Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

How is that any different than calling seats when you are the first one at a regional? It all sounds the same to me. But really, I don't see it as that big of a problem.To me, it seems like a circumstance that individual people should solve when there is an argument or a sort.

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

The great lakes idea is a good one,not so much to save seats but to let your guests know where you are. Actually, at great lakes last year i spent some time trying to help some grandparents find their grandson's team. they didn't have team number.
So,find your seats in the morning,send somebody to put location on the board and please make sure your guests know your team number. what a nice simple solution to alittle problem.

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

An aside to this discussion worth mentioning: PLEASE keep aisles clear. It becomes an issue when seats (or bleacher space) are full. But we need to keep emergency exits clear. I've incurred this in one venue where I was a volunteer trying to enforce the "keep the aisles clear" and met with non-GP comments from students and mentors and at another venue, where I was trying to escort VIPs down the aisles to the playing field and couldn't get down the stairs because team members were standing there, or spirit items were left there, etc.

Safety FIRST.

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

In my years in the team we have "saved seats" for matches, but that was with a significant amount of people in the stands (maybe a 2:1 or less ration of seats "reserved" to those siting in them). BUT, they were reserved for matches, so if someone wanted to sit down imbetween to watch some matches, we were told that's cool, just if they could move when our matche came up, then after they can sit back down, just so our team can be together.

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

It might help. But it wouldn't solve everything.
They have don't this for several years at BAE, and it doesn't solve the problem. Some teams and people ignore the white-board, and others use it. They might just ignore it because they don't know it's there or what it's for. The teams and people who ignore it will sit where there is open space. This might even mean sitting in sections where other teams have designated as "their section". Also, a first-come-first-serve type thing isn't fair. A huge team might take a good view section, while a team who signs up a little later is forced to sit where they can't see as well.

It seems that teams should act Graciously Professional when it comes to seating. Letting others sit near or with your team. Choosing a seating area that night not have the best view so that another team(s) or spectators can have the better viewing areas. Keeping the isles clear. And being respectful to teams and spectators who are sitting around you.

Just my thoughts,
DB

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

I think that this issue has a fine line... we save seats for our teammates... but we let people borrow the seats while our team isn't there. because i think it would be a little odd that our team didn't get to sit together because there was not enough alloted space for our team. If we are ment to be enjoy the matches with our teammates, our teammates need enough room to sit during matches...

my $0.02

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

I don't agree with saving seats unless it's for keeping teams together.

However, I wish it would not be possible to find a seat in Nokia Arena during the regional this year.

Not because of seat saving, but because of dozens of spectators.

:)

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

what if, we took the low center areas of the stands (the mascot pit thing's always just been an annoyance, clear that out, move it elsewhere or something). And made that area reserved for anyone, no teams at all in that area. Just a spectator area.

As a member of probably one of the largest teams, i feel bad for the teams who can't get seats. But saving seats for your team is important i think... Part of FIRST is looking out into the stands from in the pits and seeing your team colors, all together. Thats part of what makes FIRST so special, is that we form a bond on our teams like no other team in high school.

i was thinking of this while i was at NJ, that they come up with some sort of "assigned seating" chart or something. but then how would the spots be distributed fairly? I think the First come first serve seating way works best. this way, its up in the air every day for where you sit, and teams with bad seats one day can get good seats the next.

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

i concure, i think its very important to sit with your team

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

What I can't believe is that every year this thread pops up. Every year someone points out that FIRST has provided guidelines for FIRST team behavior at the competition sites. Every year a bunch of people post a bunch of "yeah, buts." Saving seats is just plain not allowed. It's rude, it's ungracious, an it's intimidating to visitors. I don't care if you think your team is being swell by "allowing" others to sit temporarily in your so-called section while your team isn't on the field. Just implicitly saving seats is wrong. You know, sitting sprawled out on the end of the row blocking access to interior seats while people mill around looking for a way in then SIGHING and slowly rising when someone asks to get in.

For the teachers who are saying it is their responsibility to make sure your students are constantly in a group and under supervision. I admire your dedication, I really do. Get your group to the stands early and sit down if that's your focus. Although to be honest, I've never yet been to a FIRST event where every group of teenagers I saw was being closely supervised. The cool thing about FIRST kids is they are pretty darn responsible and don't require constant supervision.

How gracious is it to use your 100+ team size to prevent smaller teams from finding a place to sit together? Friendly seat saving is just as wrong as hostile seat saving. Being "happy to move our stuff if someone asks" is still seat saving. Why should anyone have to ask to sit down at all?

If it's really important that you have a big chunk of seats set aside for your team and guests to sit all in the same area, then have everyone in your team come sit in their sits and stay there. If you don't want to sit in the stands all day long (who does?) then you give up your seat.

It's simple. FIRST has already spelled it out. In case you HUGE teams haven't figured it out it is because not every team has enough people to drive the robot, fix the robot, man the pits AND save seats. That means the BIG teams push the SMALL teams out of being able to sit together.

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

I personally think there is a fine line between filling a section entire with a team for the entire competition and saving a section and only filling every 9 or 10 matches. If you fill your section then thats cool but, if you have open you should invite random people to sit with you.

And on another note, if you have random people sitting with you be on your best behavior and don't swear a lot. I noticed with my team that a lot of the kids don't know when to stop. I personally don't think it's a big deal if you do around your friends but please don't do it around other people.

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

If the seat is open to any asker, then it is not saved. At a northern regional, the piles of coats, etc are inevitable. I think that the best a team can do is be accommodating to anyone who asks.

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

Maybe at some regionals there aren't many extra seats, but there are many regionals (Great Lakes 2007?) where there are plenty of seats, and going back to a previous point, if FIRST truly wanted to have a section where public could sit they could easily just rope off a section for non team-affiliated people...

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

If you ask to sit down in a seat, they will say, those are reserved. You tell them, when someone comes and sits in them, I will then move.

Re: Saving seats and Dean's homework
 

People shouldn't be telling others that seats are reserved anyway. Just let anyone who wants to sit in any seat they want. It shouldn't have to come down to anyone having to move.