[EricH]

Originally Posted by Cory

This is much ado about nothing. It doesn't even take 5 minutes to swap a net. It takes 30 seconds. Everyone is arguing about a problem that doesn't exist.

Besides, the people who get the field at the next event are the ones who will need to assess the nets and determine if they need replacing.

All told the only cost is the price of the net. There is no cost in time and labor.

30 seconds, and a net, per net. You're assuming that once one team does it, the rest don't decide to. See the run on tubes at the 2007 Championship and the trouble the field crew had keeping people out of the orbit ball supply after 2009's L.A. Regional when one team was allowed to take some home (and they had a good reason that the rest of the teams didn't--namely, genuine orbit balls were unobtanium at home for all time).

You're also moving the replace time into field setup--while this might not have any impact on overall time to set up, the FTA there (wherever "there" happens to be) isn't going to be terribly happy about having to replace the nets. Even with advance notice from the previous FTA

If a team wanted to bring their own net, bring it to the field, and cut it down, fine--if they talk to the FTA/Field Supervisor about it first. If you don't talk to them, I would advise NOT cutting down a net.



I was actually thinking that the chalk toss might be a better tradition to do in a FIRST event. Something about the field markings get chalked down anyway before taping... It's just that nobody sees that except the setup crew.