
20-04-2008, 23:21
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16 awesome years of FRC!
no team
Team Role: Alumni
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 1,860
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Re: Lesson Learned: The Negative
Back to the topic of the thread, here goes:
- Based on some of the feedback from some veteran teams I was talking with this weekend, every year, it seems the same group of veteran teams (esp. single digit and two digit numbered teams, of which there are already limited numbers) go to Championships. Even though the algorithm has changed once or twice, these teams often end up playing each other over and over each year. I'm going to send a note to FIRST's awesome customer service folks to suggest a change in the algorithm each year (so if this year was 1, 2, 3, 4, perhaps next year can be 4, 1, 3, 2 or something similar).
- The FIRST package for teams is very expensive. I do understand where that money is being spent and agree that it's a fun activity, but it is just not an option for many teams. I know of one team that ended up saving $6-8K by not purchasing the package for their team and instead making their own arrangements for hotel and Saturday night activities. I don't think it detracted from that team's experience to not stay as close and not be part of the team party, and it is difficult to explain to a sponsor a difference of that much funding. The party is fun, but saving an entire entry fee's worth makes it definitely worth skipping.
- I was lucky to be on a team in 2002 that won the Championship. As a high school senior, I cannot tell you what a profound experience it was to walk on stage, receive our trophies and medals, hug Woodie and Dean, and get the recognition from other competing teams. This year, the stands were emptying before the last half of the last finals match. An announcement was made for teams to head over to the FIRST Finale immediately after the match completed and the score announced. I was extremely saddened that my students were not able to have a similar experience for their hard work and effort as that which profoundly changed my life. Their win was trivialized - yes, confetti and streamers, but having a teacher hand you your medal in the abandoned pit area shortly before you get on the bus is anti-climactic compared to the team walking across Einstein or the stage and receiving recognition for their effort to get to that point. Seeing thousands of people in the stands and realizing what an extreme honor is being placed upon you is a truly epic moment in a child's life. While I know my students were exceptionally happy and excited for the honor, I had only wished they could have been given the opportunity that I was lucky enough to experience.
- At one point, all three of the teams on our alliance was wandering through the tunnels of the Georgia Dome attempting to find a way back to the pits after being called to the field. With probably 100-150 people in this group, we were given incorrect directions a ridiculous four times before getting sent in all different directions and the group completely splintering. It took a good half hour to get everyone back together - even our students were separated from our mentors. I understand the issues with the Dome and GWCC being under repair, I understand some confusion on the part of both staff and volunteers. However, it completely takes away from a team moment of cohesiveness and pride to be bumbling through the Dome tunnels without direction like Spinal Tap before their show.
- Our guys had to scramble to find flashlights between finals matches on Einstein - with the lights completely off, we were unable to do our pre-and post-match evaluations and fixes of our alliance's robots without having a flashlight handy. I'm sure this is one of those silly things that nobody thinks about prior (honestly, who would have thought about this?) but next year, it might be another way to prepare your team by making sure you have a flashlight in your toolbox.
- PLEASE, please don't close down the practice fields next year until after the finals on the divisions have started! We knew that we needed that time to practice (especially after having a really rough Thursday and Friday only to realize on Saturday that our steering motor had been fried) and felt like we could have better tuned the robot during that time. I don't know that we were alone... it's nice to know that you're ready to go prior to the big show. Even though I know FIRST really needs to get packing as soon as they can, I think it'd be beneficial for teams if tearing down the practice fields was delayed until after the lunch hour.
- More strategy presentations by Karthik Kanagasabapathy and Team 1114. Seeing that made me realize I need to get our Tactical Team into shape. What this team is able to accomplish is phenomenal and inspiring.
Okay, I have a whole list of positives from the event this year, too. Time to go to that thread. 
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Director of Operations, VEX Robotics, Inc.
Alumna - Teams 71, 1020, 1720, 148
2002 World Champions (Team 71) | 2008 World Champions (Team 148)
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