[CLandrum3081]

I say this as someone who's reacted immaturely to what's happened on the field, though I haven't directed it at volunteers (I used to have to pull myself aside with my mom to cool down, and am much better at controlling my temper now).

Disclaimers aside, I think we - students and mentors - need to remember why we're here. Does it suck when a ball isn't on the field for twenty seconds after a cycle ends and none of the referees notice, like what happened to my team in a match we lost by three points? Definitely. But taking it out on the people who are there to help and inspire people sucks a whole lot more.

Perspective. It helps. We make matches out to be more high-stakes than they actually are. Participation in FIRST is what nailed me my near-full-ride, not the fact that my team went to Championships once or had a X-Y-Z record. Winning and losing are parts of the competition, but winning is not the reason we compete.

That being said, I understand how raised emotions and voices in the heat of the moment can lead to disrespect and miscommunication. The most important part is how we work to prevent it, and how we resolve problems as they arise.