Official Q&A: VRC 2022-2023: Spin Up

Would like some clarification around robots entering the opposing goal and defending robots pushing discs. The rules as i understand them were that only attacking robots could enter the goal area they're scoring discs in. But the rules have been changed to allow defensive robots? At the competition today this caused robots to sit in the area and clear out. No attacking play at all. I thought this was an "attacking game"? Can anyone clarify this?

In the future, please review the Q&A Usage Guidelines before posting, specifically point 3, "Quote the applicable rule from the latest version of the manual in your question".

Three Spin Up rules directly address Robot actions within the Low Goal:

• <SG5a> prohibits vertical expansion within the Low Goal prior to the Endgame;
• <SC5c> indicates that contact with the field tiles inside a Low Goal does not count towards Cover points, but does not prohibit this contact;
• <SG1> indicates that a Robot cannot contact the field tiles within the Low Goal at the beginning of a Match.

Several other rules describe interactions around the Low Goal that may lead to Minor or Major Violations (e.g., this <SG4> example: a tipped Robot that blocks access to an opponent's Low Goal while expanded horizontally prior to the Endgame).

As described in <G12>, Spin Up is intended to be an offensive game but defensive play that does not involve destructive or illegal strategies is still within the spirit of the rule.

Because the Robots described in your scenario are not Violating any rules, their actions are allowed.