As many of you probably know, the official FRC Q&A system is down right now. We're attempting to address a security issue. While we are working very hard on this as a top priority, we can't yet predict when the system will be back up. And, we know you have more questions about rope than have ever been asked in the history of ropes, which is a very long time indeed.* We do have answers ready to go on many of those. We were waiting until Team Update 02 was finished and released before we published those answers, as they are tied together, but at the same time we released the Team Update, we pulled the Q&A system down, so those answers didn't go out.

To help teams through those Q&A system withdrawal pains, we're publishing below a few key questions and what their official answers will be once the system comes back up.

Q6: Velcro usage on a rope. Can a team use Velcro on a rope that they bring to the field? Can they place Velcro above the 4 inches that secures the rope end? Can it be place on the 4 inches that secures the rope?

Answer: Please see Team Update 02. Non-adhesive-backed hook and loop fastener may be part of, or the entirety of, a legal ROPE, provided that the ROPE is entirely made of "flexible, non-metallic fibers twisted, tied, woven, or braided together" per I04 (e.g. something stuck to or wrapped around the outside of the ROPE does not satisfy this requirement unless it's whipping as permitted per I04 part D).

Q45: Does a strip of Velcro count as a ROPE? To expand on Q6, which asks about adding Velcro to a rope: Would a strip of Velcro itself be a valid and legal ROPE? By I04-D, a rope must "consist entirely of flexible, non-metallic fibers twisted, tied, woven or braided together".... (there were more words on this sales job question, but we omitted them for brevity.)

Answer: There are so many configurations and styles of hook and loop fastener that it would be impossible for us to say that every single one meets the requirements of I04. However, we feel the elements required to meet I04 (with the recent Team Update and the answer to Q6) are pretty clear. If there is some specific element of the definition that concerns you, please rephrase and ask again (once the Q&A system is back up, of course).

Frank

* "Hey, let's let the teams bring their own ropes!" is starting to rank up there with "Hey, let's have changeable defenses!"