[GaryVoshol]

There are teams that go years before achieving "big success" if you define that by winning awards or being in the elims. Let alone winning any tournament. The only way they make it to Atlanta is to pre-pay. And FIRST recognizes and accepts that; the reason for the pre-pay option is to give every team the opportunity to come to Atlanta at least once in a student's 4-year career. (And in the last few years, at least every other year.)

If teams set realistic goals for themselves, they will not be disappointed. Sure, everyone wants to be an alliance captain (or at least be selected to an alliance), wants to advance in the tournament. Everyone likes awards. But if you celebrate the many successes you have along the way, you won't be disappointed when you don't achieve the "big success". Remember the true successes: those students who achieved so much, and who improved and learned to set themselves up for the only true successes we should care about - their futures.