2003 Transfusion Confusion

There are two ways of using the green diseased blood cells: the cell scores when it is removed from the sterile field (i.e., deposited outside of the playing field), or the cell nullifies the score in the specific zone of the cell saver where it is located. Each diseased blood cell removed from the field scores 8 points for all teams participating in the match. To nullify a zone of the cell saver (e.g., the upper scoring area of the yellow team), the diseased blood cell must be located within that zone. The diseased blood cell does not affect the blood cells contained in any of the other zones of the cell saver.

Activating the decontamination switch (a paddle with a light on top) scores 3 points for the team assigned to the switch; however, the switch only scores points the first time it is activated. The order in which the decontamination switches are activated is used to resolve ties. The decontamination switch must be used by any teams involved in damaging a disease cell, and by a team that touches outside the sterile field.

Teams will be disqualified for intentionally damaging cells; accidental damage to cells will result in a 4-point or 10-point penalty, depending on if the cell is in a non-scoring, or scoring position, respectively, at the time that it is damaged. Stealing cells from another team is legal; however, cells that are in a scoring position when they are damaged will still be scored if they are damaged by another team.

There will be three phases to the contest: a partial round robin preliminary competition, a six game round robin semi-final between the top eight teams, and a three game round robin final between the top four teams. During the preliminary competition, each team will play eight games against randomly selected opponents. The team’s average score over the preliminary competition will be used to rank the team and to determine which eight teams advance to the semi-final round robin playoff. When computing a team’s average score for the preliminary competition, the team’s low score will be dropped.

For the semi-final round robin playoff, the top eight teams will each play three matches. The teams’ total scores for these three matches will determine which four teams advance to the finals. The top four teams will play three additional matches to determine the final ranking order. Ties will be resolved in the same manner as for the seeding competition.