FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

My Principal has agreed to support making our robotics program recognized as a sport. This will help us raise it to new levels. I Just need to convince the Board of Education.
I need evidence of other districts that have done this. Can someone please put me on the trail of this information. If all I can get is a list of advisors that get stipends at the coaches level, or actual coaches stipends, that’s ok for a start.
Please advise.

Are there any other threads that discuss the merits of this? If not, should we discuss it here?

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Here are some similar threads:

Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4
Thread 5

There are many more - just search CD for "varsity"

:]

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Do you think your principal will let you start a poker team. They play poker almost everyday on the biggest tv sports network in the world. So poker must be a sport. Also in the early years FIRST Robotics was on ESPN I have been told. LOL

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Hey, FIRST was on this year. One of the winners of Championships was on Cold Pizza.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I know that our team had championed for many years to be considered a school 'team' and not a 'club'. Fortunately, a few years back the Board approved such a decision and our coaches now get paid with a stipend on par with that of sports coaches--[may it be noted that not all sports coaches get paid the same albeit :eek: ]

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Citing Dictionary.com:
Sport: diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime.

I don't see why robotics shouldn't be considered a sport. :D

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

if nascar is a sport then so is this

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Right! Whats so special about a bunch of cars racing around in a circle burning off gas and tires? All that matters is the last lap anyway!

Robots on the other hand... The whole two minutes count, and it changes every time. AND, everyone is involved! And its a learning experience. Much better than driving cars (which we do at least twice a day to get to robotics...)

Jacob Komar

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Students gain Teamwork skills among many other abillities that can be applied to later life. Students work hard. We practice, we sweat, we concentrate, we wear ourselves down. We function as one unit to achieve an overall goal, and perhaps even bring home a trophy. Just because we don't play "home games" I cannot see why FIRST would not be considered a sport.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I asked a friend about this yesterday, and their comment was
I personally don't care either way, but if Nascar is considered a sport, I would think FIRST is at, or exceeds, its qualification for 'sport' status.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

ESPN used to have full coverage of nationals when they were back in Disney. I remember digging through some of MORTs old videos and watching the 1999 Nationals with the ESPN graphics and everything (they even showed team numbers and sponsors)...good times

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I think your friend might be confusing "sports" with "athletics".

A sport, like someone said before, is something a person does for personal enjoyment and recreation (including NASCAR racing, poker tournaments, and yes, FIRST Robotics), in a way which is also competitive (although it doesn't have to be). Athletics are a type of sport, but the sport must involve physical activity/skill to fall under this classification.

So, all athletics are sports, but not all sports are athletics. :rolleyes:

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

This thread was a discussion regarding stipends that occurred this summer.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...hlight=stipend

My take on it is that we are all over the map in this area with a minority of our school advisors receiving stipends and those that do, vary in amounts paid.

Good luck with this.
Jane

EDIT: this is from the FIRST website.
http://www.usfirst.org/what/frc/default.aspx?id=366 and Dean Kamen had some comments to make about FIRST being a part of the 21st century sports culture in his speech at Kick Off as well.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Thanks for all the input.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

This sounds like the argument that marching band is a sport. After having done both robotics and marching band, I can say that neither are sports. I can't quite put my finger on it, but they don't have that 'zing' that sports do. Ya, I'm prepared for flames; whatever, not everyone can agree on everything...flame away.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Just remember, poker is a sport. (Hey, it's shown on ESPN--so it must be a sport, right?) So is golf. I don't think those have the "zing" either, but they're still counted as sports (as are archery, rifle, skeet and trap shooting.)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I don't necessarily think FIRST needs to be shoehorned into the sports mold that we know. I think it can present new possibilities in its growth and development. Presenting a new game challenge each year gives FIRST a different edge, a different approach to competition(s).

It doesn't necessarily have to be an argument about sports or not, it can be a discussion about possibilities. Right now in the culture that the schools have, the program that would give teachers a stipend would be the athletics program. It is close to what we do and could be further developed into what we do. I see the purpose of this thread as one seeking help in trying to fund and recognize the teachers who devote so many hours to this program called FIRST through or like the athletics programs in our school districts.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

There's a quote that's commonly associated with Ernest Hemingway that goes, "There are but three true sports--bullfighting, mountain climbing, and motor-racing. The rest are merely games." Just a thought.

Also, ESPN stands for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. So if something is shown on ESPN, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a sport-- it could just be entertainment, per the name.

I am completely behind the idea that FIRST needs to be as culturally significant as professional sports.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

If i'm understanding you correctly then i agree. Just because Robotics isn't generally considered a sport isn't necessarily a bad thing. People like to categorize things into headings that they can associate with even if they don't really fit there. For example, robotics is similar to sports in its team-building traits and the time, commitment, and competitive spirit that comes with it. On the other hand, the whole principle of alliances and the constantly shifting game objective separates it into a group all its own.

In my case I really don't mind robotics not being counted as a sport as our school makes sports cost more than other activities. ^_-

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Wissahickon HS gets 1 head coach and 2 assistant coach stipends comparable to sports coaches. We also receive paid time at competitions, full bus service for all competitions, and an annual budget that is nice but needs an increase. The district also pays for staff to open the building on days that the building would normally be closed during build season. We also receive the use of our school for our off-season competition, Ramp Riot.

Even with all of that we are not quite on par with the sports teams. I am working with the district to get reclassified as a sport. They are at least listening to my arguements.

I feel like we have not changed the culture in this country until every school has a FIRST field, a work shop, and a budget that matches other school sports.

Keep pushing! (In a GP way of course) :)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

How would the FIRST field idea work?

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Um, just a point that not everything that reflects our culture is present in schools. I'd say that it would be more of an inclination of cultural transformation if as many people watched the FRC championships every year as do the superbowl. That would be pretty darn cool!
Not that I disagree with you, I totally think that all schools should have a FIRST team of some sort. Just throwing in another point.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I can't agree with this. Not every school has a football field or even a team. Most schools have a place to work out but that is more of a health choice than anything else. As for budget, like most problems the cultural issues being addressed by FIRST are not ones that can be solved by throwing money at them.

That being said, my personal beliefs are that FIRST teams need to disassociate themselves with a single school and become more of a community group. Look to inner city areas for why, let us say that team 9991 starts one year at school A. They get a couple good sponsors from the area. Now team 9992 wants to start at school B the next year, sponsors from team 9991 cant support two teams. 9992 struggles to survive and fails the next year. Meanwhile 9991 is still running strong. School A and School B are less than 10 miles apart yet because Team 9991 is considered a school activity (or sport if you wish) students from School B cannot join because they don't go to that school. Now, instead let us replace team 9991 with team 365, they accept students from all around no matter what school they are from. This allows them to impact a much larger area and relieves the strain on the local economy for money, resources, and mentors. Take as an example, New York City has 1400 schools, assuming 1/4 of them are high schools that is 300 schools in a single city, 300 teams in <500 square miles. It is highly unlikely that the funding, material, and mentor support is available in that high density. NYC would be better served by having several large "super teams" such that the costs of the team could be better spread out.* These teams cannot belong to schools, they must belong to school districts or non profit organizations. Remember, FIRST is not about education, it is about inspiration, nothing says that we are better served running out of schools.



*Please note, this is not a jab at NYC teams, I am merely using it as an example due to the large number of schools.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a unique varsity sport of the mind designed to help high-school-aged young people discover how interesting and rewarding the life of engineers and researchers can be.

http://www.usfirst.org/what/frc/default.aspx?id=366
this is the FRC section of the FIRST site. the very FIRST sentence is what people should show to their schools. this is the first sentence of the paragraph above.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

We recently became recognized as a 'sport' which gave our coach a small stipend for his time (small stipend, large time) but more importantly, gave our students the chance to 'letter' in their chosen field. Still don't have a workshop or funding, but its a start.

(No, I don't believe robotics is a sport. It defies classification.)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I wish we could! Our schools classify it as a "club"

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I feel that while FIRST activities should not fall under a 'Sport' classification in a school because they encompass a broader reach, it does not preclude having the same recognition as a sports team.

Our school's 'Pride' sign that is seen on entry to the school demonstrates this:

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

That's way cool. Do you guys get a giant sign for Championship Chairman's?

Regionals are intentionally designed to be sport-like, with referees, fans, and the like. I don't know if I'd call FRC a "sport", but it sure feels like one when I'm competing, and I'd say it'd just be easier for local schools to treat it like one.

Our team gets academic letters from the local high schools they attend for robotics.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Robotics is such a sport. I mean with all the work we do with tools we get strong. It should be considered as one :)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I would hope so!

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I understand what you are saying and in fact our team has accepted students from other local communities, neighboring schools, and other countries for the past 6 years. We don't want any kid to be without a FIRST Team to join.

My point is that when Team 341 gets to the end of build season we are struck by the reality of our place in the school hierarchy. When we go to test our robot, every viable space is occupied (day and night). The gyms and auditoriums are reserved with other traditional activities. We lost our storage facility last year, for a larger exercise room. Thousands of dollars have been spent over the last few years upgrading sports facilities on site.

How many basketball courts, baseball fields, football fields, exercise/weight rooms and tracks does an average school have? I am a big sports fan, but there is no balance.

I have already mentioned all of the nice things our district does for us. But that does not mean I have to be satisfied. Until my kids don't have to beg for storage space or a place to practice, I simply will not be completely satisfied. I will continue to push the envelope.

I can only speak for my team, but I do believe what I said. Our school is proud of our team and often brags about our accomplishments in the community, but we will not have changed our school's culture completely until we have all of the things I mentioned and a few more.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

That same exact thing happened to us this year Al. We lost one of our workshops/storage areas to a teacher's exercise facility.....

I can honestly say that I've only ever seen two teachers walk into that room.

Although the school district supports us monetarily and brags about us when they need to look good, where's the in-school recognition that every other sports team gets to enjoy on the morning announcements or in the front lobby's trophy case?

Its still a struggle but the fight is always worth it.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Exactly! Think Big and Big things will happen! Its a daily struggle.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Perhaps the solution then is to give the schools a lot to brag about.
One advantage that FRC teams have over traditional sports is the emphasis on giving back to the community (unless I'm very much mistaken most high schools sports don't have anything like the Chairman's Award). If you are able to show your school administration that you are a great asset to the community they may in turn give you a greater amount of recognition and/or support (after all what you do reflects on their image as well.)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I agree 99% with your important point about FIRST teams existing (1st pet peeve) and thriving outside of associations with single schools; but I have a "quibble" (2nd pet peeve).

I think you are limiting your thinking to just FRC teams. FIRST and other programs have some successful, inexpensive (roughly 1/10th to 1/5th the expenses) alternatives to FRC. Using those programs you could have up to 10 teams for the price of your team 9991.

Blake

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

No offense as your advice is very sound. But...

We are a 13 year old team that has done exactly this for the last 14 years. We are the most respected program in the district. One of my points I didn't mention is that our team gets more in school support from our peers than it does from school administration. Its weird, yes. (You may not know much about our team) but we honestly (not trying to sound show offy) do really give our school admin a lot of brag about, they fail to brag about it in school though.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

As teams look to outreach and ways to garner support for FIRST initiatives within their own school/community, I say go higher if you keep hitting those stumbling blocks.
Having the #1 supporting governor that understands FIRST and the bigger picture, STEM initiatives, truly does open avenues. Its not like they'll just accept things with open arms at first.
Just gotta keep trying. It took our State 8 years since the 1st official robotics program of any kind to finally see its value and to step up to the plate.
:D :D

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Sorry if that came off as blunt or rude, Akash
That was not my intent at all.

Just a question, but has anyone ever tried inviting members of their school administration to a competition? Perhaps that might show them how much like a sport robotics can be.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Haha, nope it did not at all. It was very good advice:) , its just frustrating when a team gets so far in their school system yet never reaches a certain level like Al Ostrow pointed out in his posts below.

Emphasis mine in bold

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Our team had some trouble getting a certain room for this season...and the one incident that stands out is the one where they were double booked and we were evicted. Actually, I don't remember going down there at all after the first week/week and a half.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Marching Band should very well be a sport!!!!! along with robotics haha :D

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

The key element in getting support from your school is getting your superintendant involved. I include her letter to Secretary Duncan that speaks eloquently for itself how well we 'infected' her!

It doesn't hurt to get team mentors elected to the school board as well. Our Treasurer (my wife, Nanette Salvino) has been involved with the team nearly from it's inception. At one point, fully a third of our Board of Education were FIRST parents!

And while we didn't get everything we wanted in the school renovation, we did get land allocated next to the shops where we will build out our own storage facility. The Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce has told us they would like to help fund this effort.

------------------------------------------------------

May 11, 2009

Mr. Arne Duncan
U.S. Secretary of Education
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202

Dear Secretary Duncan:

As a career long educator, I naturally find joy in the accomplishments of young people. I’ve enjoyed seeing the success of students in rigorous academic measures, artistic displays, dramatic and musical performances, and in athletic competitions. And while I thought that I had experienced a comprehensive sampling of student success, it wasn’t until this past year that I realized that I had been missing a significant and magnificent experience. For it was in this past year that I became well acquainted with the FIRST program as the new superintendent in Region 18.

At first blush, I saw a robotics competition. I was pleased by this opportunity to engage students in extended activity in science and technology. What an understatement my first understandings were! FIRST is as much about cooperative problem solving and humanity as it is about science and technology. It is about the excitement and development of potential in a network of willing and able minds. I saw it in the students and their mentors both within our district and beyond.

Our local FIRST team, known as the Techno-Ticks—team 236, is a fellowship that has been gaining momentum for many years. They have made it their business to pollinate their enthusiasm among others both within and beyond the community. Their cumulative efforts earned them the coveted 2009 Chairman’s Award from FIRST. We are very proud of this distinction in a national field of 1700 teams.

I share these thoughts with you as an example of a program that meets your goals to have children spend more time in meaningful ways at their schools. It is refreshing to see groups such as this in our school building in the evenings and on the weekends, with students working side by side with educators, business leaders and engineering professionals. The project has enabled the school itself to become a magnet across the greater community for those who wish to help students learn how to invent, create and build solutions to challenging problems.



I am certain that you join me in saluting this very special accomplishment. I trust that you take pride in this mighty team from a little district in a little state. I would be proud and honored to support appropriate recognition. I ask that you consider how you might be able to promote a fitting event to recognize these students.

Thank you for supporting science and technology and, most of all, bright and eager young citizens!

Sincerely,



Elizabeth M. Osga Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I guess when you put it in terms of hierarchy in the school I can understand a little more what you meant. I understand the struggles from being the lowest on the totem pole. In fact 397 had the police called on us several times when we set off the silent alarm at school. We disarmed it but then a group in the school armed it again. (I know who it was but its not appropriate to point fingers.) This happened for 3 consecutive days, the real problem is that we get fined whenever this happens. But of course because the other program is something the school is proud of and encourages we get blamed. I agree that it would be great to get a FRC team in every single school, that having them classified as a school sport and having their equipment and uniforms and travel paid for. I would love to live in that sort of world. The problem is that the structure is not there.

I applaud 341 on accepting students from anywhere, to me this is a quality that needs to be emulated by every single team. If a student has no access to a FRC (or similar) program then please support the student.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

That sucks about the silent alarm, I feel really bad for you. My school refuses to offer any help to my team since our rookie year, which was in 2004 or 2005 (I wasn't around). Only 1/3 of the schools involved, Springfield High School, actually gives us any money, and that's only the $6,000 for the kit each year. This year, since we got a grant from a state senator, I don't even think they gave us any money, and now that they're in the habit, they probably won't next year, either.

I think robotics should be considered a sport because in my mind, it is. We spend hours of our lives, hurting our school work and social lives, in order to complete an incredibly difficult task. Not only that, FIRST emphasizes team work and such, and unlike sports that say they do, FIRST is actually more about the team and people than the robot.

My school spends thousands on sports teams that haven't been good since the 1970s. They spend no money on us, and we're not even that bad. Imagine if they would only fund us like a sports team what we could achieve in the school's name.

Plus, if golf and chess are considered sports, then robotics should definitely be considered a sport. :rolleyes:

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Lol Andrew our school used to just change the locks on us....for our OWN workshop XD.

But now they're chill with us working around 3am. Even the area cops know who's on robotics and who's not. (My bro got pulled over once in '99 leaving the school at 1am lol)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Was it legal for him to drive that late?

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

back then, yea

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Your mentors stay with you guys until 3 AM :eek:
We have to be out of our shop by 9 PM
...

By the way, this has been something that has been bugging me for a while. When you think of a sport you think of a game with set rules. Bearing that in mind FRC theoretically has a set list of rules, but the list changes every year. So what does that have any bearing on whether or not FRC counts as a sport?

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Not sure about Jersey law but in Michigan if it is work related or school related students can drive that late on their probationary license. IE if you are building a robot into the wee hours of the night you don't need to worry about how you are getting home. (This is just what I recall, I am not an expert or a lawyer so the above statement does not constitute legal advice in any way shape or form)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Well, where I live (PA) it's illegal to drive past 11 PM without either being 18+ years of age, or having an adult license (which can only be gotten after a year of perfect driving with your original license). I didn't know that was the rule in Michigan. That sounds pretty good for all those late night robotics meetings, though.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Here in Ontario, your G1 licence you have to drive with a parent. After 1 year (or 8 months if you take Driver's Ed), you can get a G2, which allows you to drive yourself, family members, and one non family member at any time. You can drive anyone else except between midnight and 5am. Your G licence (after another year) has no provisions.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Not much discussion on this topic lately! I hope that means more schools are now awarding varisty letters. We successfully convinced our principal and Athletic Director with this video. Feel free to use it if it helps. I have a higher quality one that I can send you, but it wouldn't upload to youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8-CVg0QAyg

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Whatever any jock says that FIRST isn't a sport, they're wrong. You have to use teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship anyway. Besides, carrying the robot counts as building muscle. If anything, it's the ultimate sport because it always changes, with no definitive way until you've seen the final rules. When I did FLL, they counted it as a sport, so you know FRC is bar none.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I must respectfully disagree.

I have done marching band, robotics, as well as swum on my school swim team. After 90 minutes of carrying around 65 pound tenor drums, I'm dead tired, even more so than after a hard swim practice. Robotics requires the same amount of energy, just mental instead of pysical like most sports. IMO, my school recognizing cheerleading, rifle shooting and crew as sports is questionable.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

well "FIRST is the sport of the mind," I consider it a sport. I mean they consider fishing and golf a sport why not robotics.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I agree. I used to play on the school golf team. Comparing FIRST to golf, FIRST is more of a sport. I treat it as a sport. When we won a match, me and my friends started yelling like if it was soccer or something.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Which is kinda funny, cause aren't we playing Soccer???;)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I do many different sports and I have all my life, and based on that I would have to consider robotics a sport. I mean, after running track, playing soccer, volleyball, softball, doing cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics over the course of my life, I can honestly say that I put more dedication into robotics than any of these. In addition, to all of you who argue that its not a sport because its not "building muscle," Robotics build season takes a much tougher physical toll on me than any of the other sports i play do (sleep deprivation takes a toll on you too, people!)
If NASCAR is a sport, so is FIRST. Heck, if cheerleading is a sport, so is FIRST (This was not meant to be offensive to any cheerleaders! :) as i mentioned previously, i've been a cheerleader before too!)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Going off the wiki definition:

"A sport is commonly defined as an organized, competitive, and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play."

This year i don't think there was much skillful physical activity done by human players... However look at 04, 05, 06, or 09. All of these games were definitely sports.

So with regards to the GDC, I'd say just in the future, always have the human players do some kinda of physical activity. And anyways, the human-robot interaction is usually more exciting too. Seeing human players running along the field in 05 or shooting the balls in 04 created a sense of energy for even those not that interested in robotics.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

But still... we do exercise our brains thoroughly! :)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

There has been a lot of discussion on monetary imbalances and overall space to run a robotics team, which are both problems our team faces, but I also wanted to discuss the recognition amongst teachers of robotics teams and consequently, their leniency towards due dates and the like.
I'm not saying that robotics should be used as an excuse to not do homework, but when a teacher assigns a paper due next class over the last week of build season, the teacher should at least give an extension of some sort.
The reason why this ties in with the club versus sports discussion is because the sports teams at our school have always been followed and recognized by our teachers. Us, being a club, have not garnered the same sort of following. Consequently, when the sports team members need to leave class an hour early every day for practice, teachers accommodate. When we have to miss two days of school to go to a regional we just spent at least the last six weeks preparing for, practically living at the school, the teachers hardly understand why and are much less willing to give extensions. Not all teachers in our school do this, but a lot do not truly appreciate the hard work we put into this "club". Literally, one of my teachers this year asked me if I thought it was a smart decision to go to the championship event knowing I missed 4 days of school already, even when we came in second and first place in those regionals. I honestly felt like asking them if they would have said the same thing to a football team member going to states.
I feel as though if we were merely given the label of a "sports team" we would gain significantly more recognition within our small school. As far as I'm aware, the school is the only entity that refers to us as a "club" as opposed to a "team".
Of course, FRC and FIRST are beyond labels, this is only to increase recognition within our school and make teachers more sympathetic towards are overcrowded schedules amongst other things.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

I think this comes from lack of understanding. I am a teacher. I understand how hard build season is. I have a hard time getting colleagues who aren't involved to understand. I teach at the jr. high and my close collegues understand from seeing the time I put into it. But, most of the high school teachers do not understand how much time the team members put into a build season.

One thing my team is doing this year to try to improve this is to do our business presentation (that we use with potential sponsors) to the teachers. We have set up 2 days after school in May that we will try to educate our teachers on what FIRST is and the level of commitment involved by the students on the team. We hope this will help them understand missed days better and possibly draw some of them into helping us. I'm not sure what the result will be, but it is our first step toward helping them understand. Rome was not built in a day, right? :) It does get frustrating, but we just have to keep educating the public on what it is we do! :)

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

Yeah. People don't take the time to understand FIRST. Sometimes people also think there's some grand prize or something.

Re: FIRST Robotics as a sport
 

There isn't? Dang, why have I been competing then? /humor