[EricH]

Gary, I wasn't even AT the Championships this year. In the past and at the regionals, it's been, bring a tether and join the line/get a block of time. It shouldn't require a lot of thought to realize that teams might want the regional practice field setup, not a setup that is Thursday every day when something just needs a minor software tweak and repeatability testing. That's what I'm calling a mistake.

Steve, when does FIRST change your status from "rookie" to veteran? Right after the Championship, right, at least officially? I.e., at the end of the season? So, logically, the year begins in late April. Therefore, summer counts.

But when does the "rookie" status begin? That is a tough question. When you sign up as an FRC team? Then you have a wide spread of time for rookies to get something going. When registration opens, all teams that haven't competed before are rookies? That would be more fair, but then you have a gap of several months with no rookies, only "pre-rookies". Right after Championship, when the previous rookies are now veterans (sophomore-type)? That makes more sense, but they're still "pre-rookies" all through the summer.

It's a tough call, and not one I'd want to make.

Brian, the trailers weren't assigned to an individual team and were also scored on when no robot was attached. They were neutral; the only time they counted was in a given zone. I'm not quite sure that counts.