[Scott Duhaime]

I think they move up an tier.



I think this system is a good start for FIRST to address the growing problem of limiting teams at nationals. Nationals is "growing up" with FIRST, we it started it could be a giant party where all the teams shared their expirences with each other and it was the center for all the was FIRST. But as more and more teams joined not everyone can take part of nationals, but at the same time the regionals start to become a little of that same expirence.

Two years ago FIRST started to limit nationals with the odd/even system knowing that it was only a temporary solution. Now we sit in the next phase of the solution, I think in a few more years we will see another change. I would like to see another level of competition added between regionals and nationals ( possibily the mega-regionals) like a regional championship (regional as in Mid-west, western, eastern, southwestern, ect..) and have nationals be the ultimate competition.

To say that FIRST isn't about the robot or that competition doesn't help FIRST's mission is crazy. FIRST stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology", what better way to inspire kids to do well with science and technology than to have think of a strategy and design and robot using what they have learned in science and the technology they are presented with to make the best machine possibile. I for one can tell you that I was pushed like that and even jumped ahead in my high school science class to learn anything that could help our robot design. Even the chairmans award and engineering inspiration award both are about the robots, maybe not what it did for your team but how your team used it to continue FIRST mission. That to me says that it's about the robots.

Certian parts of the new system i disagree (i.e. 10 year teams) with however I can see why FIRST may have done it and I stand behind their judgement. I can understand people being upset and ranting on and on, but there is a point where you need to stand back and look at what you have said, I am guilty of it too (after cleavland last year ) as are probably many others here.

- Scott