[magnets]

Having moved from team to team, I've noticed that teams that end don't end because they get discouraged from loosing. I've been with a team that built a box on wheels and only won one match, but we still had an awesome time, and the kids couldn't wait to play next year. I've also been with a team where we became quite competitive one year, winning our regional, but then not competing next year to the lack of interest. Teams quit because they either cannot get funding, permission from school, a place to work, mentors.... or because the students just aren't into it. If you don't have a group of 3 or 4 super dedicating team-running students, or if you don't have a few mentors who really love the team and inspiring students, then there's a good chance that your team might not last long.

That being said, it is much easier to rope newer students in when you can demonstrate a robot other than a box on wheels. Also, I've noticed that in the past 5 years, there's been a HUGE increase in how much students care about winning. Sure, the teams were always SUPER competitive, but when we lost, we weren't mad, and we still had fun even if not everything worked out perfectly on the robot.