[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

Aside from volunteer time, a big issue is inspections. Believe it or not, there are usually 1/3 or more of teams that haven't passed inspection yet when the field closes (and sometimes teams that haven't even started yet!). Teams spend the whole first day doing work on their robot that didn't get done before it was bagged up and playing on the field... they just don't prioritize inspections. I honestly worry about giving teams more time on the field so they could put off inspections even later, causing a situation where we couldn't possibly get them all inspected before their first match.

We already require a preliminary safety inspection to get on the field at all. I think most of us would be fine with a "must fully pass inspection to practice on the real field after 4PM" type of requirement. Problem solved, and it brings another new incentive to get inspected sooner than the morning of qualifiers.