It's a team activity rather then just a sport. I'm not sure the label "sport" is needed. Band and debate get varsity letters at our school. We are meeting with administration next week to see if we can get them for FIRST members as well. I expect to succeed at that.
When ever we've had a FIRST team they have had a 2 page spread in the yearbook.

Re: FIRST: A sport?
 

1. Do you feel FIRST should be a recognized as a sport?

Yes, it should be. We put in as much work as any sports team does, and it's a competition, so yes, FIRST should be a sport.

2. Is FIRST a recognized sport at your school?

No, it isn't. We've been working on that here, and I know at least one of our fellow Rochester teams is, too.

3. Do you think robotics is a sport?

Absolutely. See #1.

4. If so, why? If not, why?

As I said, we put in tons of work, we should get recognized as much as any other team in the school.

5. Does your yearbook give you a full spread (2 pages) for your FIRST team.

No. Being considered a club, we only get a brief mention and two pictures. We did get a full page article in the school newspaper, though.

6. Your personal definition of what a sport is.

Anything involving competition should be considered a sport, even if it's not an athletic event.

Patrick's criterions of a sport:
1) One or more people or teams of people must compete directly and simultaneously against each other.
2) Scoring must be objective, not subjective.
3) Competition must be directly between humans, not between entities controlled by humans.

These rule out games like chess (not simultaneous), robotics (not people), figure skating (not simultaneous), etc, computer games (not people)...

Of course my definition is completely arbitrary, there is no truth in my definition nor anyone else's.

- Patrick

I agree, it's all purely subjective. I honestly don't think it matters all that much because its just a title. If you know deep down how much you have gained through FIRST and robotics then it shouldn't matter what category it's placed in.

And don't get me wrong, it's really great when you get recongition for all your hard work and everything and it's somewhat frustrating when you do a lot of work and get no credit. I know that robotics never got as much recognition in my high school as our football team did but heck, nothing else did either.

Having something be called a sport does not necessarily mean that it is more respected or more publicized. I know that there were SO many articles written about it in our school newspaper, it was probably the #2 most written thing (second to football of course) about and beat out the majority of sports, other clubs, and performing groups. The best thing that came out of recognition of our team personally for me was spreading what we do to attract students, not satisfy ourselves because I think what we did in FIRST was fulfilling enough.

Re: FIRST: A sport?
 

I don't think FIRST constitutes a sport. Besides, would you REALLY want to be considered a sport? Think of all the grants that would make you ineligble for...

FIRST is definitely a competition. But, to me, it's about as much of a sport as debate is. (Though it's infinitely cooler than debate, hands down.)

Our FIRST team hasn't gotten anything yet from our school, but we're getting two articles; one in the PTSA newsletter, and one in the school paper. Most of us weren't involved back when they took yearbook pictures, and we won't even be mentioned in this year's yearbook because we didn't pursue it right as we formed. (I.e., there was no time for the yearbook people to write it up by the time we asked them about it.)

1. Do you feel FIRST should be a recognized as a sport?
Nah, FIRST is as good as a sport, but I don't think it is really a sport. Besides, how can a sport be run by one organization. Robotics in general would have to be the sport, with FIRST constituting some type of league.

2. Is FIRST a recognized sport at your school?
I don't think so...

3. Do you think robotics is a sport?
No

4. If so, why? If not, why?
Sports are more physical, robotics has very little physical activity involved. Robotics can be a good competition, but if robotics is a sport, then so is just about every other competition.

i say it is a Sport from the Future

Re: FIRST: A sport?
 

1. Do you feel FIRST should be a recognized as a sport?
~Should it be recognized? I'd say that it doesn't need to be recognized.

2. Is FIRST a recognized sport at your school?
~No, we are recognized as an activity...if at all.

3. Do you think robotics is a sport?
~I do believe robotics is a sport.

4. If so, why? If not, why?
~Wait until number 6.

5. Does your yearbook give you a full spread (2 pages) for your FIRST team.
~Most of our school doesn't know we have a FIRST team.

6. Your personal definition of what a sport is.
~To me a sport is anything that involves a ball, stick, puck etc. Hence...robotics (due to the use of balls in 2001 and 2002 and the use of sticks like the flailer and 980's lightsaber) is a sport. However, things like swimming, track, wrestling are not sports. Those are necessities made competitive by human nature. Granted all are very difficult (i tried swimming and track...not my cup of tea) i believe that they are not "sports".


PS-David...if we go by the general trend here...you do do sports.:)

Yes, I think that to some extent robotics, or the process involved, could be considered a sport. The human players have some physical activity in it, but just walking around Baxter practically constitutes it being a branch of Track. (Just kidding, I don't mind walking down really long hallways). I don't think, though, that you will be able to get many schools to recognize it as a sport, because that really isn't the primary element of FIRST. FIRST does exercise the brain more than the body, after all, it is "Sports for the mind".

Robotics is a sport the second that you bring competitions into the picture. Thinking about it: First you start with a dream or goal, then you build up, then your train, lastly you compete against others for a high ranking place. SOUNDS LIKE A SPORT TO ME!

But what about the human players?:D