ROBOT FOOTBALL (HUMANOID)

1. Scope and Applicability

1.1. This regulation governs the Robot Football (Humanoid) discipline within Robotics Championship International (RCI).

1.2. The discipline is intended for bipedal humanoid robots operated in a competitive match format.

1.3. Participation in the discipline implies full acceptance of:

1. this regulation,

2. the general Robotics Championship Terms and Conditions,

3. decisions of the organizing committee and referees.

1.4. In case of conflict between this regulation and general RC Terms and Conditions, the latter shall prevail.

2. Definitions

For the purpose of this regulation, the following definitions apply:

2.1. Humanoid Robot – a bipedal robot that moves exclusively by alternating leg motion and is capable of self-balancing without external support.

2.2. Team – a group consisting of two humanoid robots and their associated pilots.

2.3. Pilot – a human operator providing control input to a robot.

2.4. Match – a competitive encounter between two teams conducted according to this regulation.

2.5. Referee – the official appointed by the organizer to supervise and enforce the rules of the match.

2.6. Neutral Restart – a referee-initiated restart of play following a deadlock or non-playable situation.

3. Team Composition

3.1. Each team shall consist of exactly two humanoid robots.

3.2. A maximum of two pilots is permitted per team.

3.3. No reserve or substitute robots are allowed.

3.4. Robots may change functional roles (e.g. attacker, defender) freely during the match.

3.5. Participants must be between 10 and 20 years old, in accordance with Robotics Championship Terms & Conditions.

4. Robot Eligibility and Technical Requirements

4.1. Physical Limits: * Mass: Max 3000.0g.

Dimensions: Max 200mm x 200mm (Static footprint). Height Max 500mm.

Structure: Must have 2 legs, 2 arms, and 1 head. No wheels or auxiliary supports.

The use of wheels, tracks, sliding elements, rolling motion, or deliberate foot-dragging to simulate locomotion is prohibited.

Robots must be capable of standing up independently from a prone or supine position within 10 seconds. Failure to stand results in the robot being treated as a 'deadlock' or removed for a 30s penalty.

4.2. The Gait Requirement: * Locomotion must be bipedal. During a walking cycle, the swinging foot must completely clear the surface.

The Paper Test: The robot must take at least 3 consecutive steps over an 80g/m² sheet of paper without snagging, dragging, or crumpling it.

4.3. Connectivity & Power:

1. Allowed: 2.4GHz RC, Bluetooth, Console Gamepads (PS/Xbox).

2. Failsafe: Must cease all movement if signal is lost. Failsafe must stop motion within 1 second.

3. Liability: Connectivity is the Pilot's responsibility. If a signal drops (Bluetooth lag/interference), the match continues. The opponent may score on a "frozen" robot.

4. Battery: Must be safely secured. A "brown-out" or power loss is treated as a Slipdown.

4.4. Arms may be used solely for balance. Any intentional contact between the ball and a robot’s arms or hands is prohibited.Incidental contact where the ball strikes a stationary arm is not a foul.

4.5. All robots must pass technical inspection prior to competition.
The organizer may reject robots deemed unsafe or non-compliant.

4.6. Post-Inspection Non-Compliance: If a robot is found to be non-compliant after a match has started, the offending team will be immediately disqualified from that match and potentially the entire category.

1. The Result: The match will be recorded as a 3–0 loss for the non-compliant team (or their current score, whichever is worse).

2. No Rematches: To maintain the event schedule, rematches are not permitted. The compliant team simply receives the "Forfeit Win."

5. Field of Play

5.1. The field of play shall be a rectangular arena with walls.

5.2. Recommended dimensions:

1. Length: 2.4 m to 3.0 m

2. Width: 1.6 m to 2.0 m

Exact dimensions shall be announced by the organizer before the event.

5.3. The field shall include:

1. two goals, one at each end;

2. a clearly marked halfway line;

3. a center point for kick-off and neutral restarts.

5.4. A low wall shall surround the field to prevent the ball and robots from leaving the arena.

6. Match Procedure

6.1. A match consists of:

1. two halves of 5 minutes each;

2. a halftime break of 2 minutes.

6.2. The match clock runs continuously.

6.3. The clock shall not be stopped for:

1. robot falls;

2. software failures;

3. mechanical damage;

4. battery depletion.

6.4. The referee may stop the match only in case of:

1. safety hazards;

2. arena failure;

3. external interference.

7. Ball and Kick-Off

7.1. The official ball is a standard 60mm foam ball.

7.2. At kick-off:

1. the ball is placed at the center point;

2. all robots must be in their own half;

3. the ball must be kicked forward to start play.

7.3. After a goal, play restarts with a kick-off by the conceding team.

8. Scoring

8.1. Goal
A goal is scored when the ball fully crosses the goal line between the goal posts.

8.2. Each goal is worth 10 points.

8.3. Dominance Points
a) If the ball remains entirely in the opponent’s half for 30 consecutive seconds, the attacking team is awarded 1 point.
b) The count is reset if the ball crosses the halfway line, a foul is called, a neutral restart is ordered, or a goal is scored.

8.4. Shot on Goal
A clear kick directed at the goal that strikes the goal structure or is blocked by the defending robot is awarded 2 points, at the referee’s discretion. A Shot on Goal is defined as a ball trajectory that would have entered the goal net if not for the intervention of a defending robot or the goal structure.

9. Active Play Requirements

9.1. A robot may not trap, pin, or immobilize the ball for more than 5 seconds.

9.2. Trapping the ball under the body, between the legs, or against the wall beyond this time limit is prohibited.

9.3. Violation results in loss of possession or other sanction determined by the referee.

10. Deadlock and Out-of-Play Situations

10.1. A deadlock occurs when:

1. robots are immobilized against each other; or

2. the ball cannot be played due to obstruction.

10.2. If a deadlock persists for approximately 10 seconds, the referee shall order a Neutral Restart.

10.3. For a Neutral Restart, the ball is placed at the nearest referee-designated restart position.

10.4. There are no throw-ins.
When the ball leaves the playable area, it is repositioned by the referee.

11. Prohibited Actions

The following actions are prohibited:

a) Illegal Charging an opponent without first playing the ball;
b) deliberate toppling or attacking a robot during its recovery motion;
c) intentional hand or arm contact with the ball;
d) deliberate stalling or passive play;
e) pilot interference with referees or the field of play.

12. Penalties and Sanctions

12.1. The referee may apply one or more of the following sanctions:

1. warning;

2. loss of possession;

3. temporary removal of a robot;

4. permanent removal of a robot for the remainder of the half.

12.2. Temporary removal (“Timeout”) duration is 30 seconds.

During a 30-second timeout, the robot must be physically removed from the field by a designated Team Handler and placed in a neutral zone. It may only return after the referee signals the end of the penalty.

12.3. In case of serious or repeated violations, the referee may:

1. award points to the opposing team;

2. terminate the match.

13. Tie Resolution

13.1. If the match ends with equal points:
a) a 2-minute Golden Goal period is played;
b) the first goal scored wins the match.

13.2. If no goal is scored, the referee shall determine the winner by a penalty shootout procedure announced before the event.

Procedure:

1. The Setup: The ball is placed on the Penalty Spot.

2. The Attacker: Starts at the Halfway Line.

3. The Goalie: Starts on the Goal Line.

4. The Action: On the whistle, the Attacker has 30 seconds to score. The Goalie can move anywhere within the Penalty Box.

5. Rounds: Each team takes 3 shots. If still tied, it goes to "Sudden Death" rounds.

14. Referee Authority

14.1. The referee has full authority to interpret and enforce this regulation.

14.2. Referee decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

14.3. The referee may take any action necessary to preserve safety, fairness, and continuity of the competition.

15. Safety and Liability

15.1. Teams are fully responsible for the safety and integrity of their robots.

15.2. The organizer assumes no liability for damage to robots or equipment.

15.3. Unsafe robots may be excluded from the competition at any time.

16. Final Provisions

16.1. The organizing committee reserves the right to:

1. clarify this regulation;

2. issue additional instructions consistent with it.

16.2. This regulation enters into force upon publication by Robotics Championship International.