Shorts in the pits?
 

Shorts in the pits and on drivers? I seem to remember a time when it was not allowed. I did not allow team members to wear shorts. One of my people counted 61 in shorts before she stopped. No rule?

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

No rule that I know of. Our team's uniforms doesn't allow it however.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

No rule that I'm aware of. At least not a literal rule, just a social rule. I guess it's from a fear of kneeling down in metal shavings.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

While it was suggested that we wore pants on our team I wore shorts at all the events last year to keep cool as I get hot pretty easily. While i guess it can be taboo, its a lot more comfortable than you would think!

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Shorts are comfy and easy to wear!

Relevant edit: I can't seem to find anything in the rules about shorts in the pits. Close toed shoes and eyewear, however...

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Keep in mind I never did any actual work on the robot myself so shorts didn't necessarily cause any problems in my case.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Being from Minnesota I think anything above 60 deg. F is hot. So shorts are my go to FRC attire for competitions. Been doing it for many years in the pits and as a drive coach.

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I don't thinks shorts should be allowed in the pits. Remember to insulate all of your wires!:rolleyes:

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I assumed this was about power supply to the pits, I was alarmed at first that we might have a serious safety situation.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I've never NOT worn shorts to an event in the past 7 years. No plan on stopping that this year.

It gets way too hot back there.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Take a skirt (or a manly kilt) with you to the event. If someone complains about your shorts, just put on the skirt. :rolleyes:

PS: Always keep unprotected legs away from sharp corners, disassembled machinery, moving machines' pinch points, etc. especially in crowded locations.
PPS: Keep loose skirts, kilts, scarves, neckties, other loose clothing, hair, necklaces, bracelets, etc. away from moving machinery.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Shorts are definitely allowed in Sydney - with outside temperatures approaching 90 degrees (F), it would be dangerous to make everyone wear long pants!

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

But remember especially when in Australia, that long pants can prevent/ reduce the depth to which snakes and also Redbacks:) can bite you on the leg. Also long pants are especially useful for sun protection. Australia has been having some problems with depletion of the Ozone layer in recent years, so protection from UV radiation is important in Sydney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7nocIenCYg

There are plenty of long pant options which are breathable, in Australia there are lots of long pants aimed at Trades people which are designed to be as breathable as possible while still maintaining sun-protection and graze protection etc
http://www.kinggee.com.au/workcool-2-pant-36.html
I can't really see the need to wear shorts, when there are plenty of breathable and lightweight long pant options available, well in Australia anyway. I guess it comes down to personal choice

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I've worn shorts to every robotics competition I've ever been to. It's not an issue.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

We wear dressy clothes on Fridays (White button down, khaki pants, orange tie, blazer) and t-shirt + whatever choice of clothing you want to wear for your bottoms on every other day.

I hate pants, so I wear shorts. No issue. Columbia PFG omni-shade masterrace.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I am not a huge fan of shorts in a shop environment. Mostly because I have hairy legs that tend to collect aluminum swarf then slowly deposit it into my shoes.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

We encourage shorts on our team, considering it is part of team uniform. However, we cover up using our rad checkered socks all team members receive. It has never been an issue for us, from a safety perspective or otherwise.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

To my knowledge, from 2007-2016, there has never been a rule mandating what kind of pants pit people have to wear.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Some teams have policies for varying reasons. (For example, 4451 requires long pants since they meet inside the Bosch plant; if I come up to get parts or something, I also have to have them on.)

That said, thank goodness they aren't a rule or I'd have melted in Orlando.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

T-Shirts are allowed and bare arms are more likely to be around robot mechanisms than bare legs are.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

As a volunteer I used to ask if shorts were allowed and often the answer was no. I saw other volunteers wearing shorts so I just followed their lead while also bring a pair of jeans and leaving them in the car. I have now abandoned bringing jeans because no one has ever asked me to change.

I was wearing shorts at the regional this past weekend. I walked miles each day, stood and kneeled in the pits and on the field and stood behind the scoring table and driver stations. No one had anything to say about it. Also it was around 30 degrees when I would arrive or leave the venue FWIW.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

With the temperatures that most districts get to, shorts become a necessity. :D So at least for First In Michigan, they are allowed.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

As many have said shorts are allowed. Your team may have different rules. If so that is a discussion for your team.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Champs in St. Louis (or back in Atlanta) are definite shorts weather for me (except that time in the WCC when an open garage door let it in a nasty cold draft). I must be getting old that I need pants for temperature at events even in the 50s outside.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

The weather is still cold at the Canadian regionals, especially at Greater Toronto Central where the entire regional takes place on the surface of an ice hockey rink (the former Maple Leaf Gardens). We frequently popped outside to get food or go back to the hotel, and it was still right around freezing weather. No shorts for me, brrr!

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

But that's what makes it fun! Besides, free metallic confetti for when you win. ;)

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

While there are no rules prohibiting shorts, they become inconvenient when you invariably have to get down on your hands and knees in the pit or brush against something with a sharp/rough edge. For this reason I would recommend against them, especially for those who plan to work in the pits or are a member of the drive team (or both!).

I know in the process of lifting the robot on/off of the field you often end up scraping against your robot or the field, I know I caught my calf on the edge of the rail of the field perimeter leaving through the exit carrying a robot multiple times. People end up drilling and creating potentially sharp metal shavings in the pits, and if you were to kneel to get a better angle in the pits with shorts on you run the risk of embedding whatever swarf is on the floor into your legs (removal afterwords isn't fun). This is why I would recommend long pants, especially if you are planning to work in/around the pits and robots.

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I'd consider quitting if they banned shorts at competitions.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Why are members of your team biting folks?


That being said, I don't wear shorts. But I know it's fairly popular to do so at FL regionals. Plus, I'd rather focus on preventing my students from turning 125 t-shirts into 125 vests... That's enough of a full time job.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I once strongly suggested to a student that welding in shorts was not a good idea!!

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I suppose that, although not an enforced rule, shorts should not be worn in the pits if the team wearing them wants to win a safety award. If they don't care about looking good to the judges for safety, then they won't follow every letter of the unwritten law. (also that statement self-refutes, so...)

Shorts are allowed, i know that for certain. (I may or may not have worn them before)
they are not [i]suggested[i], however.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I don't see why this would be an issue.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

because many teams have their own rule about it, such as ours.
so many teams do, in fact, that it becomes a question on how legitimate the rule actually is, and whether or not it originated as an FRC requirement or as a team safety award dedicational action.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

What is the actual safety issue with shorts though

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Exposed skin that can end up getting injured. Exposed knees that get covered in metal shavings when you kneel down to work on the robot.

I frequently discover new cuts and scrapes that have mysteriously appeared on my hands and forearms after a day working with the robot.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

For 1923 it's a little bit of the safety reasoning, but mostly 'none of the above'.

It's about looking professional and put-together. At official events, your options are pants, pants, and pants. Those pants should be clean & free of holes, rips, tears or patches. There's just no reason to look sloppy.

We'll occasionally make exceptions for especially-hot-load-in-days, but if you're there representing the team in an official capacity, your legs are covered. Offseasons are fair game to wear shorts, especially if they're in the summer.

During the regulation season, however, it's pants or nothin'.
(As in, you're not coming to the event with us ... not that you're allowed to forgo pants!)

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I always wear shorts, and I always will. I might get some scratches on my legs/knees, but I'd rather be comfortable. :rolleyes:

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

When capes and huge mascot costumes aren't allowed in the pits for safety reasons I might be able to understand the reasoning behind not allowing shorts in the pits.

Until then I'll keep shaking my head.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Just gonna state if this is the safty hazard with wearing shorts why don't we ensure long sleeves and gloves also be used cause there is exposed skin there.

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Your legs are typically not next to moving chains, saw blades, etc.

Long sleeves and gloves can get caught in those.

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Seconded. Long sleeves and gloves are far more often a safety hazard than a safety solution. If you are in my shop you have your sleeves at or above the elbow and the only time you get to use gloves is for moving sheet metal and cleaning chips off the machines at the end of the day. I work in a shop and own NO shorts, at all, even on days it's 110F out. I don't like getting chip burns on my legs or in my boots(this is the worst).

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If it's warm in Kokomo next weekend I will be wearing shorts. No AC in the gym.

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So I can't wear my shorts and boat shoes?

BUT I'M FROM NEW ENGLAND!

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I have been a Safety Adviser for 10 years and never had a problem about shorts. For some people wearing pants in a warm environment is a serious safety hazard. I for one like to wear shorts even when it is below 60 degrees out. What bothers me most about this thread is that some people think shorts are bad but they have not mention skirts and dresses. This seems to be a double standard.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

I don't think I can name even one of the girls on the team for the past 4 years at least that has worn a skirt or dress(I am ignoring the business/media group who don't do any work on the robot or in the pit area). The only exception is one of our team captains/operator that would wear a skirt about 3/4 thigh length but she wore leggings as well. When you are at a meeting or competition people seem to have the common sense to wear work clothing, a skirt or a dress isn't real something you work(in the context of being in a shop or pits) in. The thread is really less about shorts specifically and more the lack of full leg protection.

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If it's cold in Kokomo next week I'll be wearing shorts...

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I was wishing I'd brought shorts to Ventura. At OC the next weekend, I made sure I had 'em.

Talk about two venues that need AC...

OTOH, at San Diego I was wearing a hoodie all the time, and at L.A. I was wondering if I should have worn a hoodie some of the time.

Re: Shorts in the pits?
 

Every machine shop I know of does not allow shorts for safety reasons. Pit crew practice probably stems from standard procedures in related environments. Long hair, not safely pulled back, is also a no-no.