Quote:
Originally Posted by BurtGummer
Well, I have nothing against 3091. But they did have FTC and FLL experience from what I have read. Summer camps or not, they have robotics experience. It might not be FRC experience, but FTC isn't something simple. In my opinion, if a team has experience in robotics, that needs to be put in consideration, or maybe a separate award.
Compare 3091 or 2753 with us, 3020. We have never touched a robot before this year. But from what I have read, both 3091 and 2753 have, and 2753 has been champions in FTC. Rookie to FRC yes, Rookie to robotics, not in the slightest.
I think FIRST needs to take a closer look at things like these.
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Depending on a team's circumstances, I would often recommend a team compete in FTC for a year before FRC. Obviously, if you already have students/mentors with FRC experience, or far too many students for a FTC team, or a major sponsor (like Boeing for 3020) by all means jump right into FRC. In most other cases, I think a team would benefit greatly from some FTC experience, and be prepared for their rookie year of FRC. After the FRC team is started, the FTC team can be kept as sort of a junior varsity (we have an FTC team for the freshmen on our team).
Over my years of helping teams and inspecting, I have met many rookies teams with only a few students, 1 mentor and no money for anything other than the kit. They just dont have the manpower or resources to compete in FRC, and it can be discouraging for the students. However, they are well suited to FTC. While competing in FTC, they can recruit more students, mentors and sponsors. I worked with a rookie team last year that decided to compete in FTC this year. Although I am sure they had a good experience overall in FRC, they probably would have had a better experience in FTC.
My point is that we should be encouraging the FTC to FRC transition and FTC as a way to prepare for FRC. It shouldn't disqualify them from awards. FRC is different enough from FTC that it is still a major step. If your team wants to go directly into FRC more power to you, but their is nothing wrong with an FRC rookie competing in FTC previously. FIRST doesn't really tell you how to run your team and the rules to determine a rookie status are pretty much based on FRC experience not FTC, FLL, Vex, Botball, etc... FIRST doesn't want to make things to be more difficult than necessary for rookie teams.