It's been a long time since I've posted! I'm in my first year of college and wish I could be part of a team.
This forum is the closest I have, I have three years experience behind me so I feel like veteran.
First of all, why can't we just read the rules for what they are? Every year we argue and try to bend the rules to what we want. My team tried this in 2002 and tried bending the rules by reacting against the "nipple" and not the "wood". The referees REALLY kept an eye on us. If you try to bend the rules, the ref's will have their eye on you. So I say, just play the game for what it is.
Second, If a school decides to choose a basketball player to join the team just to shoot balls, that's they're porogative. Although I don't agree with letting some popular jock who get's enough attention as it is join the team just to get more attention and popularity, there is nothing we can do about it. It's the teams decision. Every team is not going to say, "We need a basketball player to shoot balls!!" If I know my former team, they will choose someone who has done a substantial amount of work and contributed to the team throughout the 6 week period. Not just some basketball player who hasn't done any work just to shoot balls. But if a basketball player is inspired to pursue science or engineering, I agree, that is what FIRST is about.