Quote:
Originally Posted by JABianchi
"Stop Build Day is an essential component to keeping FIRST equitable. With a longer build season, teams with many resources (money, school support, parent support) will be able to leverage those advantages to an even greater degree to the detriment of less-resourced teams' ability to be competitive and likely, less inspired. This is the same reason why we need to continue limiting the cost of the parts used on the robot.
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Most of the elite and many of the mid tier teams in FRC are already building well past the end of the season. WITHHOLDING ALLOWANCE, multiple competitions, practice robots, etc Allow teams like mine to barely notice "Stop Build Day" at all. The elite teams aren't putting their tools down after build season is over they are finding ways to attend 3+ competitions before Championships and they are scrimmaging with near by teams on the other weekends with their practice robots to get even better. Any team that isn't putting in more time after build season is either choosing not to or doesn't have the resource to do it. "Stop Build Day" isn't keeping low resource teams competitive it's dramatically removing their ability to iterate and perfect their designs. It's stopping them from the awesome of experience of practicing with friends and learning from them without the pressure of a competition. It's stopping volunteers from holding pre-inspection nights leading up to events to get teams ready for inspection and allow them to fully utilize the limited practice time at events. "Stop Build Day" needs to be abolished.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JABianchi
"Additionally, coaches & volunteers that are stretched thin for those 6 weeks will feel compelled to keep up that break-neck pace for possibly double the time just to stay competitive, leading to much higher rates of burn-out. The way my team is currently structured, we would not be able to effectively compete without Stop Build Day. If FIRST is serious about reaching out to under-served communities, we will choose not to stack the deck further in favor of the privileged.
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If you aren't compelled already to manage your time and continue improving I don't think getting rid of "Stop Build Day" is going to change that much. Teams that are trying for a world title are working at unbelievable and inspirational levels. "Stop Build Day" isn't leveling the playing field it's making the playing a mountain that only the teams that push even harder to get the resources necessary to climb are able to summit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JABianchi
"The question is: 'Does FIRST want to be a club for the competitive elite or does FIRST want to create an equitable experience for a broad range of schools to realistically compete?' Far less than 20% of teams qualify for the Championship event each year. What can we do that will help that 20% have a high turnover rate?
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I don't agree, lets make our district, regional, district/state Championships events even better so that teams that come away from any FRC event feel as inspired as teams that leave the championship. We shouldn't be bringing the top down to meet the bottom. Lets raise the bottom, put in safety nets if we need to for teams that fall off and find a way inspire more students at an even greater level. Making the competitive teams worse doesn't increase inspiration. We shouldn't ask anyone to slow down so that others can catch up. Lets have everyone work together to bring everyone up to top speed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JABianchi
"When the amount of time is limited, there is much more variance in a competition. This is why the NFL is the most equitable pro sports league in North America. Only 16 games, and single games determine elimination in the playoffs. On 'any given sunday', the worst underdog has a legitimate chance of upsetting the very best team. In any given FRC season, with a limited build season, even a struggling, under-resourced team can have a shot against some of the best teams. Please don't change that."
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The problem with that statement is that it's not true. Sure the underdog always has a chance but they do in any sport. Someone can get injured, or a robot can break at just the wrong time for that alliance. Every team has a chance the problem right now is the lowest resource teams have even less of a chance against the elite then they ever have. At one point there was only a championship and everyone largely had the same amount of time to build, then their were a few regionals around the country but going to multiple was rare, now if you have the money you could attend 4-7 events before Championships and there is more than enough data that proves as you go to more events and iterate your robot, train your drivers and improve your strategy you're likely to increase your performance. Going to more events, building practice bots, and iterating with the withholding allowance currently takes a lot of resources. Abolishing "Stop Build Day" would allow more teams to use the time that many teams are already using, if they wanted to.
#BanTheBag