101 Things I Wish I'd Known Before My First FIRST Tournament [Archive]

Rick TYler

26-03-2005, 16:40

I want to write the document referenced in the title of this thread. I don't think I have 101 of my own ideas, so I'll start and let any interested parts of the hivemind chime in.

1. Be aggressive in your onsite marketing. If no one knows who you are, you'd better have a robot so much better than everyone else's that it just doesn't matter.

2. Specialize. Despite what Robert Heinlein said about insects, you can't run a team where everyone is responsible for everything.

3. Check the robot before every match. Use checklists. If it's good enough for NASA, it's good enough for FIRST.

4. Wear comfortable shoes.

5. Bring lots of water. No one wants to pay $4 for 16 ounces of water.

6. If you want to do well at the tournament, pick your drivers ahead of time. The qualification rounds are no time to test new drivers.

7. Adults should keep their hands in their pockets when work needs to be done.

8. Get out of your pits and meet other teams. Otherwise, you might as well watch a Webcast.

9. Wear distinctive shirts.

10. Get more sleep.

11. Be enthusiastic. Yell, cheer, chant, dance. Act foolish.

12. Make sure your robot has the correct code loaded.

That should be a good start. Only 89 to go. :]

Sean Schuff

26-03-2005, 16:47

I'll speak from recent experience on this one...

Don't EVER lose hope. Even if you're dead last after quailfying, there is still a chance to make it to the finals. Keep working to make you're robot the best it can be.

(This one is courtesy of Ryan Dognaux) Scout teams, not matches. Sometimes very good teams run into very bad luck.

Meet other people from other teams - they have a lot to teach and a lot to learn.

HAVE FUN! These competitions are supposed to be a blast - don't lose sight of just how fun science, technology and engineering can be. And always look at the big picture.

servo175

26-03-2005, 17:03

network. FIRST is more than just a robotics competition. use it to find out what you like and try to meet people you can get in touch with when you leave high-school, for job oportunities.

Bcahn836

26-03-2005, 17:08

*Always scout your competition and alliances.
*Always have enough people in the pits to fix your robot at any given time, but don't keep the pits crowded with unnecessary people.
*Keep up on FIRST's schedule of events.

JohnnyB

26-03-2005, 17:09

counting up the other posts, thatll make this number 21...

21. Don't be afraid to have fun because its not "cool". Honestly, no one at a FIRST competition is gonna judge you. No one cares. Chances are, there are least 20 people dorkier than you.

MrToast

26-03-2005, 17:12

22. Yes, kids really do cry when their robot loses. Pretty soon, you will too.

23. When something goes wrong with the robot, it's always the programmer's fault. ;)

Dave

geeknerd99

26-03-2005, 17:42

24. Start the animation on kickoff day, not 10 PM the night before the deadline.

StephLee

26-03-2005, 17:56

Don't panic if something stops working.

If you need help, ask for it! Other teams are more than willing to help out, and chances are, one of them will know what's wrong.

Andy A.

26-03-2005, 18:03

27- Never forget your multitool in the hotel.

28- Never forget your safety glasses.

29- Don't forget your robot cart.

30- Don't forget 27 through 29.

-Andy A.

KTorak

26-03-2005, 18:11

31. A Minute on the field waiting is as long as a microsoft minute (read as eternity).

32. A Minute during the match goes bye like a flash.

KenWittlief

26-03-2005, 19:30

33. make sure someone has a key to the big toolbox, or disable the lock before you leave. Trying to borrow a hacksaw at 8am thursday is embarrasing

KTorak

26-03-2005, 19:36

34. ALWAYS bring a spare cordless drill battery to uncrating, becuase your's will die. (We had to remove many screws with a screwdriver :( )

JamesBrown

26-03-2005, 19:43

35 Make sure your PWM cables are going in the right direction

36. Learn what every flashing light in the control system means

tiffany34990

26-03-2005, 20:02

37. make sure you have the spare battery plugged in and zip tie the battery connection (helps a lot when battery don't come undone during the a match)

38. make sure there are batteries on charge for the robot

Dillon Compton

26-03-2005, 20:26

39- Keep your pit ORGANIZED. It is MUCH easier to get repairs done on a tight schedule if you dont have to spend ten minutes looking for a tool.

40- Make sure everyone knows about the robot. Being able to have any team member speak eloquently to the judges is a huge plus!

41- Do not get more complicated than is nessecary. "Keep it simple, Keep it safe."

42- If something goes wrong with your robot, dont stress out too much. There will ALWAYS be someone willing to help, and someone with a worse issue.

43- Check all systems before every match. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TIGHT CONNECTIONS AND THE SERIAL CABLES ARE FULLY SCREWED IN.

44- Most problems are electrical or in the program. If something goes wrong, check these first.

45- Buy non-standard joysticks, the ones in the KoP suck.

46- Eat. Take lunch breaks, and one or two other ones. Otherwise the stress will kill you.

oh, and last but not least....

47- Sleep before the competition, because for three days you wont get much if any.

I just got back from my first FIRST regional, and this woulda been useful!

katiyeh07

27-03-2005, 16:57

How addicting it becomes

Alex Cormier

27-03-2005, 17:07

49. have your pit crew assigned before ship and give them practice on the robot

50. give your drivers a lot of practice, if there is space on the field and you have time use the field

51. color coordinate your tools for easy access in the pits, say i need a 10/24 screw, wheres it o, it's blue...

52.have a big banner to put up in the stand area

53. have a neatly organized pit area, very team/spectator friendly

54. HAVE A CLOCK! it helps a lot and make sure it's the right time

55. safety FIRST

and i can think of more but I'll leave some room for others

Ian Curtis

27-03-2005, 17:12

56. Never be afraid to ask for a spare part even if your sure no one will have it.

KenWittlief

27-03-2005, 17:18

How addicting it becomes

you havent seen the warning label?

WARNING! FIRST IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE - MAY CAUSE: SLEEPLESSNESS, LARINGYTIS, UNCONTROLLABLE CHEERING, YELLING, CLAPPING, STOMPING, TENDENCY TO TALK TO ALLEN WRENCHES, COMPULSION TO BE IN ATLANTA IN APRIL, REVULSION FOR PIZZA, INCLINATION TO CALL PEOPLE 'HUMAN PLAYER', OBSESSION WITH #S 5 26 120 130, INTENSE LOVE/HATE FEELINGS TOWARDS ROBOTS, IRREVERSABLE POSTIVE ATTITUDE, STRONG FONDNESS FOR WOODY FLOWERS, STRANGE DESIRE TO BALANCE THINGS ON 2 WHEELS, TENDENCY TO LEAN TOWARDS MIT, INEXPLICABLE ADMIRATION FOR SOMEONE CALLED DEAN KAMEN, CAUTION! MAY CAUSE STUDENTS TO SUDDENLY EXCEL UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. SIDE EFFECTS ARE PERMANENT - THERE IS NO CURE OR TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION TO FIRST.

team222badbrad

27-03-2005, 17:27

57. Remember to eat and drink, FIRST is very intensive and food is not often your number one priority during the day. :ahh:

Jill1022

27-03-2005, 17:28

57. Talk to other teams, make friends, moer friends = much more fun

58. When scouting, dont sweat the small details, look at the important facts needed and scout them well.

59. Scouting is MUY important

60. Support your team with all you have

61. Have fun

Michelle 236

27-03-2005, 17:55

62. You're never too cool for a giant conga line around an arena. :cool:

AJL930

27-03-2005, 18:10

63. Make sure you turn the robot on before the match

64. Eat a good breakfast before competition

65. Speak up when it comes to a major decision about the robot

66. Dont be afraid to talk with other teams

KenWittlief

27-03-2005, 18:28

67. its impossible to bring too many buttons

Kevin Sevcik

27-03-2005, 18:39

68. It's immpossible to bring too much of any give away.

69. Make sure your battery cable isn't somewhere your arm will catch it and unplug it when you start a match. (True story)

70. For Heaven's sake, use a velcro battery strap or otherwise firmly secure your battery. Batteries don't help you if they're lying on the field.

71. If part of your robot cart sometimes sticks to the underside of the robot, make sure it's not stuck there when you put the robot down for a match, leaving your wheels 2 inches off the ground. (Almost a true story)

Koko Ed

27-03-2005, 18:42

you havent seen the warning label?

WARNING! FIRST IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE - MAY CAUSE: SLEEPLESSNESS, LARINGYTIS, UNCONTROLLABLE CHEERING, YELLING, CLAPPING, STOMPING, TENDENCY TO TALK TO ALLEN WRENCHES, COMPULSION TO BE IN ATLANTA IN APRIL, REVULSION FOR PIZZA, INCLINATION TO CALL PEOPLE 'HUMAN PLAYER', OBSESSION WITH #S 5 26 120 130, INTENSE LOVE/HATE FEELINGS TOWARDS ROBOTS, IRREVERSABLE POSTIVE ATTITUDE, STRONG FONDNESS FOR WOODY FLOWERS, STRANGE DESIRE TO BALANCE THINGS ON 2 WHEELS, TENDENCY TO LEAN TOWARDS MIT, INEXPLICABLE ADMIRATION FOR SOMEONE CALLED DEAN KAMEN, CAUTION! MAY CAUSE STUDENTS TO SUDDENLY EXCEL UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. SIDE EFFECTS ARE PERMANENT - THERE IS NO CURE OR TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION TO FIRST.

Hey! You changed it.
Good thing. Now it can be the template for the new version of the button. :D

Quatitos

27-03-2005, 18:51

72. Safety glasses may be a nice forehead protector, but thats not what they are made for.

73. Make a list of safety rules and go over it with your team so everyone knows the proper safety procedures. Place list in pits where everyone can read it. Judges like the list(2 safety awards this year so far).

74. Make punishments for breaking the safety rules. Pushups work good.

75. Be careful when driving your robot cart over cables, it can learn how to fly(almost a very bad thing).

76. Stop very slowly when your robots wheels are the only thing touching the cart(almost another very bad thing).

KenWittlief

27-03-2005, 18:55

77. (KokoEd reminded me of another) your teams banner can never be

TOO BIG

Koko Ed

27-03-2005, 18:57

77. (KokoEd reminded me of another) your teams banner can never be

TOO BIG
heh. :o

StephLee

27-03-2005, 19:27

78. If you're the coach, don't be afraid to do whatever you have to in order to get the driver's attention, especially if it's to avoid a penalty. Go on, it won't kill him to be hit on the head.

Alex Cormier

27-03-2005, 19:39

sorry i frogot one

79. Winning is an outcome

Guest

27-03-2005, 20:05

Now you can add all your reminders to one centralized list.

http://www.nrg948.org/portal/modules.php?name=101Things

I've already added all the ones up to this point.

dubious elise

27-03-2005, 20:59

72. Safety glasses may be a nice forehead protector, but thats not what they are made for.

I beg to differ on that one...

just ask Ricky Q. (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/pictures.php?s=&action=single&picid=7475&direction=DESC&sort=date&perrow=5&trows=10&quiet=Verbose) how safety glasses saved his life up there!

Amanda Aldridge

27-03-2005, 21:42

78. If you're the coach, don't be afraid to do whatever you have to in order to get the driver's attention, especially if it's to avoid a penalty. Go on, it won't kill him to be hit on the head.
Only a very few people will really, really appreciate this, but:

"You need an open-handed slap to the side of the head."

or some variation of the same.

Goobergunch

27-03-2005, 22:09

But if you're the coach, don't touch the controls, whatever you do.

(And before you laugh, this actually happened to us at one match at Chesapeake. Disqualification isn't pretty.)

kevin.li.rit

27-03-2005, 22:39

79. Always coordinate strategy with your partners.

Winged Wonder

28-03-2005, 14:12

81. If you dont think you'll get enough sleep, better bring some Bawls!

82. Don't bother bringing a GameBoy or iPod.

83. Always keep track of your stuff (i.e. put your name on it), especially when you leave things in the stands, and especially if everyone on the team has something that looks exactly like yours (i.e team shirts).

Billfred

28-03-2005, 14:40

84. If people offer free hugs, take them up on it.

Collin Fultz

28-03-2005, 16:01

85. Volunteer...it will make you see a totally different side of FIRST.

86. Often time the best, most powerful teams are the ones who are most likely to help those in need.

Chris Fultz

28-03-2005, 16:22

87. If it can't be done in pneumatics, it really doesn't need to be done.

88. Designate a few team members to be 'team spokespeople' in the pit and then be sure they are always there to be spoken to.

89. To really embarrass your mentors, make a huge sign of their head and then take it to every regional possible and get it on the webcast.

90. Your opions and statements DO reflect on your team and its' reputation, regardless of what your disclaimer says.

DarkJedi613

28-03-2005, 16:33

91. If MOE (365) is at your competition...theres no need to bring tools or replacement parts. ;)

92. Don't ever let the engineers change things when they have a "good idea".

93. Remember that screw heads have to be in the box while fitting your robot.

94. Bring hardware...even if you don't think you'll need it or didn't use it on the robot - bring all you can.

ScoutingNerd175

28-03-2005, 16:52

:) Scout early rather than late. It's no fun try to figure out who you want to pick in the last five minutes before you have to choose.

Anyone can end up being a picker and anyone can end up at the bottom of the list.

Sometimes a team that you were barely paying attention to can end up being a really great alliance partner.

Never let a problem with another team member get in the way of both of you having a good time.

Don't take things too seriously; It's supposed to be fun. :)

JamesCH95

28-03-2005, 16:55

95. Team 95 is always the underdog ;-)

96. Keep the same drive team and pit crew for every match

97. Delevop excellent communication between the pit crew and drive team, and within each group

98. Don't forget the chain of command

99. Don't be afraid to break the chain of command

100. Reliability the best asset you can have on the playing field

101. FIRST ROCKS!

Jill1022

28-03-2005, 17:10

96. Don't bring things you won't need

97. Bring a mini first aid kit, because chances are someone in the stands will need it and won't want to go to the pits to use that one.

98. Remember that even if you are an item, and even if you aren't eating each others faces off, even the smallest PDA can make people think poorly of your team.

the_short1

29-03-2005, 13:18

network. FIRST is more than just a robotics competition. use it to find out what you like and try to meet people you can get in touch with when you leave high-school, for job oportunities.

i fully agreee with taht.. i met one of the most interesting girls ive met in my life from team 547 (tenesee). . .we have so much in common its like . .whoa..

another one: make shure all your batteries are numbers and use them in order 1-4 and MAKE SHURE YOU SWAP them after each match.,.. i went away asuming someone else would swap the batery.. but no. .. so we had one match of a almost dead battery.. it was embarasing....

second one: dont make an A$$ outa yourself and assume.. . its not a good thing :d

roberthan

29-03-2005, 13:47

here is couple more

you can NEVER finish your robot too early
AlWAYS give your programers alot of time to test, if you want a reliable code and robot
if the code don't work, check the robot(eps. wiring, sensors) as well as your code
plan out everything before you start
make sure the radio is plugged in before every match
and AT LEAST test your autonomous code once, no matter in however a big of rush you're in

Elyse Holguin

29-03-2005, 16:54

er i think the count was lost, but still:

Don't run from a judge, it looks bad for your team (but I'm sure I did my first regional)
On a similar note, judges aren't scary people, and after 6 weeks you'll be surprised at how much you can actually tell them about your robot. They'll love it, especially if you're not on pit crew.
Have a mock-judge practice day where you can talk as a team about some things you can tell a judge if you are approached.
Don't forget your Mountain Dew/ Pepsi/ Caffeine pills/ Sugar.
If your robot has moving appendages that could possibly be at head level, don't under any circumstances get too close to the bot if it's on. (unless you, like me, are barely 5 feet tall and are never at risk for it hitting you.)

Rick TYler

10-01-2006, 10:21

I'm going to immodestly bump this thread from last season. I think it contains some really good advice, especially for rookie teams.

aaeamdar

10-01-2006, 10:41

I want to write the document referenced in the title of this thread. I don't think I have 101 of my own ideas, so I'll start and let any interested parts of the hivemind chime in.

7. Adults should keep their hands in their pockets when work needs to be done.

8. Get out of your pits and meet other teams. Otherwise, you might as well watch a Webcast.

In response to seven, as a rookie team, this is an issue we are facing. The following happened at our sunday meet:

After 2 hours of group discussions (everyone who showed up) the mentors went into the next room and decided that we would be building a corner scorer, not giving the kids a choice (though the kids would have voted for it anyway, as none of the mentors recommended a shooter). I wrote a long e-mail to my team detailing why that was a mistake.

So my question is, sure kids should listen to mentors, but aren't there going to be some times when adults need to do things (such as dangerous machining, electrical stuff?)? For example, noone on our team has learned CAD (unfortuneately). We had plans to learn it, but the software came about 1 1/2 months later than expected.

And #8 is just great =)

Rick TYler

10-01-2006, 10:53

In response to seven, as a rookie team, this is an issue we are facing.

Paul, this is a great topic. Why not start a thread just for this, so the "101 things" thread doesn't get off-track? Thanks!

Joe Matt

10-01-2006, 10:59

You WILL loose your voice.

Hunger and thirst will disappear, but continue to eat and drink in normal intervals. Don't over/under eat.

Wash those hands! Don't get sick!

Bring eye glass wash to the competitions to keep those safety glasses clean!

Netrilix

10-01-2006, 11:24

This is something I learned the hard way at my first event (BattleCry @ WPI)...

-Don't run down steep bleachers carrying 80 lbs of luggage and computer equiptment, because spraining your ankle less than three minutes into your first-ever FIRST event is not all that fun.

Aburame Shino

10-01-2006, 14:31

I'm saying this one from a couple experiences of mine.

*Get plenty of sleep before the events. I ended up falling asleep during the Boilermaker Regional last year and ended up missing lunch and one of our matches, and at West Michigan I almost missed the bus because I slept in. :p

indieFan

10-01-2006, 15:11

Bring white boards and markers. My team has done this since the first year we were competing. We use them to go over strategy with other teams, as well as to post when our matches are, with what teams, against what teams, and what color our alliance is.

RoboMom

10-01-2006, 15:17

[QUOTE=aaeamdar]
So my question is, sure kids should listen to mentors, but aren't there going to be some times when adults need to do things (such as dangerous machining, electrical stuff?)?
[QUOTE]

Yes. There is no blueprint for how a team is formed and run.
The key to FIRST's success is the work of over 25,000 volunteer mentors, professional engineers, teachers, and other adults working with students .

Communication is what this is about.

Back to the list.... (might want to check out "18 hints for rookie teams from NEMO" in the white papers)

Lots of mentors and other adults read as well as post on chief delphi.
-Judges read chief delphi.
-Every individual post reflects back on your team.
-Judges really want to know about your team, your robot, your business plan, etc. Help them. Lots of hints on this in other posts.

devicenull

10-01-2006, 18:36

>Drink lots of water (It's amazing how everyone can say this now, but I'll still forget)
>Those little foam earplugs are nice (They get rid of the loud noises, but you can still hear people talking to you)
>If the code worked during practice, check hardware before the code
>Get cell phone numbers of as many people on your team as possible. Put these on a small list and distribute to your team.

This shouldn't be something you have to worry about, but: When using free wireless internet, everything you send can be intercepted (Unless the site is https). Again, you shouldn't have to worry about this.. not at a FIRST event.

Conor Ryan

10-01-2006, 18:55

Tomasz Bania

14-01-2006, 22:38

When going to a competition Venue, Travel Light, at least with personal items. If you can leave your coats in the bus/car/van/practice robot. Take only what you must have, Notebook, Pen/Pencil, Camera (Digital preferable), Wallet, Water Bottle (say good bye to your voice) and Laptop if needed. Other than that you won't need other personal items (leave your food in the car, run out and get it at lunch time)

Those are probably the best things anyone can do (I sort of disagree on the food part, expecially at the Detroit Regional where you might have to park about a mile away). Now I'm not saying that that will happen, but if there is another big event at the same time, Don't be surprised!

P.S. Where is the link to the website that had all these things listed?

Kim Masi

14-01-2006, 23:15

-dont let the engineers completely design and build the robot
-let the whole team get involved in the planning and building process
-understand how to use a machine properly and safely before using it (mangled fingers...not fun)
-remember that everyone's opinion matters
-dont wait until the thursday of your first regional to install 2 speed gear boxes
-always read the updates on the FIRST website
-take advantage of all the amazing things CD has to offer :]

fnsnet

15-01-2006, 05:15

NEVER FALL ASLEEP AT A FIRST COMPETITION (PICTURES! (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37926) )

Continue to participate in FIRST after high school (mentor/volunteer)
Don't assume you can eat lunch at Subway (VCU).. everyone else thought the same thing.

anna~marie

17-01-2006, 07:44

Our mentors say this every year... wash your hands when you leave the (metal) shop and use the restroom!

ChuNalt787

18-01-2006, 00:53

-understand how to use a machine properly and safely before using it (mangled fingers...not fun)

thats a huge one. getting part of ur thumb taken off by the drill press isnt fun. Ive seen it and its pretty dusgusting.

Excelsior

18-01-2006, 17:19

Get everyone involved. Even the smallest freshman can have an idea an engineer would have never have come up with.

june_2008

20-01-2006, 18:16

22. Yes, kids really do cry when their robot loses. Pretty soon, you will too.

23. When something goes wrong with the robot, it's always the programmer's fault. ;)

Dave

As a Programmer, I resent that comment!

Koko Ed

20-01-2006, 18:22

Koko Ed

20-01-2006, 18:29

Let's see...
*Don't burn bridges. You'll find FIRST is a very unpleasant place standing on scored earth.
*Don't be afraid to look around FIRST and learn from other teams. They have alot to share.
* Don't be afraid to share with other teams. You'd be surprised with how much you can contribute.
* Do not use 3D Studio Max for over 30 minutes without saving. Otherwise you will learn the true meaning of tragedy.
* You don't have to be a genius to join or enjoy. You just have to be interested and enthusiastic.

pyroslev

20-01-2006, 18:45

Make your plans for a social life once the robot is shipped.
Caffine IVs are essential.
Fun and pain go hand in hand.
If you are good at only one thing, learn another task.
How to go for 48 hours on 20 minutes of sleep (if you can call it that...)

spamified88

20-01-2006, 19:07

Hammers are known as "speed" drivers
Duct tape is for when your speed driver gets out of control
Pins are ALWAYS in fashion
Jedi robes make any team instantly cool
You talk more to CD more than your friends
Engineers are celebrities
You don't need a license to drive a robot
It might help if you do know how to drive a robot
The fun always starts the weds. before a regional
Kickoff should be considered a national holiday
You learn how to find any team number you know in everyday life

Rick TYler

25-02-2006, 12:55

Some pit areas don't have chairs. A couple of folding chairs make life easier.

Tim566

25-02-2006, 13:28

Don't worry if your robot is a little overweight on practice day chances are more holes can be drilled somewhere to reduce weight without compromising structural integrity too much

fnsnet

25-02-2006, 17:28

Build a Battery charging station instead of just having a few chargers laying around. It comes in handy to have all your chargers in one place and you can check the status of all of them at a glance. Also, have someone in charge of it for the entire competition. It's a nightmare come true when someone utters "I thought you put that battery on charge."

Simon Strauss

25-02-2006, 21:42

spend the extra money to get yourself a comfortable pair of safety glasses that wont give you a headache if worn for 3 days straight (there is a reason why people wear them on their heads, because they are either uncomfortable or put their eyes out of focus and gives them a headache)

I'm gonna get some slack for this but

remember not even coke, Pepsi, mountain dew, sprite, bawls, jolt cola, your caffeine drink of choice or even pure speed is a comparable replacement for good ol' cowboy coffee (coffee brewed blacker than you have ever seen, left hot in the machine all night, cooled then microwaved and drunk without any milk or sugar)

James1902

25-02-2006, 22:40

*Zipties are always good to have
*Speed holes are fun!!! :D

Aaron D.

25-02-2006, 23:38

If anyone is interested there will be a new segment in FIRST cast called Daisycast by team 341 aimed at helping rookies it will premier in the next FIRSTcast and we address many of the issues discussed int this thread so tune in!!

ryan_f

26-02-2006, 02:08

at the toronto regional, we aren't even allowed to bring in water. we have to buy it all there. I remember 2 years ago security giving someone problems and not letting them bring in some honey (i think) because he was diabetic.

I hope some rules have changed

Dan Petrovic

26-02-2006, 22:43

Bring earplugs of some sort. It gets VERY loud.

fnsnet

26-02-2006, 23:15

EvilMonkyPirate

25-11-2006, 11:19

[QUOTE=fnsnet]NEVER FALL ASLEEP AT A FIRST COMPETITION (PICTURES! (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37926) )QUOTE]

I fell asleep at competitions all the time when I was younger.(I have 3 older siblings who did FIRST before me.) But since I've joined the team I've only fell asleep at one. We have pictures of it somewhere. But for a school project I had to carry around a baby doll that cryed all weekend. Which if you ever have to do that. Don't pick a FIRST filled weekend, you'll need more sleep then the kid gives you. It fell asleep at River Rage this year and I fell asleep a few miutes later. Blechers I must say, aren't all that comfy.

as for things you should know...

*Don't bring a fake baby to competitions, people think the thing is real and give you dirty looks especially if most people around you in FIRST know your entire family.

*Sleep is key...remember that always.

*Friends in FIRST become family throughout life. The bigger your family the more fun FIRST will be for you.

*The robot is important but remember that cheering for your robot is even more.

Jay Trzaskos

25-11-2006, 12:29

Don't worry, everyone forgets #33 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=359864&postcount=11) one time in their FIRST career.

You WILL become addicted.

Christmas gifts will soon become plane tickets to Atlanta instead of PS3's

Going to extra regionals to watch is NEVER a bad thing.

Your second year in FIRST is your first year as a mentor. Always be open and willing to teach any skills or knowledge you have.

JT
229

Billfred

28-11-2006, 21:33

One that I just thought of from thinking back:

Wear jeans, but bring shorts.

There's truth to this statement: I was field coach this year at Palmetto, and I had my jeans on. I was absolutely dying on Friday from the heat of competition (and the heat of the stage lighting on the field), so during the lunch break I ran back to my room, luckily right by where we had lunch, threw on the first clean pair of shorts I could find, and started walking back to the Colonial Center. Granted, this almost made me late for our match--we were the first after lunch--but I was much more comfortable afterward.

KTorak

29-11-2006, 08:26

Eric W. Jones

29-11-2006, 10:35

-The robot is never really done until the end of your last competition

This was especially true for 1646 last season. It looked like a different robot at Atalanta from the one we unveiled at the open house at the end of the build season.

-Expect everything to break on the robot at least once

three competitions, seven omni wheels.

i like dirt

29-11-2006, 14:38

-Always expect the unexpected

Eric W. Jones

05-12-2006, 11:03

-never, ever count anyone out, especially based on their placing

we were third or fourth from last at nationals and were picked for finals (even though we were eliminated in the first match)

Redo91

25-12-2006, 22:00

finish your robot BEFORE you ship it, not in the morning before the competition

hallk

26-12-2006, 16:45

you can never have enough zip ties

bring a dry earse board- nice to cheap track of matches, to do lists, who you borrowed from/loaned tools to

mulitples of tools-makes work go much faster

Dylan Gramlich

26-12-2006, 16:53

you can never have enough zip ties

bring a dry earse board- nice to cheap track of matches, to do lists, who you borrowed from/loaned tools to

mulitples of tools-makes work go much faster

whiteboards are also great for strategy and planning out matches! we have found this effective for 2-3 years now and that way u can refresh peoples memories before a match on what everyone is doing.

Tottanka

27-12-2006, 08:18

* When (and im saying when cause i know it will happen) youll stay for the night in your workshop testing and building the bot, make sure u got FOOD and COFFEE, you might actually suddenly notice u r starving to death...

*if the game item is a ball or something' u cant NOT play with it' just watch out hitting others precious stuff...u dont want any conflicts in your team ...

*DAve Lavery is massing with your head, but he must be taken seriously, evry word of his might be a lue that changes your machine...

*Be exposed to as many sides of FIRST as you can..if ur a programmer' u can be in the Chairman work part of your team in before the bot is ready, or before the team has any idea what it needs of you

*Remember' as friendly FIRST Competitions are, its still a game, and the other side wants to be a winner just as much as you do, adn just like you, they will do everything for it...

*Life is a game of chess' always look a few steps forward' and never be surprised, that the way of a true champ...

*Help others as much as u would like to recieve help from others..

*Girls are smarter then boys (and im a boy saying that).

* Never ever let a high school female student BUILD your robot, women are there to give orders to us, slaves...

*HAve your team organized well, many different parts like: Program team' Building, Webby, Public Relations, ANimation,. Each one of those must have a leader, and they all have to be organized together. A good FRC team is actually a small bussiness.

* People, no metter how uneducated they might be' will always find your machine intersesting, and will always ask questions u dont expext them (quote: "What on earth is that thing?"; "That's a robot?";"What's a robot?":"hm..erm...how do i anwer this question????"

Rick TYler

05-01-2007, 19:07

A week of testing is more important than a week spent cramming one last feature into your robot.

Steve W

05-01-2007, 19:14

Make sure that your batteries are :
1 - Charged
2 - fastened securely
3 - plugged in

and most of all, that your robot is turned on!

DanDon

05-01-2007, 19:36

Don't leave the batteries connected to chargers when the charger isn't connected to power.

JackN

05-01-2007, 20:10

Within a year FIRST/Chief Delphi will consume your life and all you will think about is alliance picking and how much you hate water games.

What a post for my 494th :)

Elpants

05-01-2007, 21:42

Gunna have to go with.

Bring Ear-plugs when you get head-aches with loud noise.

legotech25

05-01-2007, 22:20

I wish I would have known that it could be more draining than a sports season....

yet incredibly addicting!!!:)

Duncan Macdonald

06-01-2007, 00:26

48. If your only drill is in the crate don't loose the game of rock paper scissors

49. Scouting should not be done during or after alliance selection

Freddy Schurr

06-01-2007, 00:30

50. Have fun and enjoy the FIRST competition!

51. This is a learning experience for everyone and at any time, if you have a question about anything FIRST related, remember you can always ask your fellow CD friends for some advice.

y2d2

06-01-2007, 00:51

Bring extra shirts for team members/family members who don't have any. (No selling though...)
Don't assume you'll have lunch (maybe just for Silicon Valley people). At SVR, all the food places were closed on Friday and Saturday since SJSU had no school or whatever. Sigh.
Don't lift things that are too heavy for you, and don't be afraid to ask people to help you! Sigh x2.

And most importantly, talk with other teams! This is possibly the only place (until college) where you'll be normal!! (Who knew ;))

hallk

06-01-2007, 02:24

Check to see which battery is the most charged. Don;t just assume they are all ready to go.

BlondeNerd

06-01-2007, 09:36

Remember, you will be wearing your team shirt for 3 consecutive days. Either bring more than one or wear something under it to prevent others from passing out.:p

pyroslev

06-01-2007, 09:54

You forefit any and all rights to any form of mental sanity at the beginning of week four.

!DOM!

06-01-2007, 18:41

Rick TYler

16-12-2008, 01:40

It seems like a good time to drag this old chestnut out of the fire. I'll add one to start:

Bring lots of water and even more patience.

XXShadowXX

16-12-2008, 08:21

- Parts don't fail engineers do.

- Organize for a parent or mentor to wash shirts.

- If you get more then 3 hours of sleep during a competition, you don't have the right room mates.

- If chiefdelphi hasn't consumed all of online activities yet it soon will.

Andrew Schreiber

16-12-2008, 09:22

Some advice for programmers

When your code works and then stops working don't listen to the engineers who tell you, "maybe the code broke." Code doesn't break. It also does not make mistakes.

Don't get irritated when people say that everything is the programmer's fault. They are just jealous that we can do our part in 2 hrs at 2am the day before the open house but it takes them 6 weeks to get a functional robot. :)

Caffeine is no substitute to sleep in a nice comfy, warm, bed. (You can tell that last year I lived 5 minutes from our shop :D)

Murphy was a genius, the only time you cant connect to program your controller will be in the pits, at nationals, before your last match.

Advice in general

In general, if 3/4 of people on CD disagree with your interpretation of some physics equation it is PROBABLY wrong.

Engineering decisions should NOT involve feelings. Don't get bent out of shape when your team mates don't like your idea, there is probably a good reason why the mentor says that it is impossible to do.

Chris/Fish

16-12-2008, 12:56

A few gleamed from 449's experiences

-Should you decide to not secure your battery, make sure it doesn't fall on the main breaker and turn off the robot (actually happened)

-don't store stuff on/in the robot before a match. If you forget to take it out...well, a flashlight jammed up our drivetrain once. We use headlamps now.

-A very important one: a) Have a first-aid kit and b) know where it is

-on a related topic, you might want a mini fire extinguisher (thanks 75). You probably won't need it, but if you do, you'll really need it.

-the crazy ideas sometimes work.

-have replacement parts for everything. Remember, "the only difference between something that might break and something that absolutely won't break is that the part that absolutely won't break is impossible to get at and repair." Douglas Adams (something to this effect)

-when talking to judges: be enthusiastic, but stay coherent. Having a designated spokesperson helps

-Make sure your scouts are your team representatives for alliance picking. They will know who to pick; drivers usually only see their own matches.

-if you are borrowing button making equipment, make sure the owners know that it will be used heavily ("the blade is dull! how many buttons did you make? A thousand?" "uh...yeah. Or more")

-Have a lot of fun

BJT

16-12-2008, 13:28

Make sure everyone doesn't leave for lunch when the robot needs to be weighed and inspected before finals, leaving only 1 very hungry mentor to get it done.

XXShadowXX

16-12-2008, 14:08

Some things for engineers

- If you think you screwed up, check. It's easier to do physics/math/check your numbers in classroom during silent reading:yikes: , I mean at a meeting/math class, then at a event.

- If you think your wrong, then you probably need to redo it.

- When in doubt graph it.

Katie_UPS

16-12-2008, 16:19

Is it me, or did they use the ideas in this thread for the list on NEMO?

matt91

16-12-2008, 17:06

I have to say one of the most important things when at the Competitions is ALWAYS check and recheck the robot BEFORE a match, because we all know that a robot that dies after autonomous mode does a whole lot.

NEVER SNAP PLEXIGLASS!!!!
Trust me last year we had about 30 seconds to replace the wire that fed power to the distribution block, and there were so many people around that i could not properly access the area and ended up ripping the plexiglass off the side and ripping apart my thumb. Fun times (NAWT)... But bet your behind that that wire still got changed out!!

Also the head electrical person should ALWAYS carry the following (cargo pants are MADE for this!)

-Zip Ties
-Wire Cutters/ strippers
-PWM cable
-Pocket Knife
-Electrical Tape

gorrilla

16-12-2008, 19:09

dont get emotionaly evoled with anyone on your team(most of the time);)

RoboMom

16-12-2008, 19:21

Is it me, or did they use the ideas in this thread for the list on NEMO?

Indeed, a paper with this title in on NEMO, and credits ideas posted in 2005-2006 on chief delphi and Rick Tyler right at the top.

http://www.firstnemo.org/PDF/first_competition_tips.pdf

xxsumz

16-12-2008, 19:25

Rest your throat if your gonna cheer your team on...
Don't come on an empty stomach, if you do don't forget money
Scout the competition...

ZInventor

17-12-2008, 00:46

If your robot has moving appendages that could possibly be at head level, don't under any circumstances get too close to the bot if it's on.
[/list]

it may also be a good idea to have safety pins (i've seen some teams with pins and latches that have "remove before flight" tags attached, it's a great idea, since they'll be in untill you put your robot on the feild, and they can prevent MAJOR injury...

-Z

ZInventor

17-12-2008, 00:50

when the blue smoke rises from the control board,

it don't work no more...

and it's probly quite hot, and should be disconnected and left to cool before touching...

same goes for speed controllers, motors, solenoids, and anything else electronic (including laptops...)

-Z

EricH

17-12-2008, 00:56

If your robot has devices that could suddenly swing around, whether or not the robot is on, use extra caution. There's no way around that extra caution sometimes--you just have to use it! (I've been hit in the hard hat by a robot arm that was...err...a little "floppy", shall we say? Hence the hard hat that you rarely see me without at an FRC event.)

EricVicenti

17-12-2008, 12:09

Whenever the robot goes anywhere, put the most loud and obnoxious person on your team in front, shouting "ROBOT COMING THROUGH!! ROBOT!!". It's by far the easiest way to rack up safety tokens.

It may have already been said, but:

Never ever ever let the magic smoke out of your electronics.

JesseK

17-12-2008, 12:40

dont get emotionaly evoled with anyone on your team(most of the time)
Heh, don't ever, nor ever ever, get involved during the build or competition season. This is one of our team rules. Things get too complicated, people get distracted, time gets wasted, and most of the time students get burned out, causing feelings to get hurt.

What I wish I'd known:
Reprioritize your time from what it was in the build season. If your relationship survived the long days of the build season, now is the time to mend fences and compromise where possible.

Bleh. 2008 wasn't so good for me in this respect. :o

Andrew Schreiber

17-12-2008, 15:20

About getting involved in relationships, on 397 it is not against the rules. Relationships are great, if you feel strongly about someone that is fine and none of my business. The second it becomes my business then we have a problem. If I see team members kissing I WILL yell at them. This goes for at competition too, if I see two people kissing I will yell at them, this includes people I DONT know.

That being said, robotics is a great way to meet people, don't be afraid to talk to people. You never know when you will find a new friend, even if it is someone completely different than you.

gorrilla

17-12-2008, 18:05

IndySam

17-12-2008, 18:34

I wish I would have known how really helpful the experienced teams are.

They are such a huge resource for teams who are struggling or team who just need a little advice.

kamocat

18-12-2008, 13:03

Here's a rule that really makes FIRST about engineering:

Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.

This includes ordering standard parts before you need them. We're still having trouble with that.

jrdude

18-12-2008, 13:10

That FIRST talks in riddles when giving game hints

Nate Laverdure

23-12-2008, 02:00

Indeed, a paper with this title in on NEMO, and credits ideas posted in 2005-2006 on chief delphi and Rick Tyler right at the top.

http://www.firstnemo.org/PDF/first_competition_tips.pdf
I hope NEMO doesn't mind derivative work. Here is my take (pdf attached; 28.3 KB) at a condensed and edited version of these 101+ hints. The document is titled "FIRST Best Practices: Team Behavior during Build Season and at Competition."

afowl

26-07-2009, 15:59

Murphy was a genius, the only time you cant connect to program your controller will be in the pits, at nationals, before your last match.

I just had to quote this. Team 1089 at Nationals this year is proof of this if there ever was. Despite all of the random non robot things that went wrong, our cRio died. Thankfully another team let us borrow one they just won and we went to upload the code and our programming laptop died. But our smart programmers backed it up on a flash drive... which they lost... so they had to reprogram the robot on Friday night. There's a whole thread about this somewhere. We ended up losing every match except for the one our cRio died in which we tied... this leads to my tip.

It doesn't matter what goes wrong as long as you have fun. We all thought this was one of our best trips, even though we were second to last in our divison.

Dragon Princess

29-07-2009, 14:53

a robot is nothing like a race car, trust me i thought so, i had no idea where the spark plugs had to go...until someone pointed out their were no spark plugs lolz.

when your parents join your robotics team its not a bad thing, you get to have a bit more freedom on trips, and you can have takeout meals that are different from the teams, who doesn't love getting Chinese food or a grilled cheese after about most the build was all about pizza that you couldn't really stand anymore. Don't get me wrong i love pizza, but the Pizza hut near our build spot burns the pizza, and no where else will take a phone call from the school for the deaf seriously.

LadyinthePit

29-07-2009, 17:14

I have a couple to add if it's not too late. This year was my first (and last as a student) I learned a couple valuable lessons:

-Know EVERYTHING about your robot because as long as you're wearing your team name you're fair game for questions.

-When someone asks what language your programmers speak don't answer English (that was my rookie mistake to the Judges...somehow we still got Engineering Inspiration)

-People want to hear about your robot from you so don't be shy and let the mentors talk because frankly no one at the regional really cares what they have to say (Don't get me wrong I love our mentors but the senators, business execs, and misc. fans want to hear about how the program impacts students)

-Oh and you can never have enough buttons.

acidrain2012

30-07-2009, 14:46

You WILL NOT have Presidents' Day off, and you can forget about having Saturdays off as well. Oh, and about halfway through February, you should be prepared for at least one week of staying up way past midnight, even though its a school night. Its often advantageous to just bring a change of clothes, and change in the locker rooms when you wake up on the shop floor at 7 AM.:o

Chris is me

02-08-2009, 19:21

I have some to add. Partly from talking to new teammates the night before IRI. Sorry if I missed some in the long thread.

Meet people and teams and talk to them, a lot. Don't focus TOO much on your own team, or one task, but incorporate a hefty chunk of social interaction with your experience. Not only is FIRST a great way to network and know interesting people, you'll have a lot more fun (and a marginally higher chance of getting picked if you look at it that way) if you interact with other teams at events. Be friendly and talk! Most every collaboration or partnership starts by meeting at regional events, and you'll meet friends you'll never have gotten to know otherwise.

Find a cool gimmick and abuse it! Sure it's silly, but I bet half of the attention 1714's gotten (not that we have that much notoriety in FIRST (yet!)) is in our cheeseheads, all-polycarbonate robots, and diamond plated crate. Don't let it compromise your competitiveness or fun, but it's certainly a way to improve your regional experience while simultaneously increasing exposure and notoriety.

jmanela

02-08-2009, 20:25

1. make sure at all times you know who you are playing with, and playing against.

2. get ready to lose your voice

3. bring a water bottle

Chris is me

02-08-2009, 21:47

1. make sure at all times you know who you are playing with, and playing against.

I'd suggest teams bring a whiteboard in their pits for this very purpose, and the entire drive crew has an abridged schedule on them at all times.

2. get ready to lose your voice

My voice is actually still cracking from IRI.

Robert Cawthon

03-08-2009, 10:36

Personally, I like to bring a pair of ear plugs. It can get kind of noisy in there epecially when Dean shows up. Being able to have your own personal quiet space for a few minutes is very helpful for the adults. :)

Rick TYler

15-01-2010, 00:57

Time to resurrect this old chestnut? For the newbies?

dqmot17

15-01-2010, 21:34

No idea if anyone has said this but:

No matter how geeky you are, or how not geeky you are - one FIRST competition and your hooked.

[TBT] Vampire

18-02-2010, 19:54

No idea if anyone has said this but:

No matter how geeky you are, or how not geeky you are - one FIRST competition and your hooked.

I completely agree, this entire organization is an amazing feat and idea. Dean Kamen is a genius :D

waialua359

18-02-2010, 19:58

Pretend its a 5 week build season, submit awards on Feb. 17th (for 2010) the day before they are due, read the updates in addition to the manual, read Chief Delphi daily, and practice extended periods of no sleep.

Captain banana

18-02-2010, 20:20

Always have a back up code. Corruption is always bad, even on computers.

JamesCH95

22-02-2010, 07:37

Bring everything, even the kitchen sink, because if you don't bring it, you will definitely need it!

kaszeta

22-02-2010, 09:28

Bring everything, even the kitchen sink, because if you don't bring it, you will definitely need it!

During my first several years mentoring Team 95, I made soooo many trips to the Home Depot for various tools, parts, and stuff, and that's with us bringing everything and the kitchen sink.

I actually got quite popular with some of the other teams in the pit with my "Going to Home Depot, anyone need anything?" offers.

kws4000

22-02-2010, 17:25

Make sure someone is counting the number of rules posted.

???. Make sure your mechanical guys know what it means to switch around the air and motor PWMs and air hoses without labeling them, and their potential implications.
???. Make sure your robot is enabled before you compete AND the bridge eternet is plugged into #1 port on the cRIO.

Wildcat

22-02-2010, 17:35

???. when staying at a hotel that serves hot breakfast, make sure you wake up early enough to get some
???+1. pack emergency food (such as poptarts) in case you miss the hot breakfast

Ryan_Davis

22-02-2010, 18:08

Do not forget to connect to the arena's ip. This happened at our Ruckus... it was not fun.

davidfv

04-03-2010, 01:22

Not being prepared for the Alliance Selection
Especially with the way the seeding is done this year, there are good chances that rookie teams could be ranked pretty high after the qualification matches. It is hard to watch a high seed not knowing which team to select. Be proud that you managed to be ranked high and start thinking about alliance selection right away on Thursday. Even if you only have one person scouting, it is better than none. You could be ranked 12th and be brought into the top 8. Be prepared.

Not asking for help
There should be little reason that we do not have all robots running at the matches... NO ROBOT LEFT BEHIND. If you take a look at how the pits are arranged, you will notice that the low number (veteran) teams are mixed in between the high number (rookie) teams. Most regionals do this expecting the coopertition between the teams. If your robot is not working, just ask for help. Use the pit boss and their microphone to ask for help, you will be amazed how many other teams will be at your side in seconds.

Fixing everything before inspection
If your robot is a 60%-70% ready for matches, and all the hardware is there do the inspection as early as you can. The inspectors may find a major item that needs to be repaired or changed prior to competing. It is much better to find it out early than later.

kjolana1124

22-03-2010, 18:10

Pay more attention to the times not spent building the robot. In the end it's those times that will mean the most.

DarkFlame145

22-03-2010, 18:37

-Safety first never last have a future not a past............ oh yeah and injury forums suck (comes from the guys with a scare in the shape of Idaho for not wearing a jacket while welding)

-Act like an idiot, everyone else is at competition

-No idea is stupid

-No matter what happens during the season, have fun and learn at least one new thing (one year i learned pneumatic started with ph :p )

-If no one else take up leadership on something, take it, you might be good at it.

Wildcat

22-03-2010, 20:51

when one goes on the field wether for alliance selection or to drive in a match, always use the bathroom before you go out...you never know when the rest of your team in the stands is gonna try to make you dance :ahh:

BEEKMAN

22-03-2010, 21:20

If you're on the drive team, you may not eat lunch....

When in atlanta, bring comfortable shows...its a looong walk for the driver and operator

Nigel

22-03-2010, 21:27

always bring extra tread for your wheels if you want to keep your turning (at least with the hightop tread plactions >.<)

always bring about 10 batteries so that the very slow charge time doesn't kill you (we had to change batteries every match cos of how we drained em with our kicker)

ideasrule

23-03-2010, 02:54

72. Safety glasses may be a nice forehead protector, but thats not what they are made for.

[lame joke]I have to question this ancient piece of wisdom from 2005. Surely if a piece of shrapnel is flying towards me, I'd want to protect my brain rather than my eyes? Then again life would suck if I'm blind, so maybe brain death is a better alternative.[/lame joke]

Andrew Schreiber

23-03-2010, 11:46

If you're on the drive team, you may not eat lunch....

When in atlanta, bring comfortable shows...its a looong walk for the driver and operator

When on the team you may not eat lunch. I can't tell you how many times I have missed lunch at competitions.

Just in general, wear comfortable shoes... and bring fresh socks!

[lame joke]I have to question this ancient piece of wisdom from 2005. Surely if a piece of shrapnel is flying towards me, I'd want to protect my brain rather than my eyes? Then again life would suck if I'm blind, so maybe brain death is a better alternative.[/lame joke]

This. Don't even joke about this.