement.
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Note
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As a result, the time needed for a match is much greater than the playing time. |
The robot handler has to ask the referee for a timeout. Timeouts are handled like breaks, meaning that both teams are allowed to make modifications to their software and hardware (see [Autonomy]).
Each team is allocated 4 timeouts at the beginning of the match. A total of 300 seconds is allowed for all timeouts. Timeouts may only be taken during a game stoppage. The time is monitored and recorded by the game controller operator.
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Note
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For example, a team may take 3 timeouts of 60 seconds duration and thereafter have only one timeout of up to 120 seconds duration. |
During overtime, both teams can use 2 timeouts with a total time of 150 seconds. The number of timeouts and the time not used in regular game are not added.
No timeouts are possible in the shoot-out stage.
Before the shoot-out stage, when a team manages to shoot 10 goals, the match is automatically terminated as soon as the goal difference is greater than one and the team with more goals is declared the winner.
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Note
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During the group phase, the number of goals scored is used as tie-breaker, so the absolute number of goals matter for overall scoring. The rule applies to all game types for simplicity. |