[Rich Kressly]

Yov,

I fully understand your thoughts, but might I suggest a different way of looking at it.

1. First of all, all of the teams at the Israeli Regional will be rookies. So I wouldn't worry about being able to compete with teams that you won't see this year (unless you travel to the champioship - and if you qualify for that and can come - what an achievement regardless of how well you do!). The playing field will be even for all of Israel's rookies in terms of being in the land of the unknown.

2. I've wondered every year if my team was going to finish. Every year we finished. If you take the attitude "we will do whatever it takes to finish," even if the robot doesn't run the way you want it to, you will all be better for the experience.

3. The makeup of your team is better off than many veteran FIRST teams. With that many team members who know pneumatics, electronics, and programming you are well on your way.

4. As far as building gearboxes, you don't have to do it. Your drivetrain and mechanisms can be as simple as you want them to be.

5. There's help here and throughout the FIRST community. Ask questions, find email mentors throughout FIRST. Start by contacting regional and championship Chairman's award winners - they (and many other teams) are very accustomed to helping other teams. I'd also make some friends in Brazil and the UK if possible - they know what it's like participating in FIRST from a foreign land.

6. In the end, while you want to be competitive, a rookie team should have the goal of having a working machine (even if you are working on it all the time at the regional) in one regional. The lessons you will learn, the fun you will have, and the confidence that comes from doing something difficult on purpose will be well worth the struggles!!

Hey all of you CD vets (Mr. Bill, Dr. Joe, Andy, Raul, Wayne, Chris, etc, etc), wanna weigh in on this one?