Scheduling Problems
 

Hey everyone!

Just a quick note to you all. If anyone has looked at the schedule for Championships you might notice that on Wednesday 3pm is load in with 5 team reps, 4:30pm is drivers meeting, not until 5pm is everyone allowed in and then 5:30 practice matches begin.

As a member who has been to Championships I know it takes a long time for 400 teams to load in. Also, not all teams are able to bring in all 4 drive team members in during load in so this causes a problem.

I also wonder how all teams and robots will be ready by 5:30pm for practice matches.

If anyone has an answer I'd greatly appreciate it!

Kate Sample
FIRST Team 1108
Panther Robotics

Re: Scheduling Problems
 

The Driver's meeting isn't in the pits. Its in the Newton stands. It doesn't seem like it will be a problem.

Re: Scheduling Problems
 

One of the reasons that Pit crew & drive team should be different people.

Re: Scheduling Problems
 

Frank,

We do agree that would be nice but seeing as we are a nine member team this is difficult for us.

Re: Scheduling Problems
 

With a 9 member team, with 5 in the pits, that leaves you 4 people not in the pits. You don't need all the drive team at the meeting. The driver(s), and maybe the coach.

Even if the driver(s) are needed in the pits, the driver(s) can leave during the driver meeting, and you sub those people in the pits for the 20 minutes.

I was wondering about loading in 400 teams. Fortunately, the robots are already there.

5:30 is additional practice. On the original schedule, there were no practice rounds on Wednesday. Since the bots won at Regional, most bots are ready to play. Remember, you do not have to be inspected to play your practice round. You only have to be inspected if you want to sub for a team that skips a practice round.

Re: Scheduling Problems
 

How do the 4 drive team members get into the building to get to Newton? The only ones allowed into the building from 3-5 PM are the 5 team reps.

Is someone monitoring the Driver's badges to let them into one of the other entries at 4:15 to allow them to be in the Driver's meeting at 4:30?

Re: Scheduling Problems
 

I believe any number of people can get into the Dome. The FIRST Championship Conferences also start at 4:00. We have always loaded in at the front circle drive. I think the limitation is at the pit entrance. We have even taken turns carrying stuff in. 4 team members bring in a load, while others stay with the stuff on the curb. When those 4 come out, a new 4 go in with more stuff. If you need any help loading in, come find an Up Next team member in a pink shirt.

Re: Scheduling Problems
 

It's only the pits that are initially restricted to the small group. The dome is practically a separate building with different entrances.

Re: Scheduling Problems
 

Sorry I was being a little tongue & cheek there. As you know, Championships is like drinking from a fire hose. Since they have changed things around this year, expect mass confusion to be the norm. :]

Re: Scheduling Problems
 

If you need more people to help you out, might want to start asking the other teams that are going, if they can lend some students to bring your stuff in. This is about teamwork too! :)