Quote:
Originally Posted by IKE
One phenomenon that doesn't get a lot of discussion is the community feeling that the district system creates. You see teams and people more often. More team members volunteer in some capacity, and get to know others by having lunch in volunteer lounge, or working through issues or just being in alliances together more often.
This sense of community engagement and friendships isn't only at the adult level, the students really get to know one another, and rival sport schools become "friends with robots".
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In previous years, I talked with MAR and New England. Those areas are a little different (or at least were when I was discussing). I have heard that they have stronger State and/or local team allegiances, but it would be good to close the loop with them. Of note, both MAR and NE are heavily comprised of "old guard" FRC teams. Before probably 2005, and especially before 2000, FRC was not nearly as friendly a place as it is nowadays. Back in the day, teams used to cover their robot when they weren't working on it to ensure no one got a picture so they couldn't "copy" their successful ideas. I think this could be a factor in the culture or at least the observed culture. I should note that I may have been talking to them after their first year and did not do the follow up I have done with other regions. IE, they could be having super friendly everyone loves each other events now.
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For MAR at least, the community feeling was a lot better this year than it has been in past years. I don't know what to attribute this to, but there is a heavy mix of 'new guard' teams achieving success in tandem with the 'old guard'. It could also be that this game doesn't force teams to be at odds with each other in qualification matches if the robots aren't complementary.
The camaraderie in districts is real, though. I know everybody a lot better than when I was in Indiana pre-district. Many of our students make great friends with other teams at the competitions.