[David Brinza]

Burt,

Just like in the real world, there will never be a level playing field in FIRST. Some teams will enter as rookies with FRC-experienced mentors and generous sponsors, others will enter with a teacher, a few students and a NASA grant. There are veteran teams with an army of engineering mentors, full machine shops with seemingly limitless resources and there are student-run teams who struggle just to compete in one regional. That's just how it is.

FIRST can only do so much to make the program reasonably equitable for such diversity in their constituency. The KOP, robot rules, short build season, cost restrictions, and a new alliance-based game each year are there to avoid total domination by a small number of veteran teams. Yes, there are a few teams that are top competitors year-in and year-out. Many teams look at those powerhouse teams as role models. Those same powerhouse teams will do almost anything to help fellow competitors to succeed. Learn about the Techno-Kats, ThunderChickens, Bomb Squad, MOE, and so many other top-notch FIRST teams. They are willing to share their knowledge (i.e. you can get team handbooks by searching CD media).

Successful teams set goals for improving each year. If the focus remains on inspiring as many students as you can reach, your doing the right thing and will be a winner in everyone's book. The awards may or may not come...but the real trophies are the students.