Chief Delphi - View Single Post - Is competing at multiple regionals REALLY fair ?

Brandon Holley · #13 01-05-2008, 07:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblake

I beg to differ - The situation certainly isn't black and white, but before matches announcers constantly and emphatically point out who won regionals and how often they did, particularly the closer the competition gets to "The Einstein Field!!!!".

We/FIRST very often, very much, measure a team's success by their regional wins. And we should.

Sure, there are other awards and other metrics we use, and I sincerely hope they are more coveted by most; but to say that "we" do not measure a team's success by their regional wins is a bit disingenuous. We give teams those big banners to take home and hang so that they and others associated with their team can revel in the rewards of a job well done and be proud of their accomplishment. We don't take a picture of them holding it and send them home with a stack of wallet-sized prints for each team member to tuck into their wallet/purse.
We send them home with a great, big, banner!

FIRST's actions certainly tell us that wins on the field are not the only measure of a team's success in FIRST; and that is a very good thing.

But, FIRST's actions also tell us that wins are certainly one measure of a team's success in FIRST; and I think that is also a good thing.

Blake

Blake,
You have completely missed the message of FIRST.

Yes we send people home with GREAT BIG BANNERS, but that is to prove that the competition isn't just for show.

The whole idea of FIRST is to realize that even though we crown a champion at an event, a teams makeup and how they can give back to themselves and the community is what really matters.

Yeah we can look at a team and say they have won 10 regionals in the past 5 years, but the goal and the point of FIRST is to say that yes that team can build a great robot, but can they win with gracious professionalism too.

Being a member of FIRST is supposed to teach people that winning is certainly something, but it isn't everything. Winning on other levels like inspiration and outreach are just as important if not more.